Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-07-20

the man who cares for Mr.. Brant's
rooms"
Bob smiled dryly. at happen to be
Mr.. Brant's friend" he said. land, as
1 am In charge OF his belongings. you
must tell me why you took diamond
pendant from the cabinet drawer a
short time ago."
She leaned forward entreatingly. !
"Oh. please do not ask me about it."
| she begged. for l cannot tell you"
See here" be said desperately, you
replace the pin and no one shall ever
know"
She stood up before him. and her
voice trembled. II cannot do that" +
she said. at did not take the pin for
.myselfr'
"You mean" he exclaimed. that
you have already given it to another
person.
She nodded vigorously. then placed
/ her hand upon his arm. mo one shall
/ suspect you of stealing the pin." she
said slowly. II will see to that-trust
| me-"
Perhaps she had been goaded on to /
| take the pin by some very pressing
need. The memory Of departing taxi.
cab obtruded itself. to be impatiently
cast aside He would do nothing,
events should shape themselves, and
if-well, If the pin was still missing
when Dick returned he would insist
upon paying for it himself. There was
tidy sum in the bank to his credit !
he had been saving good deal lately
he reflected ruefully. But a deep frowu
creased his brow as he worked stead /
fly during the days which followed, /
and though he visited again his friends
lonely apartment no little maid ap.
peared. while the open door of cabi. .
net constantly proclaimed its empti. /
ness.
A telegram was handed him one
day. and he tore It open nervously, 4
anticipating the contents Dick and
his wife would be home that evening
they wanted to see him up at the
house. Bob closed his desk with a
bang. "Well, he would go and have
It over" Claire greeted him in her
charming. hospitabIe way, and Dick
wrung his hand heartily.
Come in,' they said, "ahd let US
thank you"
They seemed not to notice Bob's
strained manner as they chatted on
about their trip. Presently Claire
arose and rustled from the room.
Dear me-" she said, II had almost
forgotten Kitty"
She returned in a moment, her arm
about the waist of a girl whose eyes
danced and whose cheeks glowed as
Bob sprang to his feet confronting her,
for this vision in clinging white was
ha
kitty. dear" Claire was saying, 81
want you. to meet Dicks friend. Mr..
Brewster. Bob, this is my cousin,
Miss Ainslee. and now that we have
you both here,'' she ratified on. I'VE
want to thank you for looking after
things during our absence. Dicks pet
fish are positively fat. When 1 asked
you to feed them, Kitty, I had no
idea that Dick had already coaxed Bob
in for that service"
Bob was also to play night watch
man." Dick interposed. He has done
well. for the furniture is still intact.
We left nothing movable. / believe"
Mrs. Brant blushed. "Oh. yes, we
did," she said II did not want to
say anything about it, but Kitty in
sists upon a full and free confession.
CdEcleSSly lOIkOL IIlS UldmOuu ptuu-
ant you gave me as a wedding gift,
Dick. and when we arrived at Beech
urst / remembered that it still re-
posed in the cabinet drawer at home,
a glittering temptation to that thiev-
ing maid Of ours, and l wrote post
haste. special delivery. telling Kitty to
secure the pin and send 1t with her
brother Ned when he came down to
a h. l.
to keep the matter secret" she con-
tinued. "for l did not dare TO let you
know. Dickie. until the pendant was
safely in my possession"
Claire laughed. Dick" she said,
"you should have told me that Bob
was to be caretaker. Fancy how en-
barrassing 1t would have been If he
and Kitty had met here-feeding the
goldfishp'
Kitty looked at her cousin reproach-
fully. ut might have been more than
embarrassing for me-" she said.
Think OF my predicament If Mr..
Brewster had caught me In the act Of
departing with that pin of yours
Why, he would probably have consid-
cred # his duty to hand me over to
the police, and | should have been
a
Brant laughed. while Bob grew IN
comfortably red.
"Well. you still have your freedom"
Claire answered carelessly. Here
comes the auto Let's all take a ride"
And as Bob and Kitty were en-
sconced upon the rear seat he leaned
toward her. II have been an awful
idiot" he said contritely. Can you
ever forgive me7"
Kitty's eyes twinkled. do you ex-
pect pardon at the first Apology" she
asked.
Certainly not" Bob responded. Il
intend 10 start a series Of apologies.
dating from tonight When you are
assured of my deep repentance per-
haps you may relent"
And Kitty smiled demurely. Mine