Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-22
The Argus Daily Story
Playing Coachman-By Edna Cluikshank.
copyrighted. 1911 by Associated Literary Bureau

dAu II was nuI iouS ueiOEe lue young
men began to bet as to which one of
the sisters would get him.
1t should be understood that what
ever OF rivalry Rowland excited he
was always spoken of in the family
and treated as Patrick, the coachman.
Miss Delano never even admitted to
herself that she looked upon him in
any other light Miss Annette once
spoke Of him with enthusiasm to her
sister Edith and received a severe
frowning down for her admiration Of
a serving man. Miss Gertrude per-
mitted herself to think of him occa-
sionally when reading novels, wonder
ing II he would turn out a hero in
disguise. 1t was JacQueline alone who
was secretly carrying on a wild dirta-
ton with the coachman. who never
betrayed herself to any member Of the
family as taking any interest in him
whatever. But JacQueline was one OF
those apparently proper young ladies
in whose mouths butter wouldn't melt.
And so the comedy went on. How
land, who did not realize just how he
stood. wrote Stevens that he was sure
to win both bets and as soon as the
test was over he would "blow in his
winnings in an evenings entertain
ment at the Hunt club. to include the
three persons interested. He was not
aware that Stevens and Galloway had
taken rooms in a house near Castle
Delano, where they could see him
drive out, and knew more about how
fast he was getting on than he knew
himself. Stevens had darkened his
complexion, added to, his whiskers and
dressed like one of the common people.
Galloway had reversed the process by
shaving q part of his beard and whit
ening his face, his dress being that OF
a newly imported Britisher. In an au-
tomobile they followed the spurious
coachman when he drove the young la
dies, sometimes keeping at a distance
behind him and sometimes debouching
and going much faster than he. head
ing him Off. AT first they were fear
full he might notice that he was being
Swallowed. but soon discovered that
when with the youngest Miss Delano
he was too absorbed in her to permit
his noticing any one else.
Gradually they began 10 know the
days and the hours that Rowland and
Jacqueline went out together and that
these outings were becoming more and
more frequent. Indeed, so frequent
were they that the two shadowers won
dered If the young lady's family did
not suspect something was going on
between the two. The truth is that
JacQueline was so adept at making
excuses for going out attended only by
the coachman and put on so much in
nocence In the matter that she was
not suspected, or, If she was, 1t was
only by some of her sisters, who were
trying to play the same game, for it
must be admitted that Rowland was
too gallant to repress any favor they
might show him.
The time was now rapidly coming on
! when the bets must be lost or won.
| One afternoon Stevens and Galloway,
who were ever on the watch, saw a
two wheeled cart driven up to the
porte-cochere of Castle Delano by their
friend. While he was waiting they
saw him pull out and push back suit
case under the seat. Presently Miss
| Jacqueline Delano came out with an
other suit case, which she handed to
Patrick"
Come" said Stevens. I'VE must
! get out the auto. Those suit cases
seem to indicate that something is up"
1t was not long before they were be-
hind the couple in the cart and, keep
ing at a safe distance, followed them
to village where. stopping before a
| house next a church, the coachman
tied his horse and the two went In
| side.
I've won the second bet" said
Stevens.
What makes you think sor'
They've gone into q parsonage"
! The two young men waited a few
minutes, then. going up on to the porch
/ of the house the clippers had entered
| and finding the door unlocked, went In
! quietly, attracting no attention. The
couple were being married, and the
clergyman was calling upon whomso-
ever knew aught why they should not
be Joined together to speak or ever
after hold his peace when Stevens
stepped forward and said:
81 forbid the bannsr'
Rowland turned and saw his friend
smiling at him. The bride, naturally,
looked astonished
'T need a best man." cried the
groom-"two of them. Step up here,
gentlemen" and be introduced the
men TO his bride. She was rather
disturbed at their ordinary appear
ance. for Rowland had told her who
he was. and she expected his friends
would be swells. However, there were
no further Interruptions to the service,
and after 1t was over all was explain
ed. The same evening there were fur
Their explanations in Castle Delano as
to the identity Of the supposed coach
man and the elOpement
Rowland took his wife to the Hunt
club, where he gave a supper TO her.
two Of her sisters and his two friends
lie had won both bets.