Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-09-14

bringing men 10 Der OlLnlDuClVe IeeI-
Beth's young man was a particularly
susceptible youth. and he succumbed
first. The great brown eyes of the
newcomer seemed to exert a potent in
f1uence over him. and the soft touch
of her hand on his brought the bright
red to his cheeks.
Beth noted this with amusement at
first, and then-was it Jealousy?
Shortly afterward Morals tender
swain cast longing eyes in the direc-
ton of the chaperon whenever she was
present.
The faithlessness of the lovers OF her
sisters amused the spritely Belle until
it suddenlS dawned upon her that her
own particular young man was ire
nendously enamored.
II was then that council of war
was called.
Something must be done" despair
ingly began Nora. I'VE can't stand
this much longer. Why, the girl has
the boys in a daze. They seem to have
! forgotten that we exist"
at doesn't say much for the con-
stancy of men," cynically added Beth.
she is the unknown quantity as
serted Belle in the extreme wisdom of
her youth. "a city girl. you know. If
any Of US live to her ripe old age l.
dare say we shall know as much as
She"
Her sisters laughed. Bellies asser-
lions always amused them.
What are we going to do about it?"
| asked Nora
The chaperon. even at that moment,
entertained IN the front parlor the
three thralled SWANS.
81 have a scheme" proposed Belle
after a tense second Of thought cit
may work out all right. Both of you
girls know that Marie is proud; also
that she has a miserable complexion.
and she always has a powder puff
handy at all times to make that doll
face of hers look the part"
Don't be petty" cautioned Beth Sc
verely. IF you have a scheme as
you call it. explain it to u.s."
'I'll not" snapped Belle. IF 1 did
you would object to ii. I'll only say
this-if you see anything unusual to-
morrow night don't give the joke away
by laughing. Just remain serenely in
different, as If whatever happens were
nothing unusual at all. If you viii
just intimate some time previous to
this that Marie, poor dear, is little
er-peculiar at times it will help a lot"
Beth and Nora smiled at the brave
attempt Of the youngest to adjust
things, but mutually agreed to give her
free rein.
The next night, as usual, Marie did
more than her share Of entertaining.
and the visitors seemed content q. to
have it so. The evening babe fair to
adhere to its usual routine.
The girl from Chicago had a habit of
excusing herself frequently for a few
moments at a time. Tonight was no
exception to the rule. On several diff
ferent occasions the gallants were left
to the tender care OF the girls whom
they were supposed to have come to
see, and the three sisters forgivingly
strove to entertain them during the
absence of the main attraction.
Young Jones, the lad formerly an
Swering to the beck and call of Belle,
was the chaperon's favorite Of the
evening. Only when the woman left
the room did his thoughts seem to cen
ter on the younger Of the sisters. but
at such times the flush on his beard
less cheeks and the manifest uneasi-
ness of him as he glanced guilty at
the girl proved that he was not yet
past redemption.
"Ah. you rogue. believe you have
been flirting during my absence"
The chaperon, returned, found her
interesting youth almost retained by
the time improving Belle.
Jones started guiltIly. cast an ap-
pealing eye at his rightful owner and
again turned, magnetized. to the allur-
ing voice.
"Oh, Miss Marie"-- he started, then
gulped a couple Of times and stared at
the boy knowing Marie with great
round eyes.
Smith and Brown. observant ones.
eclipsed for the evening, also stared.
Fortunately for the success Of Bellies
plan. none Of the three was possessed
OF high sense OF hunor.
Marie seemed puzzled for a moment
by the dazed glance OF the trio. but
finally as the girls kept up a distract
ing conversation, favoring their rela-
tive with only a casual glance, she
concluded that this was only burst of
visual homage on the part of the
enamored ones.
Gradually. however. the girl from
Chicago grew embarrassed before the