Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-23

spots and choosing q dry leaf or bit
OF fallen twig for its path.
Jack followed patiently until his way
was stopped by the massive trunk or
a huge sycamore up which the beetle
was making its laborious way. Jack
threw back his head and looked up
ward among the twisted limbs at the
top of the tree and then brought his
gaze slowly downward until his eyes
rested on the glowing mass of some
parasitic blossom. This was the or
ange orchid
Two days afterward he was speeding
down the river again, the orange or
chids confined in a wicker cage stuff
ed with rotting vegetation: the orange
beetle, quietly chloroformed. sleeping
its last sleep in an air tight tin box.
Six weeks later he was leaving South
America behind, and there was no re-
gret in his heart as he set his face
toward the north.
On the steamer he made several ac-
quaintances, among them a renowned
orchid hunter. In the course OF con-
versation he mentioned the object OF
his search. and after an incredulous
stare the orchid hunter. Jackson by
name. spoke bluntly:
who sent you on such a FOOLS err
randi"
Fools Grand" suffered Jack.
"Surely I was successful IN my quest.
I found what 1 went for. What do
you mean. sir:'
Pardon my abruptness. Mr.. Hedges,
I was surprised" said the other cour-
teously. 'SThe orchid you have de-
scribed to me is very common va
riety and is hardly worth a place in
any collection"
How about the orange better de-
manded Jack, hagrined 81 could not
have mistaken the variety Of orchid,
for the beetle was in one of the flower
cups when I picked It from the tree.
b. Jove, If I've made a mess Of this
expedition after ALL He paused trag-
icalIy.
Jackson expressed a desire to see
the orchid, and the wicker cage was
brought and the exotic displayed, to
the experts suppressed amusement.
"Deuced queer the old boys sending
you of after that" he muttered after
reading the copious notes with which
Cassius Chalmers had filed Jacks
ing TO get you out of the wayT''
Jack shook his head hopelessly.
SEARCH mer' he exploded. "a year
out of my life-all for nothing. and
not a word from He bit off Dor
othy's name and walked away to con-
ceaI his anger and modification.
At last when they were in the port
of New York Jack felt his confidence
returning. While he was now con-
WINGED that Cassius Chalmers had
sent him on a wild goose chase (as
well as a beetle hunt, he was deter
mined to press that eccentric million
aire for some explanation Of the whole
matter. Therefore his first errand on
landing was to go straight to the Of
fee of Cassius Chalmers.
There bitter disappointment awaited
him. Cassius Chalmers had been dead
for two months, and his estate bad
not only been settled, but his heir. the
nephew whom Jack knew, had sailed
for voyage around the world. The
lawyers knew nothing whatever about
the matter save that the collection of
orchids had been sold at auction and,
1t was believed, had been scattered
among various collectors.
When he presented himself before
Dorothy Payton Jack threw out his
hands with a hopeless gesture. Fail
ed"' he said bitterly. And then into
her sympathetic ear he poured the
story of the past year. 1--WE got to
begin at the bottom and start over
again." he said in conclusion, and,
hang it all, Dorothy, 1 can't ask you
what / wanted tor
"I shall ask you, them said Doro-
thy bravely, and when she had con-
WINGED him of her willingness to share
his struggles she confessed that old
Cassius Chalmers had evidently sent
Jack away to get rid Of a dangerous
rival, for both uncle and nephew had
courted Dorothy without the slightest
encouragement until death had re-
moved one and her stern repulse had
sent the other to the uttermost ends
of the earth.
"Show dad the orange beetle. He's
quite a 'bugologist,'" urged Dorothy
after awhile. And when Jack had APP
preached Mr.. Psyton and retold his
story that genial fnancier examined
the orange beetle with great interest.
ct know a man who has a standing
men, he said calmly. will you sellT'
"Sellv yelled Jack. I'D sell 1t for
30 cents. I've wasted a year of my
life over that thfngp
Never returned Mr. Payton en-
phatically. You didn't find out how
much pluck and perseverance you had
till you set out to search for that
orchid. Whenever you feel down in
the mouth and distrust your own cour- /
age just come up here and look in my
collection and survey that orange bee :
tie"
May Dorothy come with meT" ask
ed Jack daringly.
Mr.. Payton smiled induIgently at his |
daughter and ciapped a hand on I
Jacks shoulder. she said some time
ago she was going to marry you. so I
suppose you'll have to bring her 4
along"
"oh, dadr cried Dorothy, rosily tear
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