Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-08-10

hung in ripping disorder over her
ears.
"Of all the shiftless'- gasped Mill
cent as she found her way up to the
back door Of the house. 1t was heater
than she had hoped to find it, and
when she had lifted the door latch
and found herself in the kitchen of
the house she exclaimed with wonder
at its shipshape appearance. The
stove was brightly polished and every
pot and pan hung upon its appointed
hook. It was all as snug as the galley
of a ship.
The sitting room was cool and .cozy,
with q smell of fragrant tobacco
There were large comfortable chairs
and piles OF newspapers and books.
On the mantelpiece a large clock tick
ed loudly, and Millicent fancied that
its round face watched her curiouSly.
She opened another door and stood
petrifed with establishment. Here was
the little bedroom of the master of
the house, and on the immaculate cover
Of his dressing table was an old fash
Toned photograph of Millicent herself
After her first gasp of surprise she
stood there motionless, her heart
throbbing heavily, her eyes shining
strangely
All at once there was the clang of
the closing gate and firm steps on the
path. Captain Ben was returning.
Millicent gazed wildly around and
opened the door which she thought led
into the kitchen to find herself at the
foot of the back stairs. At the sound
e Oh u
door close and stood painting with
fright
The front door opened and closed,
and Captain Ben came into the sitting
room yhistling cheerily. Millicent
heard him slap a bundle of papers
down on the table and later the
scratch of a match and the smell Of to-
bacco. If he would only seek his
front porch, as was his custom. AMI
thus permit her to escape by the back
way, but he did not He settled him
self in a creaking chair. and Millicent
heard the rustic of his newspaper.
She glanced up the dark stairway.
Once up there she might conceal her
self until Captain Ben went out again,
when she might escape to her own do
main
She leaned forward and cautiously
removed her little slippers; then, feel
ing like a thief, she crept softly up
the stairs to the upper floor. which
was quite bare of furniture. She
heard Captain Ben arise and walk
around the room. He even went into
the unused east wing and tried door
there. Then he paused in the lower
hall, as If bordering whether to go up
stairs.
Did he suspect her presence there or
the presence of an interloper on his
premises? Had she left any telltale
evidence of her visit below?
At last he went back into the sitting
room, and she heard him whistling
softly.
1t was sitting hot upstairs, where
the sun had poured all day through
the unshuttered windows, and Mill
cent felt quite faint as she sat on the
top step and leaned her head against
the wall, while the thunder rolled and
the lightning flashed sharply. Then
came the rain in silver javelins that
ratified on the roof of the east wing
and drummed a tune against the win
dow panes.
When the rain was over and the sun
peeped palely forth Captain Ben's
voice came up the stairs with startling
suddenness.
why don't you come down, Millie"
he asked quietly.
So he had known she was there all
the time! Now he was aware that she
had entered his house and pryed into
his rooms just as u common gossip
might have done!
''Millie," he repeated softly, 81 have
waited a long time for you. Won't
you come to me-now?"
And Millicent, struggling between
love and pride and a sense Of shame,
went down the front stairs and into
Captain Ben's waiting arms.
saw you when you got caught in
che briers." explained the captain soft
ly. 81 was coming back, and then 1
went on. 1 guessed you hadn't time
TO leaveswhen / did come back, and /
knew you were here. heard the seventh
stair creak as you went up. / came
back to find myself your neighbor and
that you wouldn't speak. and 1 made
up my mind to anchor here for awhile.
1 thought maybe you'd stayed single
because you didn't find any one you
liked and so you might as well like
me, If you could"
''Why, I always have. Ben" whis-
pered Millicent. 81 couldn't like you
any better-why, Benz"