Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-06
The Argus Daily Story
An Elopement.-By F. A. Mitchell.
Copyrighted. 1912. by Associated Literary Bureau.


case TO me"
She thought for moment then gave
me the required statement.
Her friend Maud Dempster was in
love with the young man hearing my
name Her mother had arranged
match for her to suit herself rather
than the daughter. Maud had very
fooishly threatened to elope and this
had caused her mother to keep her vir-
tually a prisoner. Now that she really
intended getting away she regretted
having put her mother on her guard.
Does her mother know that she de-
sires TO marry this Mr.. Courtney?"
Certainly"
Then it will be difficult for him TO
act directly in the matter. He will need
an assistant"
Now, l took no interest whatever in
Arthur Courtney or Miss Demp-
ster. but was delighted with the third
party TO the affair. who was for the
moment my companion.
DO please lay plan." she said. 81
have no inventive power whatever"
LET me see. How would it do for
NE W StCuEt az Introduction w -hiN'H
Dempster and show her some utten-
ton, thus throwing her mother Off her
guard?"
Better take care. Maud is very
fascinating"
smiled. This was Just like girl.
but there was the least bit of give
away to 1t. which pleased me.
Il assure YOU l said. II am, or
have been, fancy free"
What do you mean by have beenr"
81 would rather not explain"
How easy it is to say one thing and
! look another. She understood perfect
! ly that the change which had come
over me dated from the moment l en-
tered her box. Nevertheless she imi-
tated me by saying what she did not
/ mean:
Pardon me. l do not desire to tres
pass upon your private affairs"
''What do you think of my plansF'
THE very thing"
There was a flourish OF trumpets
and rattle of drums on the part OF
the orchestra, and we listened TO an
act of the opera before resuming tho
matter on which we were supposed
to be mutually interested. 1t was not
till the end OF the performance that
we were enabled to resume the dis
cussion of our conspiracy and then
there was no opportunity. since tho
opera having been finished the house
was closed for every other purpose.
81 may see you home?" l asked.
"My maid Is waiting"
But you will grant me the favor?"
"Oh. certainlyr
Well. | called the next evening and
while we gave some time 10 laying Il
plan by which the elopement might be
effected we reached no-dehuite conclu-
sion. / went away with desire to
plan my own elopement with Gwen.
When | parted with her she said she
! would see Maud the next day, have a
| conference with her and notify me of
the result Two days later | received
a note asking me to call. ! did so and
learned that both Maud and the real
Courtney Were much pleased with the
plan OF using me to get the young lady
out Of her mothers clutches. but Meth
ing decisive was reached. One would
I
was no use sending for me. Since
there was nothing to do in the matter.
we devoted ourselves to our own af-
fairs rather than those of Maud and
Arthur.
made a number OF visits for, the
purpose of laying n plan by which two
lovers might be made happy. but some
how or other the plan didn't get per-
fected. or. rather we found we couldn't
bring the ciopers to anything definite.
At one time Arthur would be ready
and Maud would shrink from action.
Then Maud would nerve herself to
flight. and Arthur would find that
something stood in his way A. month
passed during which Gwen and | held
more than n dozen consultations upon
the matter in question. neither admit
ting to the other that we were more
interested in each other than in Maud
and Arthur.
4 second month Of consultation fol
lowed the first. during which there
was less said about our friends af-
fairs and more about our own. Occa-
sionalIy | wnn'd ask Gwen II there
was any news concerning the proposed
elopement and she would reply that
the parties We're waiting for some
thing.
One e-ening when called on Gwen
found that she had something on
her mind.
Il expect you'n blame ne awfully."
she said
What forG" 1
Not telling you something"
"WhatE"
why, Maud and Arthur have
elopcd"
"Eoped? WhenT'
why. three weeks ago"
"You don't mean it."
There IVES a pause during which
Gwen looked very guilty caught
her in my arms aud that was the end
Of the proposed elOpemout for us.
Sept. 8 in American