Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-23
The Argus Daily Story
Another Bracelet-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted 1917. by Associated Literary Bureau :.

from ner fathers seeking eyes
No, | am sure that is not the case"
protested Madeline warmly. Its this
way, father
There. there. my dear; l should not
try TO discourage YOU" he smiled.
Run along on your pretty romantic er-
rand. Only be careful that you do not
go afoot, and beware of unsavory parts
of the city without a proper escort
Perhaps Alexander will so along. You
know he is 4 linguist and
This is a matter for fathers and
daughters. so we will ask you to es-
cort u.s." said Madeline. and in the
end Professor Trayle laughingly as
scented. Secretly he was attracted by
the possibilities of the search.
IF you lind Zerah-whether she Is
young and lovely or has become fat
and hideous. as is often the unfortu-
nate fate of oriental women. and she
wants to return to her father. ,remem-
Der l will senc her home again." he
promised and was rewarded by the
gratitude OF the two girls, who had
come to look upon the lost Zerah as
real person who would be found in the
foreign quarter of New York. that
clearing house OF many nationalities.
The next day they started out on
their strange search. As the limou-
sine threaded its way among the mar
row streets of the Syrian Quarter-for
they had decided to begin their search
there-the two girls chartered about
the bracelet and examined again and
again the one Emily wore on her wrist
outside her black glove.
Their first experience was disap-
pointing. A Turkish shop. attended by
two slender young men. who urged
them to buy rugs, did not offer any
hope of finding the lost Zerah. although
Emily displayed her bracelet carelessly
to their view.
It proved to be a disappointing quest.
In and out of little dark. odorous shops
they went. They interviewed Turkish
women and men and children. but all
stared stolidly at the filigree bracelet
and shook their heads.
They were interested in selling goods
to the rich Americans, not in tracing
some mythical person named Zerah.
AS the limousine drew up at the curb
in front of Emily brakes home and she
stepped to the pavement Madeline
leaned forward and pointed finger az
the fight of stone steps leading to the
front door of the Drake home.
"Oh, Emily, we've been interviewing
Byzantine women all day. and here Is
another one sitting on your doorstep"
Emily turned and looked.
There on the bottom step OF the
| brown stone flight sat lace peddler. q
slender, worn looking woman with pa
thetic dark eyes and sad mouth. On
her lap there rested a basket filled with
laces and lace trimmed linens.
Professor Trayle and his daughter
leaned from the motor and watched
Emily as she approached the woman
and picked up some laces with the
hand that wore the filigree bracelet.
Instantly the woman's eyes flashed
/ eagerly, and she laid a brown hand on
! Emily's wrist and muttered some for
eign words.
professor Trayle. do come! i be
lieve I've found her. Come and talk
to herr" cried Emily in excitement
And the professor and his daughter
obeyed at once.
The woman was holding Emily's
hand, and tears were running down
her cheeks as her fingers touched the
silver bracelet.
"Zerahw said the professor DISTINCT
Iy, and at sound of the name the wo
man started to her feet and stared
wildly at him.
Then, speaking in her own language
he quieted her fears and asked her q
few questions He took the bracelet
from Emily's wrist and showed 1t t
her
The two girls watched with delight
mingled with awe the changing emo
tons on her face as she listened to the
story Professor Trayle had to tell. and
she nodded smiIingly at last. and then
clutching the tlligree bracelet to heI
bosom, she spoke in the same tongue
softly. meodiously. ending her nara
tive with a little despairing gesture.
at is Zerah." said Professor Traylt
at last. Finding her here on Emily
doorstep is such curious cOincldenc,
that | confess / am thrilled through
The bracelet Is hers, and she priced 1
highly as her fathers gift. but sh,
learned to love n rascal. and she solt
the bracelet I'm the bazaar in Constan
tinople and with the proceeds elopet
TO America with her lover. who ma
long since deserted her. Fearful o
her fathers anger, she has neve
dared communicate with him. al
though her heart is breaking for he
old home"
"Of course she can go back again?
ventured Emily.
Certainly. Ny promise holds good
and shall send word to her father b
meet her
Isn't this a perfectly lovely en6iin
to the voyage of the NeptuneT' aske,
Emily after they had seen Zerah care
for by the servants.
k''Who dares say that romance 1
dead in the world?'' demanded Made
line. laughing happily.
II don't for one," confessed prt
fessOr Trayle.