Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-13

had seen a guest one in whom ] was
beginning TO be interested, in the
mems Quarters steal jewelry. Wheth-
er she knew it or not I could not tell,
but the man from whom she was pill
fering was CroweIl. who was devoted
to her.
An hour later we assembled at din
ner. Naturally l looked at Miss Ad
ans. 1 failed to catch her eye, but 1
saw in it a troubled expression. Dur
ing the dinner she seemed to be think
ing OF something else than what was
said TO her. Fearing to show a differ
ence in my treatment of her. l did not
address her while we were dining nor
during the evening.
My secret weighed upon me- What
surprised me was a certain disappoint
ment I felt IN Hester Adams. It con-
vinced me that the little god had
wounded me, though I had not known
it. I brooded over the theft 1 had
seen. Was it an effect Of kleptoma
MIA? Surely the girl had no occasion
70 steal. I had noticed a frightened
look on her face which indicated that
she was cogntzant OF what she was
doing. wondered if she knew that
she was IN Crowell's room. l saw her
going into her own room the next
morning ard noticed that IT was di-
rectlY under the one IN which she had
committed the theft. I had seen Grow
ell wear the scarfpin and watched TO
see If IT had been returned to him, I
fancying the thief might have done
so under Qualms of conscience. But
Ia nit IN,
neckwear. l thought TO ask him If he
had missed it, but nothing could have
induced NE to give the slightest init
nation of what I had seen.
Naturally this disagreeable feature
Of my visit marred my enjoyment, and,
as for the game l had looked forward
to playing with some interest, l forgot
Ii entirely. One evening the hostess
said to me.
you nave disappointed me in not
having shown a preference for any of
the girls OF the party. To make the
matter more interesting am going to
tell you that l noticed in her a decid-
ed preference for you az soon as you
arrived"
"a preference for me" l exclaimed
surprised.
Yes, for your
What indication did she give of
the factT'
Don't you wish you knew" and.
tapping me >playfully with her fan.
she ran away TO other guests.
During the rest OF our stay at the
Duncans' country place Hester Ad
ans seemed always to have something
on her mind For a time she was
sought by her admirers as before, but
like seeks like, and the young men.
finding her preoccupied and unenter-
tanning. gradually drew away TO more
animated companions. l, too, with the
secret on my mind, was moody and
i'll disposed TO join in the gay sports
our host provided for US. And short
~ before the expira don Of the term
for which ! had been invited | made
an excuse TO leave. Charlie drove me
TO the station and while we were wait
ing for the train said TO me:
Eileen IS greatly disappointed at
the failure OF her effort to make a
match for you"
I'm sorry not TO oblige her, but you
know those things can't be forced
IDSeIDAs udu hiO"h INC EtIi yOuI
wife picked out for me I might have
done better"
shes a splendid woman"
81 say. Charlie, since we've not mat
ed and it's all over, suppose you tell
NE who she is
Eileen would divorce me If did"
"On my honor, she shall never know
from me-
There was a whistle, and the train
rolled up. Just as / was about to get
aboard Charlie whispered in my ear:
Hester Adams
/ hurried into the car and sank in
my seat in semi-stunned condition.
The little god likes startling things.