Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-06

with a sad heart he went toward the !
hotel where he had been stopping. He |
was Obliged at last to face the fact |
thar his search had been in vain.
He had almost reached the hotel /
when he met a business acquaintance, |
who welcomed him warmly, for far |
and wide among legal men the firm
of which Judge Blackwell was the
senior member commanded respect.
We'll. WELL" said the older man.
Els this you. Durham? thought Sou
we're booked for home two days ago.
suppose you come nome to dinner
with me. I've a matter I'd like to
talk over with you before you leave.
shall count this most fortunate meet
ing If you will"
Just because he caught at any straw
to keep him longer in Chicago, Dun
ham accepted the invitation. Just as
the cab door was flung open in front
of the handsome house where he was
to be a guest, two men passed slowly
by, like shadows out of place, and
there fioated in his ears one sentence
voiced In broadcast Irish: she goes
by tn name OF Mary. ye says: All
roight. sorr. III keep a sharp look
put
Tryon Durham turned and caught
glimpse of silver changing hands.
One man was slight and fashionably
dressed, and the light that was cast
from the neighboring window. showed
his face to be dark and handsome.
The other was short and stout, and
clad in faded Prince Albert coat that
bagged at shoulders and elbows. He
wore rubbers over his shoes, and his
footsteps sounded like those of
heavy dog. The two passed around
the corner, and Durham and his host
entered the house.
They were presently seated at
well appointed table, where an elab-
crate dinner was served. The talk
was Of pleasant things that go to
make up the world OF refinement but
| the mind of the guest was troubled,
and constantly. kept hearing that SEN
! tence, She goes by the name Of
| Mary"
Then, suddenly. he looked up and
met her eyes!
She was standing just back of her
mistress's chair. with quiet. watchful
attitude, but her eyes had been I'M
consciously upon the guest, until he
he looked up and caught her glance.
She turned away, but the color rose
in her cheeks, and che knew that he
was watching her
Her look had startled him. He had
never thought of looking for her in a
mental position, and at first he had
noticed only the likeness to her for
whom he was searching. But he watch
ed her furtively, until he became more
and more startled with the resem-
hlance. At last he broke in upon the
conversation:
Excuse me, but I wonder If may
interrupt you for q moment. I have
thought of something that I ought to
attend to at once. I wonder If the
waitress would be kind enough tC
send a phone message for me. | an
afraid it win be too late If wait"
why. certainly" said the host, al
anxiety. Would you like to go to the
phone yourself, or can I attend tc
it for you? Just feel perfectly a
home"
Already the young man was hastily
writing a line or two on a card he haC
taken from his pocket, and he handle,
it to the waitress, who at his question
had moved silently behind his chair t.
do his bidding,
Just call up that number, please
and give the message below. The,
will understand, and then you viii
write down their answer"
; He handed her the pencil and turn
ed again to his dessert. Apparently
his entire attention was devoted to hi
host and his ice, but in reality he wa
listening to the click of the teIephon
, , and the low, gentle voice in an adjoiI
ing room. 1t came after only a me-
ment's pause, and he wondered at tn
, calmness with which the usual fol
mula of the telephone was carried OF
+. He could not hear what she said, bu
his ears were alert to the pause. jus
f long enough for few words to b
written, and then to her footstep
coming quietly back
He had applied the test. There wa
= no number upon the card, and b
knew that if the girl were not the on
? . OF whom he was in search, she woul
: return for an explanation.
a If you are MARY Remington" tell m
q where and when l can talk with YOU In
mediately important to US both!
A This was what he had written c
: the card. His fingers trembled as h
took it from the silver tray which sf
presented to him demurely. He pic
ed it up and eagerly read the delicat
writing-hers-the same that had g
pressed her thanks and told OF HI
safe arrival in Chicago. He cou
scarcely refrain from ieaping from h
chair and shouting aloud in his gla
ness.
The message she had written VIZ
simple. No stranger reading it wou
have thought twice abour>it II Il
guest had read IL aloud, it would hay
aroused no suspicion.
7. W. C. A. Building, small parlo
three tomorrow.
He took his leave early in the eT
ming and hurried back to his hotel. 4
he crossed the street TO hail cab, I
49, rwk-4 l.