Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-16

and Peter will drive you there at once.
send the note by you because it is
upon matter of unusual importance"
. | am Mrs. Gonagle's secretary. She /
Is wealthy woman and a philanthror /
pist am unfortunate enough to have |
been born and reared in aff1uence and !
then forced to make my own living. |
confess l do not take to the work !
kindly. Mrs. Gonagle is very good to |
me, telling me that should marry !
man able to take care Of me in style, |
to which reply that fate has deprived |
me of an opportunity to meet such a
man.
/ was driven to Mr.. Constable's
house and admitted to sumptuously
furnished room that was used Cor his
office. All l knew about him was that
he was worth several millions, and like
Mrs Gonagle. a philanthropist, the two
occasionally working together in their
benefactions. A young man not more
than twenty-one was sitting behind
rosewood desk writing. advanced to-
ward him with the note and said:
Twill you please give this to Mr..
Constable and say that Mrs. Gonagle
wolld be obliged for an immediate
answerT
The young man looked at me, and
could see in his eye that he admired
my appearance. But 1. being a woman
of the world, knew how to appear I'M
conscious of his appreciation. Then he
glanced at the address on the note and.
inviting me to be seated, left the room.
After a short absence he returned and
handed me reply addressed to Mrs.
Gonagle. 1t was unsealed.
"Will you kindly mention to Mrs.
Gonagle," he said, that Mr.. Constable,
understanding that the bearer of his
note is her secretary, does not feel
warranted in sealing the reply? He
wishes Mrs. Gonagle to understand
this, for the subject matter is Of con-
siderable Importance, and the note. If
carried by an ordinary messenger.
should be sealed"
| Now, while am to the manner born
and thoroughly understand the motives
that would induce Mr.. Constable to re-
frain from sending a sealed communi-
cation by me, l am nevertheless a
| woman. The sense of honor supposed
to exist in a highborn dame, claim,
is as strong in me as in the rest of my
class, but that does not necessarily i'm
ply that l am devoid Of curiosity. At
any rate, what 1 did on this occasion
was to prove that 1 am gifted with
my full share Of that feminine trait.
had not long been seated in the auto
when took out Mr.. Constable's note
and read it.
Great was my establishment. This
was what I found in it:
Dear Mrs. Gonagle-I am delighted with
your secretary. / am sending this reply
l by her unseaied. If she reads 1t she has
not the high sense of honor and the deli
cacy l would require in wife. And If
E she does read 1t shall know by the con-
/ seriousness she will display that she has
done so and shall be ready to have you
recommend another helpmeet. I trust she
will not, for 1 am half in love with her
since this single meeting. Cordially and
thankfully yours
DONALD CONSTABLE.
Heavens! What had lost? A mil
lionaire husbandl 1t was plain that
Mr. Constable. instead Of being a mid
die aged or an old man, was the young
4. fellow / had taken for his secretary
And had spoiled it by my curiosity.
In another moment l resolved t
fight the matter to the bitter end. Bu
how? Ten minutes m ore would serve
to carry me to Mrs. Gonagle, and tina
would be insufficient time for me II
form a plan. l had owned an auto
before the collapse Of our family for
tunes and knew how to run one.
Peter" l said, 'let me take you
seat I wish to drive awhile"
Is Peter stopped the machine, and go
h into his seat.
Are the tires in good order?" ask
n ed
1t "All but this front one on the left
J. I've got a new one I'm going to pu
on there
l. determined to obtain delay h,
bursting that tire. Turning into
4 street In which l knew the pavemen
I to be badly broken. l drove vigorousl
le over several holes. at the last of whic
- there was report, and the imperfec
tire was bursted.
~ shall have to leave you, Peter"
said, ito get out of this trouble a
best you can. l am carrying an In
portant message to Mrs, Gonagl
which must be delivered as soon a
~ possible"
Alighting. l walked on. The te
III minutes that had been necessary fc
me to get home was. now extended
nearly an hour. for had driven th
car as far as possible from trolle
line. When l reached Mrs. Gonagle
pretended to be so full of the breal
G. down as to forget Mr.. Constable
note. talked "a blue streak" aboI
the former. not mentioning the latte
ne Finally Mrs. Gonagle spoke of my e
rand
81 saw no one" / said. but an NJ
derstrapper. who took the note to "
N Constable and brought me this one
reply. He told me to say to you tina
r though it was on a matter Of grei
Importance. be did not seal 1t, SIM
be sent 1t by your secretary. All TIL
was entirely unnecessary. I'm not
the habit of boxing my nose In 9TH