Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-17

knew the girl
"Ohr' said Paul blankly.
IT'S a serious matter" observed
Denton. "when you inquire so solicit
tously concerning lady. May 1 ask
if you are in love?"
Il don't know" returned the mex
perienced one frankly. I've seen the
most-the most-Dan, she is perfectr'
Then you areV'
Are what?"
ain love"
81 can't be when don's even know
her name"
AT least you may discover whether
it is written in the stars that she is to
be yours. Did she carry pomegran-
ate tree alongT'
NO. Let me describe her In a few
words. She may be among your ac-
Quaintances." Paul was serious
Thereupon Paul proceeded to describe
his meeting with the beautiful stranger
in so many words and with such vivid
word painting that Dan Denton as last
called halt.
"Enoughr' he cried in desperation.
''If that's what you call few words
protect me from what you'd describe
as a short conversational
"Do you recognize herr" asked Paul
eagerly.
Your description sounds like a half
dozen perfect girls rolled into one.
Come to that little dance at my sisters
tonight She might be there"
Really. do you think there's a
chances"
"Why not? No harm in coming.
You've a better chance if you are prop
erly introduced to her than If you walk
the streets looking for her.
That is very true" said Paul "I'Il
come, thank you"
Good for you" chuckled Dan. slip
ping down from the table, "and now
l think I'll trot along home. See you
later" He closed his own desk, put
on his hat and overcOat and went down
into the street, good nature irradiating
from his round face.
He rode uptown, chuckling all the
way, and when he went into a fash
ionable florist shop he was literally
shaking with some inward amusement.
When he emerged he was laughing out
right.
While Paul was dressing to go out
that evening he suddenly glanced down
at the Persian rug under his feet II
wonder" he mused-"T wonder If meet
ing that girl was written in the stars,
I'd like to know where the pomegran-
ates come in. Perhaps it means jour
ney to u foreign country. A wedding
trip. eh?"
Haven't seen any goddesses that
came up to the one you described, old
man." was Denton's greeting. later on,
when he arrived at Mrs. Margrave's
dance. We've blends and brunettes
and all the types that come between.
but I'm afraid you're bound to be dis
/ appointed"
Paul looked disappointed, but he bore
, it with good grace and went to talk TO
the few people whom he knew there.
! Later on he wandered about, looking
| for Denton, who had disappeared. The
/ Margrave house was a large and rather
| rambling structure. but Paul was quite
/ familiar with its byways. for he was
! often a guest there. He knew that the
J quiet nook where he might indulge I'm
/ smoke, for Mrs. Margrave always kept
/ the little glass doors closed from the
/ other alcoyes of the long stretch OF
! conservatory.
The conservatory was practically de-
serted as he walked down the tesse.-
| lated floor. There was a strong lure for
! the dancers In the sweet. wild music
/ of Hungarian orchestra i'm the dis
tant rooms and it seemed as though he
I had the place TO himself.
The little glass doors into the last
/ alcove We're wide open, and he paused
/ there for an instant halted By the pic
/ ture before him.
/ Against Il dense background of tall
{ green plants stood three pomcgranats
I trees in fun bloom. the rich scarlet OF
( their flower petals naring out with
startling beauty and unexpectedness
/ to one who had seen them only in dis
/ tant lands.
| That was rot the stranGest sight. In
/ front Of the pottcd trees was u semi
circular marble bench. On the bench
/ sat Dan Der ton in the very act OF Of
/ fcriny the girl rose The girl was
/ the red haired beauty Paul had seen
! that afternoon. She was lovelier than
Denton looked up. saw PAM and
( smiled lie WAS on his feet at once
"Come on in, Paul" he said cordially.
81 want TO Introduce you to Miss Ew-
ing" and when the introduction had
been made he excused himself and
went away, casting one backward
! glance at the absorbed couple on the
! bench
after all my trouble IN setting that
/ po,negrauate scene don't believe ne
saw anything except the girl oh.
say, Paul" he called back at wasn't
a fish after all"'
But Paul never heard him. He cared
nothing for asuolnaers or what We
written in the stars or In Ms Persian
rug
He was looking into q pair of wen.
derful daTg blue eyes
i Sept. II in american |