Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-04

robbery and was made duke for stab
bling in rhe back man the king wish
ed put out of the way
The girls looked al each other. aston.
ished at this frankness With regard to
the present dukes ancestors.
That red faced man." continued Mr..
Comyns. was rhe first dukes brother
He was pirate"
"A pirate" exclaimed both the girls
at once.
Certainly. That was once consider
ed very respectable calling. That
one with scars on his face was a rob
Der. He kept up this place by descend
ing into the valley. looting travellers
and returning with his booty"
Were all the dukes ancestors badT"
asked Miss Van Tromp.
Most Of them. I know all about
the family. Scarcely good one in it,
But the present duke Is fne man.
am told"
81 should like to know In what way.
He sits in the house of lords-a useless
iDstitution-with his hat down over his
eyes. most of the time asleep. When
he is here he is bored to death. When
told him that two American girls
wished to see his castle he proposed
to show you about himself. just to
have something to do. I told him 1t
was my job and be shouldn't take It
away from me-"
There was more wonder In the faces
of the young women. and the last
words decided them that they must
offer tip.
THE castle is a dilapidated old
place." continued the guide. mot
worth preserving. l think the duke
would like to sell it to some Of your
American millionaires."
How could he bear to part with
that which has descended to him
through centuries~
He likes London pretty well. With
the money he could get for this rattle
trap place he could enjoy himself very
well In London"
How much would he take for itY'
"Oh. a matter OF 100000"
please tell him that III give him
that for it."
1t was now Mr.. Comyns' turn to
look surprised. He made no reply at
first. then said:
From whom shall tell him the
offer comes"
Miss Van Tromp took out a card.
wrote her London address on it and
handed it to Mr.. Comyns. They had
by this time gone the rounds and were
! at the postern. And now the terrible
question of the tip came up. Miss
Van Tromp decided that she would
give one so large that even should their
guide be a gentleman he might not
feel insulted. She put five sovereigns
into his hand. He took them unwill-
ingly and thrust them into his pocket
Two days later an invitation came
from the dowager Duchess of Hal
lowen to Miss Van Tromp and Miss
Sherman to dine with her at her Lon
don residence. The invitation closed
with these words. you can then talk
over the sale Of Halloween castle with
my son, the duke"
Miss Van Tromp, whose income for
one year was more than the price she
had offered for the property. was not
at all frightened. At first she thought
she would adhere to her resolution not
to mingle with the English nobility
and decline the invitation. but Miss
Sherman persuaded her to accept
They were to sail for America the next
week, and Miss Van Tromp was not
averse to dining with a duchess so
long as it could be done without the
preliminary presentation at court.
On the evening appointed they drove
to the dukes home. They were re-
ceived by the dowager duchess, a
pleasant old lady. and after a time
who should enter the room but MT.
Comyns in evening dress. he advanc-
ed, smiling, to welcome the guests.
MY son." said the duchess.
"a younger sonT' asked Miss Van
Tromp.
mo: I'm Ralph Comyns and Duke of
Elliston." said the gentleman. LAS l
told you. I'm a bored man when at
Halloween. and 1 passed a delightful
hour in showing you my pile. But /
shall not hold you to the offer. and
here" taking FIVE sovereigns from his
vest pocket, lis the fee you gave me.
I really don't think / should have &C,
cepted it" i
There was twinkle in his eye as he
spoke.
81 am ready to give you a check for
the castle" said Miss Van Tromp. a
trifle ruff1ed at having been deceived.
That's just like you Americans" re-
piled the duke. smiling. There's moth
ing so old. so new. so valuable or so
worthless but that you are ready TO
buy it."
81 might hold you by law to the bar
gain. can prove by my cousin. Miss
Sherman. who was present. that you
offered the property for a specified
sum and accepted the offer"
ST should rather be bound by It than
go to law with such a charming oppo-
nent," replied the duke CALAMITY.
- There was nothing more said about
the sale, and after Miss Van Tromp
had recovered from her chegrin at hav-
ing tipped a duke the dinner proved
very enjoyable one. Miss Van Tromp
and her cousin did not sail on the
steamer on which they had engaged |