Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-29

traveller that she was not avcrse to
picking up acquaintance during voy-
age, but she seldom became familiar
with them. Mr.. Mackridge evinced
desire for her companionsh!p, but
found as the Journey proceeded that
re was not permitted to come to terms
of intimacy. Mrs. Van Tromp watch
ed his attentions to her daughter and
could not understand why Madeline
gave no more cordial response.
My dear" said the polite mother,
IF you would be more civil TO Mr..
Mackridge it might be of great benefit
to US. He tells me that his brother
has a house in London and is usually
there during the season. We may be
invited there and meet many persons
of rank"
81 thought his brother was a bach
elor. Bachelors don't usually enter
tain"
"Oh, Madeline. you don't grasp
things as you should. You will never
take the position you should because
/ you have no push. The fact that Mr..
/ Mackridge's brother is a bachelor
! should lead you all the more TO cult
! vate him."
! II have thought, mother. dear. that
/ you preferred l should cultivate Mr..
Mackridge himself"
/ Mrs. Van Tromp made n grimace,
but accorded no reply to such stupid
ty. for she certainly considered any
girl stupid who would encourage
younger brother of a marquis, even
though the marquis himself was in bad
health.
During the passage OF the Red sea
Mr.. MacllridGe continued his .atten-
lions, and Mrs. Van Tromp was pleas
ed that Madeline seemed more dispos-
ed to accept them. This acceptance
could not be construed to mean en-
! coura cement. but Mrs. Van Tromp felt
more hopeful. and Mr.. Mackridge took
| advantage of it to be more attentive.
He gained a point with Mrs. Van
Tromp by letting out the fact that he
was captain in a British regiment
stationed in India, all the officers OF
which were noblemen. He had pro-
cured a leave of absence TO go home,
having been Informed that his brother.
the marquis, was falling rapidly.
After receiving this additional infor-
nation Mrs. Van Tromp conceived the
idea of going ashore in Captain Mack
ridges company on the ships arrival
at Gibraltar. He, being British off,
GER would doubtless be hand in glove
with the officers OF the garrison and
would be able to secure for the Van
Tromps special privileges. She limited
to Mackridge that she would be pleas
ed to have him with her and her
daughter when they visited Gibral-
tar, and he accepted the invitation
with alacrity. But when they reached
the port the captain was confined to
his stateroom with severe indisposl-
ton and was unable to leave the ship.
All went well with the trio who
were performing this little comedy
during the latter part of the voyage.
Just before leaving the steamer Cap
tain Macl,ridge managed to obtain n
, large bouquet of flowers. Whether he
bought them from n bumboat or they
had been cultivated aboard the ship
does not matter. The important fea-
ture is that he presented them to Miss
| Van TrOmp. The gift was made while
the mother and daughter, accompanied
| by the captain, We're about to pass
down the gangway. The young lady
inhaled their perfume and started
down for the dock with them in her
left hand, carrying a piece of hand
baggage in her right. On reaching the
dock she suddenly remembered leaving
, | some article in her stateroOm.
q,
Mackridge, handing him the hand bag.
. gage and her bouquet, land keep them
till | return. III be back in a few min.
utes."
, Mackridge took the articles. certain
! whiteness appearing about his mouth
and an anxiety I'm his eyes as he did
So Miss Van Tromp ran up the gang
! way. passing with difficulty those com
, ing down, and disappeared within the
, ship. A customs Inspector, who was
, watching for smugglers, noticed n gen
r tleman standing with a large bouquet
in his hand and pondered. Had lady
been carrying it his attention might
not have been attracted. Suspicious as
= all custom house officials are, be
thought It odd that man should be
carrying flowers, and possibly it might
, be used as a means Of concealing du
table goods.
y "I'll look into that, sir, II you please,
, he said to Mackridge.
/. The wilderness about the latter
r mouth turned to a sickly pallor as tht
: inspector took the bouquet from hi
@ hands. Pulling it apart, several arti
cles wrapped in white tissue paper fel
Z on the dock. The inspector picked
|. them up, unwrapped one and a 1arg
q diamond Glistened I'm the sunlight
: When Madeline Van Tromp rejoin
J. ed her mother she found her alone.
Q Where's Captain Mackridge?" sh
O asked. .r
G "Gone under arrest for smuggling.
n And she recounted the discovery of tn
Y Jewels.
q "And all he wanted OF me-" sal
" Madeline, twas to carry the bouque
l. ashore for him. ] suspected some
T. thing of the kind and turned 1T bac
r. into his hands on purpose"