Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-11-16

appeared to be acquainted for they
| occasionally broke into embarrassed
attempts at conversation only to lapse
into fits OF nervous abstraction, each
furtively watching the other.
OF these two young men, one was
clad in an automobile dust coat and
cap while a pair of goggles protruded
from his coat pocket The other wore
leather puttees and a checked wooden
cap placed hindside before with the
visor pulled down over the back Of his
sleek dark hair. Both were handsome.
The young man was plain of face,
| with sQuarer, blunter features suggest
ing franknesS and a certain tenacity
of purpose that might win by its
very straightforwardness where clever
1nesse would fail entirely. Unlike his
companions in the waiting room. the
clothing of the plain young man did
not denote any especial fad or calling
He sat with folded arms and under
| jaw prominent. so that one might
imagine that his teeth were tightly
clinched.
Suddenly the closed mahogany inner
door swung open and large, massive
| ~ framed, middle aged man appeared
on the threshold. He bowed with the
same degree of warmth to each of the
young men and referring TO a card in
his hand raised his eyebrows at the
automobile man.
You wished to see me, Mr.. Avery?
| Come right in, please"
| Frank Avery followed Silas Pedding-
! ton into the private office and. stuff
ing his cap in his pocket, sat down on
| the edge of one of the leather cush-
Toned chairs. He was obviously nerv-
! Gus, for he mopped his brow constant
| ly and gripped the floor with his toes
as though he was afraid Of falling in
an ignominious heap at the well shod
feet of the rich mill owner.
Mr.. Peddington smiled thoughtfully
and Joined the tips Of his fingers to-
| gether. looking over them at the en-
| barrassed young man.
We'll, Frank" he said at last, with
a suddenness that caused his visitor
an anxious instant on the perilous edge
of the chair, Il received your letter
this morning and telephoned you to
come down here. l hate to write let
ters, so 1 prefer to discuss matters OF
personal interest verbally rather than
| otherwise"
"Of course-certainly," observed Mr..
Avery.
Now, about Airline. Have you seen
herT'
Yes, I did see her"
It's a mighty funny business" said
Mr.. Peddington.
Funny" echoed Avery.
II said funny, queer, old, strange. sin
! gular, extraordinary, uniQue"' raped
out Mr.. Peddington sharply. He tap
! ped an open letter on his desk with a
blunt forefinger. Here's a letter from
another lovelorn youth Frank He
has seen my daughter very recently
in fact. at the Nautilus dance on Sat
urday. You asked her, then. too? All,
I thought so. She must have looked
uncommonly well I'll know how much
1t cost when the bill comes in. Well.
| young Hicks-hes outside there too
He says that Airline has told him that
! she doesn't love him; but like a duti-
/ full daughter. she refers him to me
/ Now I've got you both here l don't
( know what to do"
II didn't know Joe Hicks was inter
ested.' muttered Avery sullenly.
You both seem to be units among
throngs." returned Arlines father
! blandly. You've got plenty Of money.
! Frank, and / know you can take care
| OF a wife, although I'd like it better
/ if you didn't live a life OF leisure.
Seems to me I'd have more confidence
! in you if you wanted to work in spite
of your millions. AS for Joe Hicks, he
| isn't blessed with too much money. but
! he's brainy and bound to make his
mark in the field of scientific aviation.
| Think of the clever flying machine he
has just perfected. He's won no end
OF prize money. and with royalties
from his patents he'll be rich and a
worker too"
"If he had all the money he wanted
he wouldn't be working so hard for it
now" retorted the young man bitterly
Il happen to have inherited a lot, so
what's the use of workingT'
It's an achievement to invent an air
machine that can travel as fast as an
express train" remarked Mr.. Pedding-
ton.
ITS consolation to be able to pur-
chase a mOtorcar that can outdistance
the fastest express train. That's what
| have just DONE" flashed Frank Avery
in reply.
Got your machine herey" demanded
Mr.. Peddington suddenly.
Down at the door"
81 wonder If Joe Hicks has got his
monoplane in town"
Frank smiled bitterly. 81 wouldn't
be surprised He's got his cap on
wrong side before"
81 have an idea. I'll have him in"
Mr. Peddington jumped up and opened
the door into the outer office and
called TO the waiting aviator. When
Joe Hicks entered the inner Office Mr..
Peddington did not quite close the ma
hogany door. He left it ajar, and the
plain young man who was patiently
awaiting his turn for an interview
turned away and stared out OF the win
dow info the mill ward