Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-28

her she had left the room.
We'll, III be dashedr' muttered
Rockbound Rafferty,, opening the first
letter at hand.
A half hour later Honoria found him
buried deep in the evening paper.
II smell cabbage" shifted Rockbound
suspiciously.
isn't it awful ~ complained Honoria,
wrinkling her pretty nose in affected
disdain. still, l believe she will suit.
She says her name is Hannah Null
doom"
"She told me that she was an Amer
lean lady," remarked Rockbound
meekly Il may as well tell you that
I didn't hire her, Honoria."
well, who did?"
she hired herself. If she suits we
can arrange about wages later. I've
read her references, and they are scan
dalous, but do believe she can cook"
81 wish you had tried the other one."
grieved Honoria, throwing herself into
a deep chair. "She said she had tried
everything and she is not strong
enough for factory work. and she does
know how to cook. Her folks are all
dead, and her husband was killed by
the railroad q few months after their
marriage. She's had hard time of it,
Rockbound Rafferty, was looking
very much chagrined. That was al
ways the way when he tried to exert
hard heartedness. He made an exam
pie Of the wrong person. 1t would have
done no harm to have given this charm
ing widow a chance to prove her cult
| nary powers and to have given her a
start in the world. He was angry at
himself for his gruffness. He might
have been kind to her at least. 1t was
| his creed to be kind.
/ what is her name?" he demanded.
Rose Brian"
"Did she get damages from the rail-
| road for her husbands death?"
You ought to know. You are the
railroads counsel" retorted Honoria
coolly.
"was it the ]. ]. and B.T'
Eyes"
I'm going downtown awhile" said
Rockbound, and without noticing Ho-
noria's quiet smile of understanding, the
big brother crammed on a hat shrug
| ecu hlnScA4 lhlO aA oNCiNOat diA "CAS
out.
Down in his private Office he made
havoc among the document files until
he discovered the records of the case
of Rose Brian versus the j. ]. and b.
railroad. A rereading Of the records
convinced him that only his own clev-
erness as a lawyer had prevented the
destitute little widow from gaining her
rights in the matter. 1t was certainly
up to the railroad to make good to Rose
Brian.
IF they won't do it, it's up to me to
move out Of this office as corporation
counsel. l can't have that injustice
laid against me-" he said with wor-
ried frown, and he at once proceeded
to put matters in line for taking up the
case with the proper officials.
Rockbound Rafferty, had a fight for
it, but at last he won. 1t was case of
the railroad giving up a cool thousand
dollars or losing their counsel, and in
some way or another 1t was managed
that Rose Brian received the damages
from the railroad, only the newspapers
didn't know anything about 1t.
ono Sdmt UP " thduh PChoOhdA-
ly, astonished to find him the great,
gruff man who had turned aside her
plea for a situation as cook in his fam
lily. She was looking lovely now with
hope in her blue eyes and a pink, wild
rose tint in her cheeks that became
her vastly.
"Oh, Judge Rafferty," she sighed
gently, 'if you only knew how CRATE
full l am! 1t seems as though every
thing was coming out all right after
all / have q situation as private Sec
rotary to lady who is going to Ire
land for the winter, and am too hap
Ply for anything l owe it all to you"
Going to Ireland? What steamer
demanded Rockbound Rafferty, impul-
sively.
"The RAMA"
Now, that's strange enough. I'm
sailing on the RAMA myself. Satur-
day, is itY'
Yes. That will be splendid And.
Judge Rafferty,, do tell me why they
call you 'Rockbound' when you're the
kindest hearted man | ever metz"
Rose Brian looked up at him from
trimming blue eyes.
Rockbound Rafferty, took both her
small hands in his and patted them
tenderly. Il expect it's because | was
hard and rockbound until the lightning
of love for woman struck the rock
and split it."
There was no mistaking the mean
ing in his kind eyes. and Rose Brian
fastened away so happy that she was
glad it was not yet to be put into
words.
In the meantime Rockbound Raffer-
ty called up the steamship Office and
demanded a stateroom on the RAMA
for Saturday. and the joke OF 1t was
that all they could give him was a
bridal suit. and he grinned as he ac-
cepted it.
Its the best omen In the world"
he said to himself as he went home to
break the news of his departure to
Hon0ria.
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