Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22

&o11hhAS anu SA@OA3A6S - SAS AAACo9SW-
creek Hunt club. They were Bert
Stevens, Jim Galloway and Ned How
land 1t was not the hunting season,
and these gentlemen, whose lives were
absorbed in hunting, horses and
hounds, had little amusement, so they
lounged, chaffed one another and made
bets whenever they could find an I'M
certainty. They could well AFFORD to
do so because every one Of them was
rich. The subject turned upon what
they would do IL they should have to
go to work.
81 would hire for a chauffeur" said
Stevens.
'If went in for that sort Of thing"
said Rowland. I'D hire for a coach
man. I have no fancy for dead ma
chine, but l love a live horse"
I'D like to see you in livery" said
Galloway.
an bet you a thousand" said Ste
vens to Rowland, that you can't pass
yourself of for a coachman."
"I'll bet you a thousand 1 can"
Stevens took out a pocket check
book. wrote a check and handed 1t to
Galloway, daring Rowland TO cover it.
But should have to prove that
can, and that would involve getting a
situation or keeping it for a stipulated
time"
$50 you would. 1t would be lark,
wouldn't it,"
81 don't know that it would"
"Try It, Ned urged the stakeholder.
Rowland didn't consent just then,
but he did later, and an additional
$1,000 was left in Galloway's hands as
stakes for the following bet: Rowland
to secure a place as coachman and
keep it four weeks without any men,
Der Of the family for whom he worked
knowing that he was gentleman. But
IL his identity was discovered through
any means not In accord with the spir-
It in which the bet was made the bet
was to be considered a draw. When
all was settled Stevens said:
"I'll bet you another thousand, Ned,
in the family you serve between the
ages of fifteen and twenty five you run
away with her within your term of
service"
Done" said Rowland, and Gallo
way was handed the additional stake
by each party TO the wager.
1t was not long after this that Mr..
Edmond Delano, who had gone, with
his family, to his country place for the
summer, received a note from an en-
ployment agency that an excellent OPP
portunity had occurred to hiIe an ele-
CANT coachman. Mr.. Delano directed
| the man to be sent up at once. He was
surprised to see q handsome young fel
1 low of athletic build, though shabbily
dressed.
"Your name?" asked Mr.. Delano.
Patrick Horne"
You're not Irish, are you? You have
no brogue.''
my grandfather was an Irishman."
So he was and baronet.
Ned Rowland was engaged and wher
he reported for duty appeared in {
brand new livery, in which he looked
more like a major general than 6
coachman. There were five young la
dies in the family between the ages o.
fifteen and twenty-five, so that his be
with Stevens should have been FIVE t,
one in Howland's favor, and as ever,
greater odds than this should have
been given.
The eldest daughter, Miss Margare
Delano, was fully the coachman's age
Besides, she was rather strong minded
having charge Of a section devoted t.
archaeology in the woman's club o
which she was a member. Miss Edit
was twenty-three and eminently sensi
BILE
Miss Annette was twenty and de
voted to society. She directed the so
cial affairs of the family. Then cam
Miss Gertrude, inclined to be lackadai
steal, while the baby girl, Miss Jacque
line, or Jack, as she was UNIVERSAL.
called. aged seventeen, was the yer,
flower of the family garden.
Since each and every one OF thes
young ladies' was attractive 1t was evi
dent that Rowland, to use a Hiberni
cism, had walked into hornets nest
The eldest treated him as a coachmar
and as coachman he was in no DANCE
from her; but, as for the rest Of tn
girls, from the first there were con
slant chickering's among them as +
which one should drive out with hin
he either holding the reins or sittin
in the rumble.
There was constant danger of Nj
Rowland running across some one VIII
knew him, though he had shaved off
full beard, and his livery also change
his appearance. Fortunately he kne7
no one in the place where he served
and the Delanos were an old family
not inclined to mix much with tn
commercial aristocracy Of the preseu
day. But one afternoon Stevens an
Galloway, who knew where Howlan
was, appeared on the street as he wa
riding by in the rumble of Miss Jacqu'
lines pony cart. The girl was turne
square away from the pony, chattin
and laughing with her fOotman. whe
he espied his two friends looking 8
him, their sides shaking with lsughte
He was leaning forward at the tim
gazing into the girls sparkling eve
but on catching sight Of his croni
Strengthened up. folded his arms al