Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-26

Because it is his favorite song" re-
torted Beth.
Seems as though heard some girl
singing that to him not long ago." re-
marked Mrs. Leighton lazily.
81 sang 1t to him only last SundayT
cried Beth.
He wouldn't do anything Of that
sortr' burst forth Beth at last Her
blue eyes were blazing dangerously.
Anything like whatT' asked Mile,
startled.
"Oh. you know-firt with another
girl when he Is engaged to me-" ex-
planned Beth.
Mile shook her plump shoulders. II
wouldn't trust the best OF men where
there was q yellow siren about" she
observed.
Beth arose to her slim height and
faced the charming little widow.
81 don't care how many sirens Tom
nv Flabeau takes out in his machine"
she cried warmly. 81 have faith in
him in spite of everybody"
Its just as well TO take 1t that
way" soothed Miliie calmly.
'I wonder what her name is" said
Beth
Glare, 1 believe" admitted the
| widow.
| Glare" murmured Beth thoughtful
| ". 81 wonder what he would say IL
! I asked him to introduce me TO Clare?"
"It would be the best joke Of the sea-
son." said Mrs Leighton, sitting
yawn.
Joker questioned Beth. Dear MIL
lie, l am in dead earnest. l promise
you the next time 1 see Tommy Fla
beau / shall ask him to introduce me
to his latest siren. Clare"
I'll see that you don't forget that
promise" said Mile gleefully.
As the days went on Beth grew
strangely jealous of her lover. While
she had never seen her betrothed in
the company Of another girl, she was
constantly on the lookout to discover
him in one OF his auto rides about the
country. But when he left the hotel
he was invariably alone. and when he
returned he had no companion. Beth
refused to accompany him under one
pretext or another. First she must
know If he was faithful to her.
Then one glorious afternoon. when
she had just emerged from the hotel
with Mile Leighton, Tommy Flabeau
rounded the curved drive before the
door and shouted an invitation to ride.
Mile accepted carelessly, and Beth
found herself swept forward into the
seat beside Tommy, while Lester
Whapely appeared from nowhere and
occupied the other tonneau seat beside
the little widow.
Tommy Flabeau, usually carelessly
jovial, was dark with despair. for his
ladylove had led him most disagree
able chase the past ten days. He un-
derstood AIillie Leighton's ruse in get
ting Beth into the car. and he knew
Beth well enough to be certain that the
incident was as unwelcome and unex-
pected to her as to himself
The machine few over the perfect
roads with low humming murmur
; and with a slight vibration which
gradually Jared Beth's flower trim
med hat backward on her head until
its huge dimensions formed frame for
her lovely face, quite hiding it from
the couple in the tonneau.
All at once Tommy Flabeau leaned
over and asked Beth question.
whats the matter between you and
me, Beth?" he asked bluntly.
MATTER" faltered Beth.
yes. You've hardly spoken TO me
for ten days, and when you are newly
engaged to a fellow that means some
thing, you know" Tommy's tone was
Enthusiastically fierce.
Beth's eyes filed with tears of re-
lief. 1t was good to make confession
TO him, and she was sure-sure that
everything would come out all right.
He would forget the horrd Clare, the
girl with the bleached hair, whom Les
ter Whapely had vulgarly called a
'peacherno" and whom every body
called siren"
ITS your siren, Tommy" she said in
a wabblv voice.
MY SIREN almost shouted Mr.. Fla
beau. Whats the matter with my
siren, eh?' He reached down, and in
stantly there foated out on the even
ing breeze a few delicious, harmonious
notes. Beth caught her breath sharp
~, for surely 1t was playing the open
ing bars of Lassens Thine Eyes So
Blue"
|
goose ! am!' half laughed and half
cried Beth as she listened TO Tommy's
explanation that his new automobile
horn was called clarion which
the wicked widow and the joke loving
Whapely had shortened to Clare
II never believed it anyhow, Tom
my" murmured Beth. turning her
fower-like face to his.
Tommy Fiabeau gazed into her blue
eyes. so deep and tender. and suddenly
bent down toward her.
! did he kiss herr" whispered Lester
Whapely to the little widow In the
seat beside him.
"Of course ne didr' she cried scorn-
fully.
: Then let us become engaged and do
likewise" cried Whapely boldly And
, he possessed himself OF the widows
! willing hand