Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-08

but she winked them away from the
long. jetty lashes. and when she spoke
her voice was so like that of her dead
father that Flora Knight was shaken
to the soul.
Very well. grandmother. will re-
spect your wishes until your stay at
Rose Hall is ended. but then will
/ leave you and so away, because love
Dick and 1 shall marry him."
And leave me all alone?" demanded
Mrs. Knight in an odd tone
You cannot miss me, granny, be-
cause you are rich. and money will
make up to you for lack of love and
everything. Its what you want me to
throw away! Cousin Susie will be
glad to come"
Il dare say she will She's been
| pulling wires to that end for FIVE
years." snapped Mrs. Knight GROSSLY.
Remember, Mabel. don't let that
! young man come near me. shall GER
! tainly be rude to him."
81 am quite sure he will not in.rude,
| grandmother" said Mabel coldly. and
! she did not turn her head as the old
lady battered away toward the dining
room, for the luncheon bell was sound
ing.
Luncheon over. the older boarders
scattered to their rooms for the mid
day siesta, while the young people
started on a long talked of tramp up
East mountain. Mabel Knight did not
go. She sat in her room and read and
dreamed until n sharp cry echoed
through the house. a woman's shrtll
cry of alarm.
Fire! Fire! FIRE."
Mabel leaped to the door and found
the hall filed with a thick yellow
smoke. The cook was crying hysteric-
ally in the hall below, and doors were
popping open, and other shrill fem
mime voices were added to the alarm.
Mabel went to her grandmother's
room and found it empty. She was re-
lieved, because she thought Mrs.
knight was safely out Of danger on
the front piazza.
So, picking up her own valuables
and her grandmother's leather travel
ing box that contained precious be-
longings, Mabel hurried downstairs
after knocking at the different closed
doors along the hall.
Half choking and gasping for breath,
she fought her way down to the piazza
to find that among all the other board
ers two were missing. No one had
seen Mrs. Knight or Mrs. Tillerby
since luncheon.
Mabel thrust her bundles into some
body's trembling hands and dashed
back to the house.
II must get grandmother" she called
back. And there was no one to stop
her going. for the only man left on the
place had gone to ring the village fire
alarm. and Mrs. Brownlee had gone
over to Brookedge station to meet
some expected guests.
Smoke was pouring from the rear OF
the big white house. and every door
and window belched forth yellow
clouds.
Mabel CROPPED her way into the hall,
crept upstairs on her hands and knees
and so along to Mrs. Knights room.
Here she found the valiant old lady
holding a wet towel before her face
while she sought frantically through
drawers and closets for something.
Come. granny; come! l will carry
you DOWN. cried Mabel, Juggling at
her arm.
$50 away. dol" grumbled Mrs.
Knight from her muffied lips. "I'm
!, trying to find Wrinkles leash. The
poor darling is frightened to deathp'
Mabel saw that Granny's pet Pomera-
: MAN was shivering under her arm.
"Oh, granny; take him as he is. Don't
, wait Why, you will be burned to
. deathr' begged the girl.
, go yourself Nobody cares II dc
burn upr' retorted granny obstinately,
but she caught her breath sharply.
a A big form dashed into the room and
o gathered granny in his strong arms
!, Wrinkle and all.
"Come, darlingv' he shouted, and he
: wasn't talking to granny, either. Ma
b bel followed. only pausing to help DooI
Mrs. Tillerby down the stairs.
q An hour ,afterward 1t was all over
r The fire was confined to the kitchen
{ and the bOarders gathered on the grass
e and voted to camp out there under the
naples until the house should be free
!, from smoke once more.
y blNh ASulHOLt. WIN Oh
: granny against her strong wishes, con
tiDued to go to aud fro, bringing va
Q rious comforts from their room, unit
1 Mrs. Knight laid trembling hand OF
his sooty shirt sleeve.
I "Do stop this running about, Mr.
" er, Dick" she said sharply. "You re
r mind me so much Of Mabers father
y She hesitated and coughed. Mabel,
e been telling me some things, and some
! how I'd rather like to have a mnsterfu
man about. and, well, Mabel, you nee,
J. not hug me to death. and ] declare
e Dick Ashmore. do believe you kisse,
II me, sir! Everybody's looking on too
r Well. ! suppose we might as well an
nounce the engagement that wayr'
And strong willed granny stroke,
e Winkie and rocked contentedly In he
own chair. which Dick had brough
u from the piazza.
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