Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-07-26
The Argus Daily Short Story
Damon, Pythias & COB. F. A. Mitchell
Copyrgated. 1911. by Associated Literary Press

! Will and me before he left that I was
to take you in and form this bond
between u.s.
Mr.. Clarkson started and again look
ed wildly about him.
81 don't know" he said, that 1 ever
heard of an arrangement like this"
There's always a first time for
everything"
There's one advantage in it," mus
ingly, that 1 have already mentioned.
To be frank with you. I'd rather steer
clear of wOmen-matrimonia l mean.
It's all right for Will to go in for that
sort Of thing, but ] don't. This ar
rangement will be a barrier for me,
won't II?
"I'll guarantee that no woman shall
come near you. To facilitate matters
we will let them all know that you be-
long TO the firm of Damon, Pythias
s. Co by making yourself at home
here. For a starter Will left a pair OF
tickets to the theater for tomorrow
evening. Have you any enga gementsT p
"N-n-o"
"Oh, If you don't care to go I can
dispose Of the tickets" She looked a
trifie miffed.
II shall be delighted"
"Very well Now we will talk OF
other matters. 1t has been quite warm
lately, hasn't it,"
''Yes-no. I haven't noticed How
long did you say Will is to be absentT'
"a month"
wont you miss him very much?"
I him dearly ha
loves me But here comes in the ad-
vantage of a trio. ] shall have you
Clarkson started as if a bomb had
fallen on the floor before him and was
sputtering ready to explode. If he had
been looking at his companion he
would have seen a very animated ex-
preston on her face.
II was not aware, didn't know"
he stammered, that lady married to
the man she loves could let him go
away a few days after the wedding
and be contented with the company OF
his best friend"
"You forget that this is a tripartite
arrangement, wherein three persons
are made one. But cease to bother
yourself about that. The secret of re-
naming comfortable IN this world is
not to worry. By this arrangement
Will and 1 have endeavored to obviate
the necessity of you and he loving each
other 1t behooves you to accept the
situation and be content"
You have both certainly been very
kind. 1 shall endeavor to prove myself
worthy of your confidence and CON
duct myself
Conduct YOURSELF OF course you
will. Now don't trouble yourself any
more about TRIES. Just fall into the
situation naturally and all will be
we'll"
He left hor, wondering what IL all
meant Surely there was some mistake.
Was this woman so innocent that she
supposed such q partnership as she
proposed could endure without dangerf
The head Of the firm of Damon, Pyth- !
ias & Co. remained away quite long
enough to produce a volcano in the
breast Of the junior member.
The lady maintained the same posi- |
ton she had taken at the first meeting
with Clarkson, talked about love exist |
ing between the three of them just as |
innocently and bore herself just as
clrcuInspecuy at AAe laSt a. a. IHc
FIRST of Damon's absence The only |
difference in her bearing from what he /
might expect OF his friends wife was 1
q growing disposition to sensitiveness |
with regard 10 his treatment Of her. /
In one respect the intimacy was a sue /
cess. No other woman was permitted I
TO get near enough 10 GARRISON 10 en- /
danger his single state As for the /
purity OF the junior member Of the ]
firm and her loyalty 10 the head Of 1t /
there was no question
Nevertheless before his friend Da-
mon returned Clarkson was in love.
Indeed, the evening before the arrival
Of the man who had permitted this
uniQue arranEe -nent Mr. Ciarkson