Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-18

Silence.
"Alvarettyr she shrieked more shril-
" up the attic stairway.
Silence here too.
Where is that grip" fumed Alvaret-
ia Winton's mother as she looked into
the bedrooms and then made another
search OF the lower floor.
The Wintons were still asking that
question at 6 o'clock that evening. for
Alvaretta. the pretty daughter of the
house had disappeared as suddenly and
mysteriously as though the earth had
opened and swallowed her up.
Neighbors had Joined the anxious
family and perhaps a dozen were sit
ting and standing around the untaSted
supper which Mrs. Wintou had some
how managed to place upon the table.
Alva Winton. the widows only son,
was nervously excited over his sisters
disappearance.
Cant you remember where you saw
her last. MAJ he asked for the hun
dredth time since O'Clock that after
noon.
Mrs. Winton sank into chair and
turned her Redeemed eyes upon her
son. It's the queerest thing. now that
think of it, she answered him for
the hundredth time. she made some
remark to me while l was frying
those doughnuts. and what with the
blue smoke in the kitchen and the Sput-
tering of the hot lard. l didn't sense
half of what she said She smiled
deprecatingly at the faces turned to-
ward her.
We'll. ma, what was the half OF
what you did hcar?" patiently insisted
Alva.
"She Jest ran in through the smoke
and asked me if she could 20 some
where or do something. and l says. as
/ often do to Alvaretty, oh. yes. run
along. do child; only don't be too late!
She kissed me and went off. and that's
the last I've seen Of my daughter"
Then Mrs Winton broke down and
cried for the first time that trying aft
ernoOn.
That's all the clew we got to go on.
Now. suppose each one of you take
street and go to every house and ask
If my sister has been there or if any
body has seen her since noon. Well
all meet here at o'clock" Young AL
vas voice quivered.
Where you going, Alva?" asked Cy-
rus Jenkins.
Down among the stores and along
the river" said Alva, dropping his
/ roica NJ rho los word On that hiS moth
er should not hear.
IF could only meet Irving DENLY
he might have seen her" mused the
troubled youth as he made his way to-
ward the stores which were grouped
around the postoffiCe.
Irving DENLY was the youth in the
drug store who was deeply in love with
pretty Alvaretta Winton. He bored
her TO death with his attentions. for
/ Alvaretta had already made her choice
! and was engaged to Dave Bemis. who
/ worked in the railroad office in the
/ city.
| So Alva's first inquiry was made at
! the drug store. where lrvings pale,
| freckled face became elongated with
! surprise at the question.
/ "Aivaretta lost? Pshaw, you're josh
ing me"' he laughed incredulousIy.
It's the solemn truth. Irving.
! thought maybe you'd seen her go past
( or something. | thought you might
/ like to help find her" ended Alva. dis
appointed.
"Of course I would, Let me see-I
] leo. &.
on my way back from dinner. It must
| have been l o'clock. She had on that
/ blue dress she wears and white hat
| remember because she looked great
and | wondered where she was going"
confessed Irving, reddening to his
homely ears.
(which way did she go?"
straight up the hill"
That's something I've learned" said
Alva. drawing a breath of relief
You're the first one who's seen her
since before dinner"
At o'clock Alva was hurryng to
ward his home anXiously hoping that
some of the other searchers had been
more successful than himself in find
ans NEWS VI us MISSILE CiNiNls Ibf-
yond the statement of Irving DENLY
that he had seen Alvaretta going up
the hill that led 20 the railroad station
there had not been a single clew. Per
haps it was because the hour between
II and is sacred to dinner IN Little
River. and thus no one had observed
Alvaretta. Inquiry at the station was
useless. for when Irving reached there
he found il closed.
Perhaps Alvaretta would have re-
turned home when he reached there.
This thought hurried his steps home
ward
Eyes as anxious as his own ques-
toned him when he entered the din
ing room once more. He shook his
head slowly and then told them what
little information lie had gained.
AS he finished speaking the door
opened quickly and admitted Dave
Remis, Alvaretta's sweetheart His
handsome face was quite pale. and he
was brcathess with haste. and he
spoke without ceremony
"Whcre'S Alvaretta be asked
sharply.