Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-05

out the coveted articles. AIRS Morrison
went out to see If she could nnd any
one TO give her an inklinG OF why she
had been offered a Fabulous price for
three old cups that she had bought for
old silver. She called on a silversmith
with whom she had traded and asked
him If be could put price on articles
that were worth far more than their
Intrinsic value. He said he could not.
bur gave her the address OF an expert
In curios. she found the expert. and
ne agreed TO call upon her and give her
an opinion on her cups the next day.
That evening at dinner Mr.. Morrison
noticed that bis wife looked, agitated.
Moreover. his boy. Johnnie complained
that his mother had taken away his
and his sisters silver caps.
why not let the children have
themT said the father. They are the
pniy ones who can get comfort out Of
them"
knowing. John" said the wife
meekly. that the sight OF them brings
you pain and makes you irritable.
put them away where you will NOT see
them ~
Morrison fnished his dinner In ST.
lence. then went away to smoke and
read his evening paper by himself.
Not a word did be address to his wife
during the evening and at last went to
his own bedroom without giving her
the usual kiss.
As for Mrs. Morrison, she was IN an
internal whirl. She dare not say any
thing to her husband about the cups
till she knew that there was good rea-
son for the remarkable ofrer she had
received for them. she slept but little
the possibility OF good fortune and the
fear that what had occurred might
turn out castle In the air.
The next morning the husband ate
his breakfast In silence and after 1t
had been finished went out without
even saying goodby to bis wife. Her
relapse into the auction mania seemed
to have taken away all bis domestic
happiness. Mrs. Morrison waited eager
ly for the expert te call and when he
arrived could scarcely contain herself |
till he had seen the cups. She set |
them out on a table before him. He
took up each one successfully. looked
into It. outside OF it and, turning 1t |
up. scrutinized fits bottom. Then he
exa mined the ornamentation. All this |
time Mrs. Morrison was watching him.
dreading that he would prick the bgb-
BILE that had been inflated by the man
who had made the remarkable offer. |
At last the expert set the cups down |
on the table and said to himself:
mo. they're not"
''Not what2" gasped the poor wo-
man. suddenly dashed to earth.
II thought they might belong to the |
twelfth century. but they don't"
''Well?''
They belong to the sixteenth. They
are chalices"
"Have they any valueT asked Mrs
Morrison in trembling voice.
'All you can get--oyer 5000. I'll /
giveyou that for them"
Mrs Morrison tainted ana when she |
came to herself. forgetting that fhp |
gentleman was not her husband, threw |
her arms around his neck.
When he departed he left with her |
a check for 5000 and took the cups.
That evening John Morrison came /
home wearing the same expression as
in the morning.
Dear" said his wife. care we to be |
He gave no answer.
Because" she went on. ''if we are
I've got the money"
And she waved her check before
him.
John Morrison put $1,000 OF the
amount into his business. leaving the
rest for his wife to use IN INDUCING