Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-08-31

MRS. Beeks boarding house Ransom
paused for a moment until the little
gray form battered up to him. To his
surprise. she stopped Also and when
she spoke there was laughter in her
tones.
'T'u send your umbrella around
some time this evening. Mr.. Holbrook. :"
she said and then vanished. leaving
Ransom standing open mouthed In the
pelting rain
"She knew my name" he pondered.
as he thrust his latchkey in the door
Later, after he had worried through
a dinner which by a series of unheard
of cahmities had been deprived Of fits
constituent parts. he sat before his
crate fire thinking about-Miss Filter
mouse. She really seemed like a
friend now that he had spoken to her
and had been able to render her
service he wondered where she
worked so steadily and why It was
that he never saw her pass IN the
morning The door opened. and Mrs.
Beck entered. bearing his umbrella.
"a messenger boy brought It with
thanks" wheezed Mrs. Beck as she
set the umbrella on the hearth and left
the room.
The next day Ransom was the as
tonished recipient OF an invitation to
dine Informally with Mr.. Laidlaw at
that gentleman's home that very even
ing.
Ransom was well within the draw
ing room and had shaken hands with
his host and hostess and was being in
troduced to my only daughter. Hol-
brook" when he realized that he was
gazing into the eyes OF the girl in
the gray hat he had seen at church.
When she smiled and spoke to him
it was with the voice OF Miss Filter
mouse of the twilight, and he walked
into the dining room with bewildered
sense that everything was topsy turvy
and everybody was somebody else.
After dinner, when he had a moment
alone with Miss Laidlaw, she drew the
skirts of her soft gray Grape gown
aside and made room for him on the
sofa.
Tell me, Mr.. Holbrook. why you
called me Miss Fittermouse' last
night" Her eyes were dancing mirth-
fully.
Did 1 call you that7 I spoke my
thoughts aloud" he stammered, and
then, because he couldn't help telling
her anything she wanted to know, he
explained all about Miss Flittermouse,
who scurried past his house at twi-
light every night and who had awak-
ened such interest in his heart. II
supposed you were some little working
girl" he ended. 81 did not know you
were the beautiful and much to be
envied Miss Laidlaw, Of whom 1 have
heard so much"
81 am a working girl" averred Miss
Laidlaw decidedly. at am a teacher in
the settlement house IN Thorne street,
and it's the greatest work IN the
world" she added enthusiastically.
"Only father and mother have forbid
den Che to walk home after this.
James is to drive me home as well as
take me in the mornings"
"How did you know my nameT ask
ed Ransom. dizZied with looking into
her wonderful eyes.
Father told me last Sunday. l
didn't know then that 1t was my hat
that knocked your glasses of; then,
after last night, told father you must
come to dinner. You see. he's talked a
lot about you; says you're going to
make such a splendid lawyer"
I'm glad I'm a credit to the firm"
said Ransom modestly. "Tll pull out
If hard work counts for anything-and
knowing you, Miss Flittermouse-1
mean Miss Holbrook-will help lot"
"Call me Miss Flittermouse. like
It somehow" said Hope Laidlaw soft
lg. and Ransom's heart Ieaped when
b heard the words