Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-29

coming IN the next boat. De an
swered evasively. aud then. turning to
! the men. "AIl ready-cast on" and in
! an instant the dory was manned and
shot out into the gray mist
Where is the Harlequin asked
| Alice. straining her eyes after the de-
! parting boat.
Beyond the reef" replied Card
laconically.
"And-why are you here?" she asked
with growing wondcrment in her wide
! gray eyes. You came in the frst boat
| and left the women behind?"
Because 1 wanted you and I said
I would win you, my ladyw he retorted
holly.
Am 1 to understand that the Harle-
( quin has not been in danger-that il
is n trick?"
Not in the least danger" he laughed
rudely. "Alveiro knows this island
and the cove like a book. and the ship
wreck part, the landing in the boat,
may as well tell you, was part OF the
game"
"And-now? 1t Is your intention to
detain me here?" she asked angrily.
well. until you promise to marry
me-" he admitted.
"And if 1 do not2"
you'll have to stay until you dor
And IL I consentT'
why, there's settlement on the
other side of the island, and the clergy
man there he stopped abruptly.
"a settlement she exclaimed Joy
ously. Thank you for the informa-
ton, Percie Cardr' She turned and
ran swiftly along the curving beach
toward 4 point of land that tu.ted into
the little bay.
For a moment he watched her
wrathfully. Then he followed. She
ran Ike deer, but he was 1.-the of
form and like a cat upon his feet.
With long, sweeping bounds he gained
on her and. reaching her, placed one
hand on her shoulder. She uttered u
sharp cry. and in that instant there
was Il scufile of feet. the shout OF n
gruff voice, and some dark body hurl-
ed itself upon Percie Card and bore
him to the sand.
The dark body resolved itself into
the leather countenance and stocky
figure of simon Cotton. He sat upon
the recumbent form OF his late en-
ployer and addressed the trembling girl:
Ion you Be 1letTu OF tlllS mere
little piper. miss. He couldn't hurt a
flea. IL you'd slapped his face good
and hard he'd "a run away. But you
did the runnin', and he, bein' the kind
that amt afeerd Of nobuddy that's
afeerd Of him, why, he just nat'r'lly
follered after"
How did you get here, SimonT'
asked Alice eagerly. How can we
get away? And is 1t true that the
Harlequin has gomez
Simon tucked a generous bit OF to-
| bacco in his mouth and nodded sol
EMMY. II heerd them a-layin' plans
in the wheelhouse yest'dy. They ex-
pected me to jine in. and did ~ fur
! as l wanted TO. I knew If 1 opened
my jaw nobuddy'd believe me and
they'd clap me below. so ] keeps my
trap shut and thinks I'll be on deck
to take care o miss when we lands
They loses me overheard while they
were bringin' you here. miss. and
devil a prayer did one Of them dagoes
say when 1 slipped over. | lays in
wait here, and blast me If didn't go
asleep on duty. But I'm wide awake
now" He arose and aimed kick at
the recumbent form Of Mr.. Card
The little millionaire jumped to his
feet. ashen with anger and despairing
humiliation. He stared from the for
bidding countenance of the sailor to
the naughty. scOrnful one OF the girl
he had attempted TO abduct She
turned away and looked beyond him.
Her face softened. and a glad light
came into her eyes. Amusement and
recognition flushed her cheeks. She
looked like a vision OF the morning
with her shining hair and sweet, gray
eyes.
ooh" she cried rapturously. "who
~ that"
They turned and followed her glance.
A figure was advancing down the
beach toward them-a tall man with
barred head. He carried an easel I'm
one hand and a small camp chnir in
the other. A painting KIT was slung
from his shoulders. Suddenly he lift
ed his eyes and saw the little group.
Alice started forward with loud,
glad cry that rang In Percie Cards
ears for many a day. Such q revela-
ton Of love that II was!
"Ralph. Ralph, RaIph" she called.
Ralph Bolton dropped his burden and
came TO meet her with incredulous
eyes. He gathered her into his willing
arms without further explanation.
"Oh, / have wanted you so badlyr
she sobbed into his shoulder.
He frightened his grasp on her form
as he drew back her head and kissed
her tenderly on the lips.
Simon Cotton spat refectiveIy upon
the sand and turned his back on the
reunited lovers.
"SeerDs 10 me. Young Teller" he said.
fixing the miserable Percie with a hu-
mOrous eye. that you've brought that
there young miss 10 a place where
she's mighty glad to be-"