Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-21
The Argus Daily Story
His Friends Fiancee-By Edward Compton.
copyrighted. 1912. by associated Literary bureau

morning he appeared in the latters Of
flce. his eSuberant manner somewhat
changed. He made no reference to
his love affair till Jim asked him about
il. then said that there was hitch.
The young lady was in great tribula-
ton over It. BY keeping It secret she
had hoped to gain time in which to
win the approval of her father to the
match But thus far she had failed.
He was in favor of her marrying an
other man. one who was the prospec-
tive heir to a fortune. "She loves me.
John added mournfully. but she and
her father are very close. She can't
bear to disapppint him. Besides. she
is one of those persons who are prone
to act for the good Of others at their
own expense"
Who's your rival?" asked Jim.
That | don't know. The lady would
not he justified in telling me-"
How do you know she really loves
you?"
while trust her implicitly, must
admit that | have no other proof than
her word that she does"
Jim mentioned the call they were to
make together. but John felt so de-
spondent about his own affair that he
begged of till something definite In 1t
should have been reached.
One day John told Jim that he had
persuaded his love to accept ring
from him. 1t was to be an engage
ment ring If they became engaged,
and IL they were not engaged the lady
insisted upon its return. John asked
his friend to go with him to jeweier
and assist in the selection of the gift
! Jim did not quite understand how a
woman so sensitivcly honorable as his
friends lady love had been described
could accept ring under the circum-
stances Nevertheless the case SEEM
ed to be a peculiar one, and he under
stood from John that he regarded the
! gift as a possible stepping stone to an
! engagement.
The two friends visited a Jeweler
| IN company. and the ring selected was
! one that Turner especially fancied.
/ There were two diamonds held In the
fangs of snake. Dillon condemned
/ the ring as entirely inappropriate to
the occasion. But Turner's heart
! seemed set on 1t. and he bought It
| He left 1t with the jeweler to have
the lady's Initials engraved In it. ex-
! planning to his friend that. his own
! mind being made up. this was aliowa-
Bile When the lady made up her mind
to take him his own Initials could be
put in.
Soon after the purchase of the ring
Turner told Dillon that he had receiv-
A.l-z -
the lady of his love. Dillon gladly &C
cepted the invitation.
When they went up the steps OF the
dwelling, TO which Turner led the
way. Dillon stopped and exclaimed:
For heavens sake. John. what does
3 this mean:"
"It MEANS" was the reply. that this
is the house where lives the woman
who has admitted that she loves me-"
Dillon had run up the steps and
pushed the bell. Before Jim could
speak again the door was opened by a
servant. John waited for Jim to en-
ter. then went in himself. Clara Mark
land was seated in the drawing room.
At seeing the two men she paled.
Then she tried TO slip from her finger
her fiance had seen it and recognized
the gift he had seen when his friend
had bought 1t.
1t was an impressive tabeau-the
woman who feared that she had lost
an advantageous match. the undeceiv-
ed lover and the man Who had played
the game.
~ now see. john" said Dillon In an
icy tone. why you fancied the two
diamonds IN the fanGs Of serpent"
We'll. gentlemen" said Miss Mark
land. how does it happen that you two
call together"
II leave it to my friend to make the
explanation" said Dillon. i had no
idea that he was taking me to call on
my fiancee"
Since Whatever motive" said Tur-
ner. that | may have had has been
accomplished namely. TO prove to a
deceived man his deception-I am not
needed here. leave you two together
to make up this little difference"
The difference the lady succeeded in
making up. which meant an enmity on
the part of her lover for his chum.
When Dillon next met Turner he pass
ed hin without speaking to- him. Dill
lon married Miss MARYLAND. and so
long as n small fortune left him by his
Y mother lasted she used 1t TO float her,
self In the fashionable world Mean
while MIR Dillon. ST.. died and left
his estate in Turner's hands in trust
for his son. to he paid him or certain
conditions. When Dillon's means were
exhausted his wife left him. Then
one day he called on Turner TO ask his
forgiveness.
Turner told him that he was per.
mitted by his fathers will TO pay him
any money of which his wife could
reap no benefit
The friendship that was interrupted
during this period Of young Dillon's
marriage became closer than ever. AS
to the woman. she dTifted away from
both Of them.
! Dec. FL in American