Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-09

A gentleman. handsomely dresSeu.
alighted from a railway train at sub
urban station and, going out to where
carriages stood waiting, looked about
for one he expected to meet him.
Passing a landau in which sat a young
woman In the costume of a maid, she
called to him:
BEG pardon. sir. Are you Mr.. Jur-
negan?"
II am"
I've been sent by Miss Whitehead
TO meet you"
''lndeedp'
Yes. sir. Miss Whitehead was In
tending to come herself, but she was
called away suddenly this morning"
Since it was a four hour journey
each way Mr.. Jurnegan decided to
stay. But what was he to do to amuse
himself till tomorrow? He and Miss
Whitehead were both interested in an
estate that was In litigation. Mr.. Jur-
negan's father and Miss Whitehead'S
uncle had been partners in business
and had left their affairs in a tangle.
Mr.. Jurnegan seemed TO have the best
Of the legal situation, and Miss White
heads attorney advised her to meet
Mr.. Jurnegan. whom she had never
seen, and endeavor to effect a compro-
mise. He strongly recommended her
to marry him if she could. She had
invited him to her home for a confer
ence. AS he rolled along he concluded
to pump the maid.
Does Miss Whitehead live alone?"
he asked.
Yes. sir. with a housekeeper for
chaperon."
Good mistresS?"
Every good-in some ways, sir"
"In what way:'
well, sir. there's nothing mean
about her. She pays good wages and
gives us days out quite often. besides
lots of fine CASTOR clothing. But she's
very independent, does things her own
way, and the .neighbors call her
freaky."
There was nothing in this to help
Mr.. Jurnegan TO an opinion as to
whether he would be able to make
compromise favorable to his own in
terests or not, though the fact that
Miss Whitehead was not mean looked
well. On reaching her residence he
alighted and was shown to his room
by a manservant There he made his
toilet and went down to luncheon.
After that he had a whole afternoon
before him with nothing to do. Going
on to the piazza. he lit a cigar. The
maid came out with. periodicals, which
she placed On a table near him.
Miss Whitehead told me I was to
do my best to make your waiting as
easy as possible. SIR"
II don't know how you can do that
better than by telling me about Miss
Whitehead" he responded. "Sit down
and tell me what she is like"
The girl demurred at seating herself
near a gentleman. but agreed that if
he would permit her TO get her needle
work she would answer any questions
he might ask. He gladly consented
and on her return began his inquiries.
How old is Miss Whitehead"
81 don't know, sir. She might be
thirty"
Thirty. I heard she was not more
than twenty-two.''
she looks it anyway"
Good looking?"
"Oh. no. sir, Miss Whitehead is not
good looking"
Then she's very stupid to have so
pretty maid. The contrast is detri-
mental to her own appearance"
Naturally the maid was pleased at
this compliment She bent her head
over her work and said nothing.
II fancy" pursued Jurnegan. that
your mistress must rely on you for
more than the duties Of maid or she
would not have intrusted you with
keeping me here till her return"
81 sometimes act as secretary for
her"
Indeed"
Yes. SIR. and she likes to talk over
her business affairs with me. You see.
she has no one else to talk with about
them"
''She wouldn't talk with you very
long about them If she didn't get val
liable hints from you"
at this moment telegraph messen-