Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-21


opening doors and voices in question
and answer.
Its one Of them airyplanes got
stuck In the oak tree. sir" came the
wondering voice of stable hand.
A mans voice spoke in quick. author
tative tones.
Start the big car out here. Benson.
and turn on the searchlights. Train
them on the tree-on the top, man. BY
Jove. you're right. Bring a ladder!''
Eve. sitting meekly in her imprlson-
ed flying machine. heard some one
scrambling up the tree. Up he came.
and she could hear the painting Of his
breath and the bending Of the smaller
branches as he mounted near her
perch
Then. the faithful Benson having
trained the searchlight so that 1t pierre
ed the leafy branches and fell full
upon Ewes face, the girl saw rising
over the edge of her compartment
mans head Inch by inch it was re-
vealed to her in the white light.
A beautifully brushed mop Of red
brown hair, very white forehead.
two jetty black brows and beneath
them two unbelieving blue eyes, a
handsome nose. a cropped mustache
and the astonished mouth of Lewis
Thayer. He looked frightened.
Eve! Eve. Where did you come
from?' he gasped at last.
And Eve. bewildered by the unkind
trick that fate had served in leading
her straight to the home OF Lewis
Thayer when her proud spirit would
have led her to the antipodes rather
than face him, could only hang her
head and say family:
My machine ran away from me.
Something happened to the engine. and
! attempted 10 alight. l didn't know
where l was"
"Yes?" was Mr.. Thayer's polite In
quiry And neither one OF them ap-
peared to notice that there was trace
Of humor in this conversation held in
the top Of a tree on a moonlight even
ing between two persons who were ir-
revocably estranged.
| But Benson, sleepy and impatient,
! recalled them to the unpleasant situa-
| ton.
do you need assistance in getting
| the man down, siri" he asked.
"The-er-man is a friend of mine,
Benson, and he is quite unhurt. so you
may as well go to bed l will help
| him down." said Thayer authoritative
| ly. He was looking down at the ex-
pectant Benson and so missed the look
OF gratitude that Eve shot at him from
under her lashes.
VERY well. sir" said Benson with
alacrity. "Shall leave the lights on?"
IF you please. I will put the car
in. Good night. Benson"
Good night, sir" said Benson.
The two in the tree watched Ben
sons lantern as 1t bobbed down the
driveway toward the lodge at the
gate where he lived. When be had
disappeared from view Thayer looked
into Ewes troubled eyes.
There is only one way for you to
get down" he said seriously.
And that is?" asked Eve.
II must carry you"
Eve did not hesitate. She must not
show embarrassment. She would he
very practical and matter of fact. Cir
cumstances demanded it,
VERY WELL" she said calmly She
stood erect and steadied herself.
Whenever you are ready. Mr.. Thayer."
Thayer stepped down to lower
branch. braced himself securely, held
up his arms and said Now"
With Eve In his arms he went down
slowly. laboriously, cautiously. for.
IA l.
to carry her down the precarious way
to the ground.
At last be slipped to the turf be-
meath the tree. his left arm still en-
circIing her. She could feel the heavy
beating of his overstrained heart. The
magnetism of his touch thrilled her as
it had done before. and she dreaded
the moment when his clasp should
loosen and she would be free" once
more.
She didn't want to be free. A little
sob caught her throat as she felt his
arm relaxing its hold.
The grasp frightened.
"You are hurt. Ever" be asked
quickly.
Yes" she whispered.
81 might have known It," he NUT
tered Tell me-
My heart" whispered Eve.
"Your beart?" he repeated stupidity.
Yes, Lewis; it is hurt. II Is break.
ing for you" confessed poor Eve. cling.
ing close to him.
She felt his heart leap suddenly. and
his right arm came around TO fold her
In a close embrace.
Shortly afterward the big motorcar
leaped down the avenue and went
hurting toward Ewes home. II was a
long ride. but the roads were perfect
and the moon blazed whitley down
upon Thayer and his sweetheart
"I'll never ride in an aeroplane again
Lewis" whispered Eve. Il know you
hate the things"
ION the contrary. ! love them" as
serted Thayer heartily. Didn't one OF
them bring me q wife?"