Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-24
The Daily Story
A CHASE FOR WIFE.-BY F. A. mitchell
Copyrighted. 1918 by Associated Literary Bureau

tune that was attached TO man she
didn't happen TO fancy. And even il
she fancied him would she forego that
sentimental nonsense called & court
ship:
When Kennard reached Bucharest
he learned that young woman an.
swering Miss Burch's description had
gone 10 Sofia. in Bulgaria. but as TO
Miss Burch as 4 certainty he had lost
the trail Since he could not find her
in Bucharest there seemed nothing for
him to do but to so TO Sofia.
On reaching the capital Of Bulgaria
he found everything in turmoil. Troops
were being dispatched to the front, and
everybody was busy forwarding sup
plies and munitions of war. Kennard
went the rounds of the hotels and on
the register of one found the name OF
Agatha Burch, U. S. A.
y wish to see that lady at once"
said the pursuing lover to the proprie-
tor, pointing TO the name on the book
THAT young lady. She's gone"
"Gone! Gone where%
Let me see what address she left
for her letters. All, here it Is, For
ward letters with the army mail Now
/ remember-that's the American girl
who organized corps of nurses"
She's a fool!" cried kennard, beside
himself with irritation.
"A fool! 1 beg your pardon, sir.
The young lady made herself very
much admired and beloved here. 1t
was a noble act for her to-
mobile nonsense! She's demented.
crazy for mingling with new and ex-
citing scenes There's large fortune
waiting for her in America, and If she
gets killed she win lose it"
"Of course she can have no use for
a fortune if she is dead, but what is
that TO you?"
"Why, you muttonhead! III lose a
fortune, too, and wife"
at seems to me that it is you who
are demented."
Well. there was nothing left for Ken
nard but TO follow the army that had
gone in the direction of Adrianople
/ As for the ordinary means of trans
portation, that was not to be thought
| of So he bought a horse and, mount
( ed, pursued his way.
/ There was terrible fighting between
/ the allies and the Turks, and Kennard
made no Roadway whatever in finding
/ Agatha Burch, though he used every
means that presented itself for reach
! ing her At one time he drove an
army supply wagon; at another he
passed himself of for newspaper
correspondent Lastly he took gun
and marched with an infantry regi-
ment. But here he got more than he
had bargained for. The force he was
with went into battle with the Turks,
and he was obliged to fight.
What follyr' he exclaimed. "This
girl by her idiocy has not only endan-
gered her life, but mine, and there's
a million dollars waiting for us at
home with which to see the world in g
rational manner"
Suddenly Kennard was turned clear
around by the force of bullet, and his
legs dropped under him. He was
trampled by those behind.
''Why in thunder" he groaned,
didn't that uncle of mine leave me his
woman? But l don't blame him for
not leaving any of it to her direct
Shed use it to visit the south pole"
The last man who stepped over Ken
nard ground a hobnail boot in his
face. This made him a sight to be
hold He lost consciousness, and the
next thing he knew woman with a
red cross on her arm was pouring
some liquor down his throat Ken
nard had seen n number of Red Cross
nurses during his marches. and every
time he saw one he made inquiries for
the nurse he wanted. He asked this
one if she knew an American Red
Cross nurse named Burch, and she
said Miss Burch was the head of her
corps OF nurses. She was on the field
directing the succor of the wounded.
Kennard begged his informant 20 call
her chief. She did so, but it was more
than an hour before Miss Burch came.
"Are you the American who desires
to see me?'' she asked of the much
mutilated, dirty and bloody Kennard.
Yes"
"Well, what can do for your"
MARRY me-"
marry you."
The look Of repuision at his appear,
ance was discouraging
Are you Agatha Burch?"
ayes"
'Well, your stepfather is dead and
left his fortune to me, his nephew, with
the provision that I marry you within
, six weeks after the probate of the
will"
MY goodness gracious. Suppose 1
refuse?"
You get nothing; neither do l."
"How much time is leftT''
81 think about a week"
'That's lucky. If had to say Yes
right now I'd decline Perhaps In a
week I can get you to look like a hu-
, man being Wen see"
| Within the seven days Miss Burch
could see in the wounded Kennard the
sembiance Of good looking man, and
she accepted the conditions Of the will
THAT uncle Of mine and your step
father was no fool" remarked the