Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-07-31


Not for the world would / give her
any clew TO my identity by the slight
est reference TO what had passed be-
tween US. And as to letting her know
even that i was a telegraph operator.
nothing would tempt me to risk giving
away the whole thing by doing so.
1 danced several times with Agnes
Miller and once with her friend FL
len Ormsby. 1 concluded to go slow
with Miss Miller, but I got In a num-
Der OF compliments and several looks
indicating my admira don for her.
When 1 left her to catch my train.
which I did before the dance had end
ed, pressed her hand and received q
slight pressure in return
Very soon after this I received a
shock at the return Of Sam Atkins.
The Spanish war was over. and Sam
had come home in excellent health and
handsome as ever. What disconnected
me was that IN some way-I having
sent my girl his Photographers might
spoil my fun. But on second thought
it occurred to me that there was no
likelihood OF this since she was so
far from both of US.
On my return from G. resumed my
Geographic chat with her. enjoying II
far more than before from having
made her acquaintance. 1t was very
amusing to talk with her, having seen
her, while / was still unknown TO her
except through Sam Atkins photo
graph. She continued to complain OF
the dullness Of e.. so 1 concluded to
ask her TO come to town and go with
me to the theater This would let
her into the secret of my having sent
her another mans photograph, but
must let that out some time, and there
was no especial reason for delay.
She accepted the invitation with
alacrity and appointed a night. pro
cured a couple of seats and.wrote her
that I would meet her at the station
and take her from there to the thea
ter; she would know me by bit Of
orange ribbon worn in my buttonhole
To keep up the fraud till her arrival
1 asked her to carry a few violets in
her left hand.
When Miss Miller alighted from the
train and saw me. whom she had met
before, with the orange ribbon in my
buttonhole she stood still for a mo-
ment; then, simply remarking that we
had met before and 1 had deceived her
about the photograph, we left the sta
ton, and. since it was a summer even
ing and an hour must elapse before
the play would begin, we walked TO
park or central square and sat down
on one of the benches. She then re
proved me mildly for sending her the
wrong photograph, but said she didn't
mind that since she had made my
acquaintance at CT.
When we entered the theater and
took our seats but few people had
arrived. We enjoyed ourselves chat
ting about our telegraphic correspond
ence and watching the audience come
in. Suddenly my heart stood still.
Who should enter and take the two
seats IN the next row in front of us
but Sam Atkins and Miss BIiller's
friend, whom l had met at c., Ellen
Ormsby.
The expression on their faces was,
to say the least, peculiar. Smiles
were struggling to assert themselves
which the three were endeavoring to
suppress. / cast a hasty glance at my
companion and saw her eyes fairly
dance with a mingled delight, mischief
and triumph.
1 knew at once that the game / had
been playing had not only been discov-
cred, but HI 4 been turned against me.
sam, you rascalp' 1 exclaimed.
you're a traitor to your own sex"
My remark occasioned a burst of
laughter from the whole party except
myself.
Come" 1 said, explain the matter"
At this moment the orchestra struck
up the overture, and in ten minutes
more the curtain rose. My tormentors
forced me to wait till the end Of the
first act before giving me an explana-
ton; then my companion said:
Nellie Ormsby is a telegraph OPP
orator at the G. station and has been
NDur correspondent. She sent you my
photograph, with my consent instead
of her own, and. having no more con-
fidence in you in such a matter than
herself, did not believe the likeness
you sent her was your own. She went
to NJ, taking the photograph with her.
and mutual friend Of hers and Mr..
Atkins there told her that it was his
picture. Before leaving town she saw
you at work at your instrument and
knew that you were her correspond
emit Then Mr.. Atkins returned from
the war. She went gain to NJ. made
his acquaintance and told him the
secret.
Meanwhile you had gone TO e.. and
the moment you entered the ballroom
Nellie recognized you. She saw your
attention fixed on me and introduced
you. Your enjoyment in the part you
were playing gave US double what was
evident IN you. When your invitation
came we decided to spring the joke
on you here at the theater. We wrote
Mr.. Att ms to find out, If possible,
where our seats were and get tvs
more near them This be learned
through you.
so you see that when a man sets
himself up 10 outwit a girl he must
sharpen his own wits on a milestone"
1t was all plain enough now. !
acknowledged myself beaten and after
the play invited the party to the best