Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-16

and that l thought that you might"
We'll, then" he began.
But she would not be interrupted.
81 did not mean that you should en-
Joy all the privileges of conquest be-
fore you had won me. I will thank
you not to do that again, SIR
1T seems to have had very DIFF
rerent effect upon you than it does
upon me-" replied the man coolly. Il
loved you before. but now. since I
have kissed you, worship you"
1T hasn't affected me that way" re-
torted the girl promptly, her face still
frowning and indignant. Not at all.
and"
Forgive me, Enid" pleaded the
other. Il just couldn't help it. You
were so beautiful had to. l took the |
chance. You are not accustomed to |
our ways"
rs this your habit in your love af- |
fairs?" asked the girl swiftly and not !
without spice of feminine malice.
q never had any love affair be-
FORE" he replied with a ready mascu-
line mendacity, lat least none worth
mentioning. But you see this is the
west; we have gained what we have
by demanding every inch that nature
offers, and then claiming the all.
That's the way We play the game out
here and that's the way we win"
But l have not yet learned to play
the game, as you call it, by any such
rules" returned the young woman de-
terminedly, and it is not the way to
win me If l am the stake"
What Is the way?" asked the man
anxiously. SHOW me and I'll take 1t
! no matter what its difficulty
"Ah, for me to point out the way
/ would be to play traitor to myself"
! she answered, relenting and relaxing
/ little before his devoted wooing.
You must find it without assistance.
can only tell you one thing"
And what is that?"
You do not advance toward the
goal by such actions as those of q
moment since"
Look here" said the other sudden
ly. 81 am not ashamed of what did,
and I'm not going to pretend that
am, either"
You ought to be-" severely.
well, maybe SO, but I'm not;
couldn't help it any more than could
help loving you the minute 1 saw you.
Put yourself in my place"
But l am not in your place, and I
can't put myself there. 1 do not wish
to. If it be true, as you say, that you
have grown to-care so much for me
and SO quickly"
IF it be true?" came the sharp IN
terruption as the man bent toward
her, fairly devouring her with his bold,
ardent gaze.
We'll, since it is true" she admit
, ed under the compuision of his pro-
. test. That fact is the only possible
excuse for your action"
You find some justification for me,
them"
mo, only possibility, but whether
1t be true or not, l do not feel that
way-yet."
= There was a saving grace in that
, last word, which gave him a little
!, heart. He would have spoken, but
= she suffered no interruption, saying:
Il have been wooed before, but
True, unless the human race has
under his breath.
!, But never in such ungentle ways
Il suppose you have never run W
against a real red-blooded man like
me before"
:, IF red-blooded be evidenced mainly
9 by lacking of self control, perhaps
. have not. Yet there are men that
!. have met that would not need to apol
- ogize for their qualities even to you
Mr.. James Armstrong"
- Don't say that. Evidently 1 make
but poor progress in my wooing
. Never have I met with woman quite
= like you"-and in that indeed lay
some of her charm, and she nigh
% have replied in exactly the same Ian
. guage and with exactly the sam,
meaning to hint am no longer /;
- boy. | must be fifteen years oide
than you are, for / am thirty-f1ve."
The difference between their year
:, was not quite so great as he declared
u but womanlike the girl let the state
. ment pass unchallenged.
And / wouldn't insult your intel
ligence by saying you are the onl
u woman that have ever made love to
"a but there is a vast difference betwee
LII making love to a woman and lovin
IL one. l have just found that out for til
first time. | marvel at the past, an
q, l am ashamed of 1t, but l thank Go
q that have been saved for this o
e. poTtunity. l want To win you, and
&c am going to do it. too. In man
10 things l don't match up with the pc
j., pie with whom you train. l was boz
~ out here, and I've made myself. The
~ are things that have happened in Il
-. making that l am not especially prot
"a OF, and l am not at all satisfied wi
the results, especially since / ha'
"a met you. The better / know you Il
GU less pleased / am with Jim Arr
s. strong, but there are possibilities
me, rather believe, and with you Z
50 inspiration, God!"-the man flung o
his hand with a fine gesture Of d
an termination. They say that the ca
"o and west don't naturally mingle,
;. it's a lie; you and l can beat t
e. world"
III The woman thrilled to his gala
Uooinp ADy woman would have do