Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-28
The Argus Daily Story
Operator No. 13-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted. 1912. by Associated Literary Bureau

lady. Good night
The door closed after his form. and
Ellwood threw himself down on the
sofa and laughed silently, though hap
PLY. by love- he muttered. ITS
going some to fall in love like that.
M5at'S that?"
Tsat was the same clatter OF hoofS
and ringing OF gonSs he had heard the
previous night. EllwooG flung himself
into some clothes and slipped his over
coat over all. Then he dashed to the
telephone and heard her voice once
more
There Is a fire now" he said ur-
gently. will you please tell me where
it isl"
There was n little silence and then
startled cry. Why. its in Ninety
eighth street. That's where live. oh,
dear" she ended in a little sob.
EllwoOd thought rapidly.
Cant you call them up and find
out? Haven't your folks got tele-
phone?" he demanded.
I'VE just moved in today. and 1t
isn't installed. Oh. dear" Her voice
was very low and sweet and Ellwood
could fancy he saw her wringing little
white hands in helpless agony.
wait little while. Don't you
worry. I'm going to the fire, and I'll
inquire about your people, he reas-
sured her. IN have to have your
name-just the last one. you know"
Lane" she said gratefully, land
thank you SO much. Mr. Ellwood"
I'll let you know as soon as l find
out" he said and was gone In the
street he jumped on a car and was
borne northward to where red glare
shone against the sky. AS he neared
the scene the picture resolved itself
into flaming apartment house. streets
crowded with pedestrians and onlook-
ers, fire line drawn sharply about the
building and horde of police.
Ellwood paused In a doorway and
outlined a plan of action. How could
he get inside the fire lines? He
couldn't. Inquiring for the Lanes
among the excited people who had
been driven from their homes was
much like searching for a needle in a
haystack.
He noticed all at once that he was
standing In the doorway OF another
apartment house. and he glanced hasti-
ly at the names over the letter boxes.
There 1t was-Lane-the most beauti-
full name in the world. The Lanes
were safe. She would be delighted.
He took the number OF the building
and FASTENED to the nearest subway
or doS 70
hotel. He rushed into the office and
! spoke to the clerk.
MAY ! speak to Miss Lane. one OF
! the telephone operators. on a matter
of Importance" he stammered under
that young mans polite stare
Against the rules" said the clerk.
at really Is lmportant-I will guar
/ antee that" urged Ellwood.
| The clerk hesitated and. then relent-
| ing, sent Elwood to the chief operator.
i, who proved to be good natured indi-
| yiduaL
'Lane?" he querled "Oh, that's
| operator No. Is" He picked up re-
ceiver and spoke into the transmitter.
Send No. 13 to me at once"
"Unlucky number. eh?" he grinned ut
Ellwood.
oh | don't know. Sometimes thir-
teens u lucky number. 1t is for me-"
! remarked Ellwood, with an enigmatic
smile.
Just then the door opened and she
came, deathly pale and trembling with
anticipation of some i'll news. She was
! all that Ellwood had dreamed-dark,
petite and demurely lovely. with the
/ sweetest contralto voice. Her brown
eyes sought his face anxiously.
It's all right" he assured her "Ive
been up there and found the place
/ where you live. The fire Is across the
street. | took the number of your
! house-l1S3. That right"
oh. yes, and thank you so much,
Mr.. Ellwood" she breathed relievedy.
at was very good of you to take the
| trouble
! The chief operator was across the
! room intent on official business. and
| Ellwood had brief instant In which
| to look down into the brown eyes that
were rapidly reducing his incipient
heart disease into a chronic ailment
I'D like to know you better. Miss
| Lane. / wonder If | presented creden-
tails would your mother permit me to
/ call"
Il think she might" 1aid No Is
gently as the soft color flowed back
/ into her cheeks. Il will ask her. OF
course you are not a stranger to the
hotel people. Mr. EIlwood Oh. | must
| go. Good flight"
| EllwoOd held her little hand for the
J fraction Of an instant and she was
| gone. He nOated down the corridor IA
an ecstasy OF delight. Life was rad-
ant. beautiful thing.
The hotel physician brushed against
him as he passed. Feeling better?''
| he asked
! EllwoOd nodded happily. Fine as 2
fiddle. and yet my case is incurable."
he said
Wait until you've been married as
| long aS | have" croaked the doctor
| pessimistically ms he hurried away.
II don't believe word OF it, ASSERT
ed Ellwood Jubllantly. at couldn't be
n my-in onr case