Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-16

for giving me your seat, Mrs. Rush
more"
Ito tell the truth replied the good
lady. II was very glad to let you take
my place. cannot say l enjoy that
sort of music myself. 1t gives me a
headache"
Margaret entered at this point in a
marvellous creation" of Chinese
Grape, of the most delicate shade of
heliotrope. Her dressmaker called it
a tea-gown, but Mr.. Van Torp would
have thought 1t quite appropriate"
fora dinner dance" at Bar Harbor.
MY dear child" said Mrs. Rush
more, how long you were in getting
back from the theateri I began to
fear that something had happened"
I'VE walked home very slowly"
said Margaret, with pleasant smile
"Ah? You went for a little walk
to get some air?"
I'VE just walked home very slowly,
in order to breathe the air" Margaret
answered innocently.
It dawned on Mr. Van Torp that the
dignified Mrs. Rushmore was not
quite devoid of a sense of humor. It
also occurred to him that her repeti-
ton OF the question to Margaret, and
the latter's answer, must have re-
vealed to her the fact that the two
had agreed upon what they would
say, since they used identically the
same words, and that they therefore
had an understanding about some
thing they preferred to conceal from
her. Nothing could have given Mrs.
Rushmore such profound satisfaction
as this, and it revealed itself in ner
bright smiles and her anxiety that
both Margaret and Van Torp should,
Il possible, over-eat themselves with
the excellent things she had been at
pains to provide for them and for her
self. For she was something OF an
epicure and her dinners in Versailles
were of good fame, even in Paris.
Great appetites are generally silent,
like the sincerest affections. Marga-
ret was very hungry, and Mr.. Van
Torp was both hungry and very much
in love. Mrs. Rushmore was neither,
and she talked pleasantly while tast-
ing each delicacy with critical salts
faction.
by the by" she said at last, when
she saw that the millionaire was
backing his foretopsail to come to an
Choir. as Capt. Brown might have ex-
pressed it, 81 hope you have not had
any trouble about your rooms, Mr..
Van Torp."
None at all. that I know Of" an
swered the latter My man told me
nothing"
1.-THE Russian prince arrived this
evening while you were at the thea
ter, and threatened the director with
all sorts of legal consequences be-
cause the rooms he had ordered were
occupied. He turns out to be only a
count after all"
You don't say So" observed Mr..
Van Torp. in an encouraging tone
What became of him?" Margaret
asked, without much interest
did Potts not tell you, my dear?
Why. Justine assisted at the whole in
terview and came and told me at
once"
Justine was Mrs. Rushmore's Paris
Ian maid, who always knew every
thing.
What happened" inquired Marga-
ret, still not much interested.
HE arrived in an automobile" an
swered Mrs. Rushmore, and she
paused.
What old Griggs calls a sudden
death-cart," Mr.. Van Torp put in.
What a shocking name for it'll"
cried Mrs. Rushmore. And you are
always in them, my dear child" She
looked at Margaret "a sudden-death-
cart! 1t quite makes me SILVER
"Griggs says that all his friends
either kill or get killed in them" ex-
planned the American.
MY throat-doctor says motoring is
very bad for the voice, SO I've given
it up" Margaret said.
Really? Thank goodness your pro-
fession has been of some use to you
at last, my dear1"
Margaret laughed.
Tell us about the Russian count"
she said. HAS he found lodgings, or
is he going to sleep in his motor?'
my dear, he's the most original
man you ever heard Of! First. he
wanted to buy the hotel and turn US
all out, and offered any price for it,
but the director said 1t was owned by
company in Munich. Then he sent
his secretary about trying to buy a
house, while he dined, but that didn't