Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-05-18


able 10 endure these thoughts no
longer. he buttoned his frock coat,
thrust on his silk hat, and opened the
door just as the elevator boy ascend
ed the passage.
There's a cab waiting for you,
sir" said the boy, grinning sympathet-
ically.
"Ha, Mr.. stanAeld?" asked Jooe-
Ign wildly.
no. sir, Just cab, sir" answered
the boy. Man says you ordered him
to be here, sir" he continued.
That's right" said Jocelyn. He
resolved to wait for Jack no longer
but TO let him follow him to the
church. With that tenscity Of de-
termination which characterizes men
in desperate situations, Jocelyn had
concentrated all his intelligence on
one thing which, IN his mind, would
make or mar the wedding. His we'd
ding ring he kept loosely sewn into
the pocket of his waistcoat, refusing
10 entrust il to his friend. He felt
for IL a dozen times during his de-
scent TO the ground floor. II was safe
still So long as he had this, no
body could Illustrate his marriage, he
thought.
Good luck sir" said the elevator
I boy. as Jocelyn stepped out, and, the
richer by a fve-dollar bill, he grinned
/ his thanks and continued his prosaic
/ task.
The cabman swayed as he saluted
Jocelyn from his perch, and, with a
smile fixed on his Hibernian counte-
/ nance remained at an angle like that
/ OF the Leaning Tower of Pisa, evf
IDENTIFY overcome by the previous cele-
bration of his patrons nuptials.
"St Georges church." said Jocelyn,
stepping inside.
Sure. don't I know. yer honor?"
asked the driver reproachfully. AN
Is II me as would fergit the mos
beautiful lady as liver graced her
wedding gownd? It's the goodlooking
pair yezll make, all right"
Drive quick but not dangerously
fast" called Jocelyn, shutting the
door after him. The driver, evidently
Misunderstanding his instructions,
whipped up his horse and the convey
ance started off at a furious rate in
the direction of Gramercy square
while Jocelyn, leaning back against
the cushions, abandoned himself to
his anticipations.
All too soon the journey came to
an end. The cabman. springing down,
opened the door for him with a suave
bow. and Jocelyn. still in a dream. en-
tered tiny church amid an enormous
crowd. which vented its sentiments in
, prolonged whistle of surprise.
The church certainly did seem to
have changed its appearance since
the day when Jocelyn had attended
there in order to familiarize himself
with the scene of the nuptials To be
gin with, the street was uncommonly
dirty: then. again, those who had as
sembled were hardly that element Of
the populace whom Jocelyn had nerv
ed himself to expect. They had dis
tinctly foreign aspect and their salu
tations were, though couched in for
/ eign tongue, obviously the reverse o
, friendly. One fellow, indeed. forgo
! himself so far as to shake his fist il
JONtlg II ldNts
r Like a man in a dream he passed il
, and up the aisle. Even here he ex
perienced something Of a surprise. 70
I the appearance Of the altar was tina
. OF an unfamiliar creed. Yet Jocelyl
b hurried on: his mental processe
. were numbed. and his one though
S was to find Mary Davenant. Onl.
D the sight Of her. he knew, would re
e store him to his normal calm and er
[ able him to act as a sane man in thes
' perplexing surroundings.
He approached the aisle amid CON
: plete silence. though the small churc
g was crowded, but, as he drew near I'll
g altar. little group OF people separat
ed and came toward him, finally intel
Z posing themselves between himsel
|. and the exit as though he mediate
/. an escape. AS he stared Wild
o round him his glance fell on a won
d an who, with blazing cheeks an
n blanched face. whittier than paper vi
+ der her bridal veil, awaited him.
8 was the Italian woman whom he ha
, encountered at the marriage licens
4 bureau,
8 He's come. My mans come" sh
/. shrieked. Liars! You said that b
n had run away" And. fiinging he
u self into his arms, she lay there in
Il dead faint, while Jocelyn, supportin
II his burden, stared round him for III
l. sight Of one familiar face
IS What does this mean" he deman,
d ed Of stout man in an evening sui
It across whose waistcoat dangled
e thick rope Of gold, from which d.
4 pended varicolored seals-evidentl
D. the brides father
Il do know" retorted the othe
e struggling his shoulders. Who al
o you? Where you come from? Where
n Amato9"
II Il don't know where he is" mu
e tered Jocelyn feebly, upon the point {
d collapse. He knew now that he mus
2. be dreaming and wondered how 500
II be would awaken, to find himself bac
z in his sitting room. 1T must be thu
II brandy | swallowed" he murmure,
y trying to induce the bride 20 stand @
T. her feet again. Il hope I wake up b
D. fore eleyen-thirty or shall keep Mar
q waiting" He thrust the bride int
a the stout mans arms and started Z