Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-01-20

feel badly that she was about to he so
shocked. but surely there was never a
more glaring example OF her careless
ness than this. To think that she had
brought her bag home with her when
all the time
Flying footsteps. flashing eyes. a gold
bag flung into his lap: There. jim
| mie-crazy, crazy boy" exclaimed "A
triumphant voice. Now Will you be
! good?"
The very bag-the very-cobwebs
| filed the bishops brain for moment.
'1-I-don't See" he stammered. Wait
a minute. will yOu:" Then he in his
| turn fed upstairs and went to his bu-
reau drawer. The very bag! 1t took
! him some time 10 get his bearings. 10
summon up courage TO go down to
| that lighted room and 10 the reproach-
full glances of those blue eyes. Bur
the bishop was good sport. although
the brilliancy OF his sermons was
sometimes open to criticism. Down TO
the dining room be bravely walked
and laid the bag beside it's duplicate.
Aline looked and looked and looked
again. Then her haughiiness was that
of a tragedy queen:
James. explain. Did you think you
had my bag? And where did you get
it?"
The bishop was silent. He was alb
sentmindedly comparing the dupli-
Gates. Aline's had her monogram on
the framework: the other had only
initials. M. NJ. B." He repeated it
over and over to himself. as If 1t were
favorite refrain. Then he knew that
his day of judgment had come.
81 stole it,
Where. james,
"T saw you on Main street this morn
ing'-his tone was OF the yet IN
shriven monk-"I followed you into
Pierce's to ask you to walk down to
the Grants with me, l saw your bag
lying on the counter beside your muff,
and I-took it."
what for?"
"Why, just to-to"-the bishop was
growing extremely nervous under the
steady gaze Of those questioning blue
eyes-"why, my dear. to-hang it all.
Aline! Haven't you any imagination?
Can't you imagine why?"
Certainly not-and l don't propose
to tryl The idea of a bishop stealing
his wife's purse, even trying to give
her a moments fright for any reason
at all, is something for which there can
be no possible explanation and which
I don't even care to think about. But
do say this-I think when a bishop
stoops to those dreadful things it is
time for bis wife to leave him."
High tragedy was written all over
the little lady's face as she folded her
arms, arched her eyebrows and looked
sternly at her writhing husband. Then
a sudden change Of expression swept |
over her mobile face. James," she |
said, did you really and truly do it
for the good Of your poor black sheep? !
Did you steal your wife's purse to
save her soul?'
Silence.
"James!"
Still silence while the bishop twirled |
a lock OF hair furiously between his
thumb and fore1Dger.
james, answer me-"
The bishop turned appealing eyes to |
hers-so hard. so cold-and as their |
eyes met something happened. Laugh
ter such as possesses the spirits of |
elfland overcame the dignified bishop
and his wife. Words were impossible.
Anger was a thing of the past. ExpIa-
nations needed not to be made. Peals
of laughter met and mingled across
the table. Aline was the first to re-
cover sufficiently TO speak.
Lets see whose it is she said.
And the bishop handed it to her, while
wiping his eyes with the other.
IN. NJ. B. H'm!" muttered Aline.
Then. opening the bag, she held aloft
a visiting card. James" she shrieked.
'it is mothers"'
His mother-in-laws. The bishop was
speechless-this time with horror.
Aline was an only child, her mother
ever on the watch lest he should let
the winds of life blow too strongly on
her child He never could face her
after a situation like this. She was
always severe ON his clerical ideas.
And now this!
what can | do?' His tone was that
of suppliant. and Aline thoroughly
enjoyed his misery.
''Do"' she said. There are several
things you can do. and you will have
to do one of them quickly. or mother
will be here asking my advice about
what she can do to recover ii. Father
gave it to her on their last anniver-
sary. and she will be frantic at having
lost it. By the way. / don't see why
you didn't see her in the shop"
Neither do I. Now tell me what 20
do"
Aline held up her plump hand and
counted off fingers as she spoke: Way
No. 1. messenger boy sent to leave it
at her door. with no explanation, note
or card-spirit too cowardly for bish-
op to resort to; way No. .. send at
once to Pierces. saying you found it
falsehood unworthy of your ideals;
way No. 8. take it to her yourself and
own up to your methods of improving
her child's character"
Silence. The bishop looked down
cast, Aline roguish.
''Wel. James," she said at last. {
"what have you decided to do? Mercy.
eoln !