Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-27

heavens, am ripping anythfhg?" gasp
ed Mr.. Rodney, who was fussy and fat
and generally futile. He seemed to
grow suddenly uncomfortable, as If
ripping was q habit with him.
Dinner was success. Brock shone
with refulgence that bedimmed all
expectations. His wife was delighted
In all of the four years of married life
Roxbury had never been so brilliant,
so delicioGsly English Ito use her own
expression. Constance tingled with
pride OF late she had experienced I'm.
usual difficulty in diverting her gaze
( from the handsome impostor, and her
/ thoughts were ever of him-in juStif-
/ cation of a platonic interest. of course.
/ no more than that Tonight her eyes
/ and thoughts were for him alone, a
/ circumstance which. could he have felt
! sure. would have made him wildly hap
! by instead of Unfortunately furious in
! his complete misunderstanding of her
/ manner toward Freddie UlStervelt,
who had no compunction about max
! ing love to two girls at the same time
| She was never so beautiful. never so
| vivaciouS. never so resourceful. Brock
was under the spell; he was fascinat-
ed; he had to look to himself carefully
in order to keep his wits in the pre-
scribed channel.
His self esteem received n severe
shock at the opera. Mrs. MedcrOft,
with malice aforethOught, insisted that
UlsterveIt should take her husbands
seat. AS the box held but six persons.
the unfortunate Brock was compelled
to shift more or less for himself In
wardiy raging. be suavely assured the
party-Freddie in particular--that he
would end a seat in the body of the
house and would join them during the
eutr'acte. Then he went out and sat
in the foyer. 1t was fortunate that he
hated Wagner. Before the end of the
act he was joined by Mr.. Rodney, hOr-
ribly bored and eager for relief. In a
nearby cafe they had a whisky and
soda apiece and. feeling comfortably
REINFORCED. returned to the opera house
arm in arm. long and short. Thin and
fat, literally discoursing upon the in
tellectuality of Herr Wagner.
Say. you're not at all like an Eng
lishman" exclaimed Mr.. Rodney i'm
pulsively. even gratefully.
Eth. what:" gasped Brock. replacing
his eyeglass. "Oh. 1 say, now, pom
my word. haw, bawm
You've got an American sense Of
humor. Medcroft-that's what you
have. You recognize the Joke that
n MIA
me for saying it. sir. but | didn't think
it was in an Englishman."
"Haw. haw! Ripping. by Jove! No,
no! Not yon. mean the Joke. But
then. you see. it's been so long since
Wagner played it that even an English.
man has ma ume 10 see Ine point. Ee
sides. I've lived a bit of my life fl
America"
That accounts for it," said the tact
less but sincere Mr.. Rodney.
Brock glared so venomously at th
intrusive Dir. UlsterycIt upon the &C
casiOn OF bis next visit TO his own DO
, that Mrs. Aiedcroft smiled softly [
herself as she turned her face away
few minutes later she seized the OF
portunity to whisper in his ear. He
eyes were sparkling. and something i
her manner bespoke of bated breath.
You are in love with my sister,
) was what she said to him. He blush
ed conyincingly.
Nonsense" he managed to reply
but without much responsiveness.
But you are. I'm not blind An
one can see it. She sees it. Haven
you sense enough to hide it from her
How do you expect to Tinp
My dear M:s.-ny dear Edftk. ~
: amaze me I'm confusion itself; but
/ he went GU eagerly. logically, I'd
E you think could win herr"
That is not for ones wife 10 say
: she said demureIy.
I'D be tremendously proud Of yo'
| as a sister-in-law. And I'd be mucl
] obliged If Yoq'd halD me- Bnt look Al