Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-21
The Argus Daily Story
A FOOLS Errand-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted. 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau

host of unimportant admirers who
worshiped Alice from afar. while the
intrepid Hal Marcy stepped boldly
forward and openly admitted that
there was an understanding" between
Alice Wilson and himself. To all hints
and innuendoes the lovely Alice turned
the point of her wit to excellent eff
feet.
Five weeks had elapsed since Dick
had yentured near Scarsdale. where
Alice lived. At his deliberately care
less remark that he thought he would
drive down that way his cousin bad
been quick to sting him with the re-
mark that if he was going down to see
Miss Wilson his errand would be In
vain.
But Dick Corning's lips were set in
that obstinate curve that few had
ever seen and none had understood
because there had been so few things
in this world that he had had to fight
for. Most everything had come to
him easily. but now this greatest boon,
the love of good. fair woman. was to
be denied him. She was to be Halls,
and Hal was bounder.
Dick was going to put the question
to her just the same. His attentions
to her had been so marked in the past
that he felt that he owed it to her to
| ask the all important question. That
| she would refuse him he had not the
slightest doubt. 1t would be done
| gently, but convincingly, with perhaps
hint at some cousinly relationship
In tho fIlfrtrn of ha oh ha
ried to Hal. He routed out q time
table, and. with one hand on the steer
ing wheel Of the car. he studied the
trains from town and mentally COM
| pared the running time with the de- {.
| parture Of certain Pacific liners due to
! sail from San Francisco in six days.
'I'n get down there at 3, drink tea
at and, If she is alone, ask her. It
will take her about ten minutes to turn
me down, including the cousinly advice
and all that. Then 1 can run back to
town by $50, catch the ITO for the
west and connect with the Kamkat-
scha at San Francisco on Saturday.
No wedding bells for you, Dicky, my
boyw
His mind attuned to these gloomy re-
|
fully outlined, Dick Corning was some
what taken aback at Alice Wilson's
greeting. She was a Dresden china
sort of beauty, all pink and white, with
soft blue eyes and hair the color Of
ripe corn silk. She wore some little
soft. clinging gown of pale blue with a
pink rose tucked in her breast, and all
the pretty color faded from her cheeks
as her hand was lost in Dicks big,
warm grasp.
where is HalT' she asked, as she
sat down behind the tea table.
Dicks face clouded slightly. 81 sup
pose he will be down later. l came by
myself, on my own Grand" he ended
gruffly. He accepted a cup of tea and
dropped lump after lump Of sugar into
its pale depths before he realized what
he was doing.
ION your own errand?" repeated
: Alice. fussing among the teacups.
Eyes, FOOLS Grand" returned Dick
unhappily.
: IF it is FOOLS errand. why do you
: comeP' Alice's voice shook slightly and
3 her long lashes were laid against the
shell pink of her cheek.
8 81 had to-a fool and his errand are
: soon parted" Dick grinned miserably
and replaced his untasted tea on the
t table. He leaned across the slender
I legged table, menacing the fragile
Q china.
"Alicep he gasped.
D "WellF" Her eyes were downcast, and
D her fingers had ceased to fiutter. She
l was very still and now very much
8 like a sweet, sad little Dresden china
i shepherdess
s "I've got to say It, and then I'm
going on a trip around the world.
j love you. dear. I want to marry you
j know you won't have me, but ] want
e to give you the chance to say no."
stammered and stumbled unfortunate
S Dick, saying more than he meant and
y meaning more than he said.
"YesS' murmured Alice softly.
n "That's ALL" assured Dick.
4 Eyes; I'll marry you. Dick. the dear
L est and best boy in the world only
a you did let Hal elbow you out Of the
way, and it served you right for
9 awhiler' Alice's little hands found
It Dicks clumsy ones and crept into
o their warm grasp. One or two fragile
g cups were crushed under the weight
i of Dicks arms
l. "WhatY' shouted Dick. unbelieving.
y "You asked me to marry you. / will
only If you start on a trip around
8 the world I shall go. toor' whispered
Alice in his startled ears.
At 6 o'clock Dick brought his car be-
Il fore the curbstone, and he ran up the
II steps of the bachelor apartments,
L where both he and his cousin had
rooms In the main corridor he ran
d into Hal. immaculate in evening dress
on his way to keep a dinner engage
u ment.
Z, Hal smiled condescendingly up at bis
big cousin. Been well trimmed
l Dicky, boyY' he insInuased craftily
! 81 suppose you've got yours now"
You betw erowed Dick happily
= 1--WE been on a fools errand and re
:, ceived fools rewardP'