Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-26
The Daily Story
sUFFRAGIsT cAsTLE-BY MARY G. ARNOLD.
Copyrighted 1913 by Associated Literary
ted. 1e1s. hy Associatel Llterary Bureau.

That's all right" wagstaff assent
ed Tell us where and when TO be-
gin and well do any job you say"
Captain Wagstaff was handed list
of buildings TO be fired and was some
what taken aback 10 see on il the
Hunt club. from which the party hail
ed. Besides these. there were the
buildings on polo grounds. golf links
and other houses of similar character.
While these instructions were being
given the gang were noting the pref
test suffra gists. who were coming and
going with an air of having very i'm
portant business on hand. Finally the
men were loaded down with the post
ers to go on the ruins. and they start
ed out ready TO commit any crime.
When they were out of sight and
hearing, after giving vent to their en-
joyment of the situation for awhile,
like Satan In the poem, they bethought
themselves what next to do" 1t was
thought eXpedient TO build bonfire
where the light could be seen at
Suffrag ist castle. that the ladies might
feel assured their work was being
done. The party scattered, and after
awhile not only one but several lurid
lights blazed in different directions,
one of them being on an eminence be-
side the Hunt clubhouse. These lights
were seen by the ladies and rejoiced
them greatly. If they had had any
suspicious of the honest intentions of
the gang they were now dispelled.
At the Hunt clubhouse they found
a dozen fellows who were ready to
take q hand in the lark. Their mum,
Der were now about twenty men, and
it was believed that about an equal
number were housed in Suffra gist cas-
tie. 1t was proposed that these men
march in a body to the castle, per-
senate plain clothes men, arrest the
suffragists and take them on a straw
ride. Since it was but 10 o'clock there
was still time for any such scheme.
but wagons for the ride were not to
be had, and it was decided to load
the club team with eatables and drink
ables from the club larder and, after
having scared the suffragists, turn the
affair into a dance and supper.
1t was IL o'clock when a loud rap
was heard at the gate of Suffraglst
castle. Some of the inmates were in
bed, and some were about to go to
bed. The principal went out to the
gate and asked who was there.
"Blokes to report damages and git
paid for the jobs" Wagstaff replied.
Cant you come in the morning?"
Wagstaff replied in an angry tone
! that that wasn't the way they did
business. and the rest set up such a
| clamor that the woman was frightened
and opened the gate. In walked the
! Hunt club men, George Fleetwood,
whom the suffragiSts had never seen,
| in the lead, and said:
I'm the name of the law | arrest all
in here and take possession of these
| premises"
| listening at q door or window. and
when they heard this those who had
disrobed got into their clothes as
speedily as possible. The men pushed
| their way into the house, and Fleet
wood. as high constable, ordered every
suffragiSt into the dining room. There
he lined them up and accused them of
| hiring malicious men to commit arson
and other crimes. The gang stood
forth as accusers. much to the confu-
sion of the accused.
The leaders were then told that they
would be suffered TO remain all night
in the castle before being taken to the
city. but the constables expected to
be entertained. The suffragists. max
ing virtue of necessity. set out what
eatables they had. but the men eX-
pressed dissatisfaction and sent out
for the refreshments they had brought.
Then the "blokes" were ordered TO
clear the room of furniture. and the
constables suggested that If the suffra
gists would give them n dance they
might be persuaded to give the leaders
a chance to escape.
The offer was accepted. a piano was
wheeled into the room. one of the suf
fraglsts sat before 1t. and Fleetwood
called out:
Take partners for the tango!"
What astonished the ladies was how
lot OF constables and jailbirds
should be able to dance like fine gen
tlemen. The "blokes," disreputable as
was their appearance. were as light on
their feet and as graceful in their
movements as the rest. They talked
jail lingo so far as they knew how to
do it, but in other respects behaved
themselves quite respectfully.
At In the morning there was ces-
sation for supper. which, having come
from n club larder. consisted Of boRed
turkey. salads, old cheeses, pate-de-
foi-gras and other such daiDties. with
plenty OF wine At 4 the men with
drew. and the ladies declared that they
had never been given a better time.
After so much enjoyment they were
quite willing 10 go to jail in the morn
ing.
But In the morning the bailiffs did
not appear. and during the day and
for maIJ successive days the banner
Votes For Women still hoated
proudly over Suffragist castle.