Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-08

"And now 1 waESAo get out. want
to go away from here"
He was Juggling at the belt Of his
NorfoR coat, and something between
It and his waistcoat evidently gave him
concern. Our conversation was carried
on in half whispers. BE was so crest
fallen that If it hadn't been for the
necessity OF maintaining silence
should have laughed outright.
''Out with it, my lord. What have
you stuck in your coatT'
They're bounders. all the rest Of
en-" he asserted doggedly. but be-
lieTe you 10 be gentleman"
II thank you. Lord Arrowood. for
this mark Of confidence. Open your
cost, I declare that even If you have
lifted bit Of the HOLSTER plate viii
let you go"
Reluctantly. shamefacedly and still
breathing hard from his late exertions.
Lord ArrowOOd Of Arrowood. Hants,
England, obeyed me. There were tive
buttons to the close fitting jacket, and
'NlAC AOOoEAAAAAS VI every SuGCCCulhE O44c
seemed TO give him pain. Then, with
his head slightly lifted as though in
disdain OF me. ne held out for my OBJ
servatiOn Il pie, in the pan in which it
had been baked. The top crust was
Drowned 10 a nicely. Its edges were
crimPed neatly. and. in spite of the fact
that had so lately dined sumptuously
OF AiCz EIn1liErar'C hpSr,i+u r1 ar
sight OF this allurinG pastry I expert
enced the sharp twinges of aroused sp-
petite.
Now you have it, and l hope you
are satisfied" said Lord Arrowood.
Kindly allow me TO retire by the way
l came"
First" I replied. sobered by the
gravity of his manner. 1t would inter
est me as 4 student OF character 70
know Just what species Of pie lured
you to this burglarious deed"
II have reason to think" he answer
ed. with tears in his eyes. that it is a
GoOseberry. was hungry. if you must
| know the truth. and. having sampled
the old Iady's pies this morning, with
,AVlAAAhS W Vs'L S4hNCs 6G" luC NOdl
! hole open and ladder beneath. and
| the rest of it was easy. If you and
! the other chap hadn't chased me all
1 over the estate I'd been of with my
| pie and and no harm done. The old
| ladys insane, you know, and has no
! manner Of use for pies. The house IS
haunted in the bargain. When you
/ had q bOJyt windad ma 6Oyrp {D tho col
| lar and cut me off from the ladder and
! chased me up here the ghost took a
hand. and If you hadn't tripped me and
/ sat on me the spirits would certainly
have nailed me. o Lord, what a night
You are sure you speak the truth
when you say that the coal hole was
open and that you found the ladder
there when you cape?"
mo manner of doubt of it. AS ]
| have already said, believe you TO be
q gentleman, and between gentlemen
certain condolences may pass that
wouldn't be possible between a gentle
man and those cattle down there"
! He jerked his head scornfUlly to in
/ dictate the suitOrs below.
bowed with such dignity as is pos.
sible when addressing a nobleman
whom you have just caught in the act
Of lifting a gooseberry pie from lady's
! pantry-a pie. which you hold perforce
in your hands.
The fact is that ! was without the
price of food, and. to repeat l was
beastly hungry"
Poverty and hunger, my lord. are
pardonable sins, but gooseberry pas,
tries are sacred to Hezekiah My i'm.
pressiOns of Hezekiah are the pleas.
ATTEST and | cannot allow you TO in,
tervene between her and the pie hold
in my hands. If you will accompany
me below l will undertake TO gain &C,
cess to the pie vault. return this pie
10 its proper place and hand you al
the foot Of the ladder an apple pie in
place OF it. l dare say it never will be
missed. but from Ahat l know OF
Hezekiah any trihing with her appe
lite would be crime indictable al
common law"
His lordship seemed treasured, and
we were about 10 descend by the con
cealed stair when he arrested me.
mfr. Ames. you are a gentleman and
possess Il generous heart We under
stand each other perfectly, and as
have every reason 10 believe that my
suit IS hopeless ! ask the loan Of s;
until / can confer with my friend. tbs
British consul at New York. 1 shal
sail at once for England"
He stepped down before me into the
dark stairway. and l closed the doc
after me and followed him. l fount
my way to the pie pantry without DIFF
fculty. returned the gooseberry pie 4
its proper shelf, chose an apple pi'
and gave II. with q five dollar note. Il
Lord ArrOwood.
At the bottom OF the ladder he press
ed my hand feelingly and expressed hi
gratitude in terms that would hav'
touched a harder heart than mine
Then. having closed the coal hole an'