Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-02-02

after each operation.
At last he came to hts latest pur|
chase, the Valentine cake, and II one
watched him closely they might have
observed that his cheeks paled and his
firm lips were compressed into straight
colorless lines. Suddenly he groaned
and laid down the knife
"1f this one shouldn't be hersr' he
muttered desperately. and then, with
an upward ding of his handsome head.
he plunged the knife into the cake near
its edge, careful not TO disturb the dec
orations that adorned the top. He
drew out a piece, yellow and rich and
GRUMPY, full Of great raisins and tiny
hecks Of spice.
With the air Of one participating In
some great ceremony Billy Dslwin ate
the cake slowly. enjoying to the full
its elusive flavor. When be had IN
ished he laid down the knife and sat
down in a big leather covered chair.
the color flooding his tanned cheeks.
i've found her! I've found her at
IastP' he cried exultantly. Nobody in
the world ever baked that cake except
Phyllis Giles, She made one last year
for her Valentine party-same siSe,
same favor, same decoration-and you
can't fool me. sir!'
He turned the cake slowly around
and viewed 1t from all sides. Her
hands made 1t, she touched it, and she
placed all those little hard red hearts
about the edge. and not one Of those
hearts is harder than Phyllis own
neart or she would never have hidden
herself away from me In this manner.
As If Mr.. Giles failure and suicide
could make any other difference TO me
than to feel more tenderiy toward heri
II nothing had happened or If Phyllis
had not hidden away after 1t was
over we should have been married by
this time instead Of my following up
the only clew I ever could get-that
she had come to New York and was
baking cakes for the Woman's Ex-
change! I've bought plum cakes from
every exchange In the city, l believe.
until the women look on me with sus.
picion." He sat for q long time In
silence, and then he arose and bundled
the cakes into their boxes.
The last purchase he wrapped care
fully and replaced in fits box. Then be
got into his overcoat, picked up his
hat and with the cake under his arm
he sought the street Presently he
was once more standing before the
counter in the Woman's Exchange.
The tea tables were empty now. and
there was no one around save the
stern vfsaged woman who had waited
upon him earlier IN the afternoon
"wilI you kindly break your rulo and
tell me the name OF the young lady
who made this cakeT he asked with
the keenest anxiety in his deep voice.
1T Il impossible" said the woman
rriniy
'woula you forward q letter 70 her
II should write oneT pleaded Billy.
Certainly, noti"' And her shocked
expression was the first giimmer Of
humor that Billy had seen In the auII
fabric of this wearisome chase after
the girl be loved
"wnl you call her on the telephone
and allow me TO talk with herr per-
sisted Billy. Really, madam, you will
be making two people very happy"
Il could not do that either. am |
very sorry. sir, but IL seems 20 me If !
Miss Giles really wanted to see you |
she would not withhold her address," |
The woman flushed with vexation at |
the slip she had made In thus revealing |
the name Biliy haa been longtns 20 |
hear.
'.It fs Phyllis. then!" he cried tn.
umphantly. 81 knew that cake. No
body IN the world can make q plum 4
cake like Phyllis" he explained With
enthusiasm. THE momeRt tasted it
] knew"
cakes are different from the others"
that she could make cakes better than
else IL the world. and so she