Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-01

never entered her thoughts. She i'm
agfned that it was a huge practical
joke perpetrated by some of her init
mate friends, and she tried to think
who among them would be most likely
to venture upon such an exploit
Il must beg a thousand pardons for
carrying you of in this way, Miss
Grayman," Payton said. "and I wish
at once to offer my absolute assurance
that no possible harm to you Is in
tended 1 have been In a manner COM
PEELED to act as I have done for rea-
sons which you VIII shortly understand.
Since 1 know your charitable disposi-
ton and your sympathy with the I'M
fortunate, feel sure that can count
upon your heartfelt support in an en-
terprise which has been undertaken In
order to afford a great and fully de-
served qualification to certain persons
who have not been treated by the
world with even handed justice. For
the carrying out of this enterprise your
cooperation and presence have been
thought essential"
This extraordinary speech was deliv-
cred in a manner as confding and
gracious and with a smile so winning
that Miss Grayman was far from de-
tecting the irony that lurked in it She
now became more than ever convinced
that this was really ruse Of some of
her friends to engage her in romantic
adventure, although she could not i'm.
agine why they should have chosen so
singular a method of enlisting her.
But it had the charm of great novelty,
{oH
its united to give her delightful thrill
of underlined interest in the escapade.
She felt quite at her ease and was pre-
pared to enjoy some most pleasant sur
prises. She answered, therefore, with
no little gayety Of manner:
'Mr. - Of course do not know your
name, you know
Brown" Payton replied promptly
and with an even more engaging smile
than that which had before fllumined
his countenance, Commodore Freder-
lex Brown of the Washington Aero
Yacht club"
1t was lucky hit, though made en-
tirely at random. 1t happened that
Miss Grayman had many close friends
in Washington. and now she could no
eulSTldlH the iedSL OOuDL Ol Tue
correctness Of her original surmise
This Commodore Brown evidently be-
longed to the best circle of society at
the capital and had been selected by
her friends to act as intermediary In
their plot. The extravaganza of the
notion of having her carried of with
out the least warning or preparation
at such an hour and by a stranger did
not occur to her excited Imagination.
1t seemed all as delightful as a fairy
tale, and she tingled with the desire to
witness the denouement. which could
not fail to be most entertaining. With
girlish eagernesS she asked, with q
knowing look:
where have they told you to take
me?"
Payton was the shrewdest Of the
shrewd He saw in second the trend
of Miss Grayman's thoughts and the
advantage which it would give him
So, assuming an appearance Of some
confusion at being SO quickly found
out, he answered:
"Oh, you know I mustn't tell you
that. 1t would spoil all the fun.
You'll understand everything when we
get there"
And then he broke out with a laugh
SO joyous, hearty and insinuating that
the girl laughed with him. while Su-
san stretched her mouth in a broad
grin over the unexpected hilarity.
We've got quite run before u.s."
Payton resumed in q more serious
manner. land think. If you will per-
NIT the suggestion, that it would be
well for you to turn in. as we navi-
gators say. ! have a little cabin
which, hope. that you win find COM
Portable. and, with your permission,
1 will show you to It"
He led the way. courteously opened
a door amidships, touched a knob to
turn on the electric light within the
apartment and as soon as the girls
had entered bowed low with formal
politeness, saying as he turned on his
heel:
81 wish you pleasant dreams. Good
nightr
The little room in which they found
themselves might have been regarded
as elegant anywhere. 1t was lavishly
furnished, but with good taste, and
contained two small beds.
"Good Lordy. Miss HelenP' Susan
exclaimed as soon as they were alone.
'What will your father sayr
The remark struck to Miss Gray
mans heart 1t was the first time she
had thought of her father and Of his
distress when he should discover her
absence. But her eager mind was full
of resources
"No doubt papa knows all about It"
she replied at is my friends who
are doing this. you know, and Of
course they must have taken him
secretly into their confidence; other
wise they never would have ventured |
so far. And what a handsome man |
Commodore Brown is, and so agree
ableY'
1t required no more than the sug- |
gestion of her fancy to persuade the |
romantic girl that her father was
aware of the ruse and had given his
consent to it. This thought increased
her confidence so much that. with the