Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-29

! Gentlemen" he said with flashing
| eyes. Il propose the health of the love
| lest girl in the world."
The toast was drunk in silence. II
was singular coincidence that each
/ one Of the seven friends who had gath
/ cred TO celebrate Chesney's birthday
was silently drinking 10 the same girl.
! beautiful Dorothy Fair. Perhaps
! Chesney himself guessed the fact At
any rate. his black eyes cleaned tri-
umphantly as they rested on one face
| after another until they fingered on
/ the homely, rugged countenance OF
Jasper Dane. Jasper's blue eyes We're
/ still tender with thoughts of Dorothy
/ when Csesney's voice cut into the ST.
/ lence again.
/ THE health of the future Mrs. Rob
/ ert Chesneyr'
Again the trimming glasses were
! drained, and this time troubled glances
sought one another, for the second
! toast following so closely upon the
I first suggested that Bert Chesney had
won out in the race for Dorothy Fairs
/ hand and heart
There was little confusion OF
i,soices after that. 1t was tine to go
/ home, and some of the young men
were making their farewels.
Jasper Dane could hear Chesney's
hearty voice breaking above the muir
INJURED words Of his guests.
Thanks, old man-glad of it-surely
I am to be congratulated"
In this way Chesney accepted the
perfunctory congratulations OF his
friends upon his engagement TO Dor
othy Fair. Jasper heard, and with
daZed eyes looked straight into Ches-
| ney's bold ones.
Good night. Chesney. Many happy
returns of the day and congratulations.
you know
Thanks. Jasper. Yes. there isn't
another girl in the world like her. is
there. old man." Chesney's eyes
searched Jasper's grim face.
There is only one girl in the world
for each man." said Jasper soberly
and went his way.
Bert Chesney stared after him.
what the deuce did that fellow
mean" he muttered savagely.
Jasper Dane disdained the taxicabs
of his friends and tramped doggedly
down the avenue toward his small
bachelor quarters. When he had reach
ed home and snapped on the electric
light in his cozy little library he look
ed uncertainty at the telephone on the
desk.
Beside Dorothy Fairs bed there was
another telephone. He guessed that
because once she had called him up at
o'clock in the morning to inquire If
he had one of her gloves.
Jasper tossed aside hat and overcoat
and sat down at the desk. In a few
moments Dorothy's sleepy voice was
answering him.
WHO is it? Whom did you say?
oh. Jasper! What is the natter"
only this. Dorothy. I've been to
Chesney's dinner party and
DOrothys voice broke in pettishly.
Jasper Dane, do you know that you
are the seventh man who has called
up TO congratulate me on my engage
ment to Bert Chesney? Won't tomor-
row do? Really, | should like to
snatch few hours sleep"
Il am sorry" said Jasper quietly.
"Goodhy."
He moved away from the desk. his
hands deep in his pockets. He paced
the floor moodily.
wooing of Dorothy Fart Only last
night she had given him every encour-
agement. had even given him permits
sion to come again tomorrow evening
and impart some especially wonder
fur tidings of which she could not
help guess the import, and now, TWEEN
ty-eight hours later, to be exact. she
had calmly admitted her engagement
to Bert Chesney.
Poor, patient Jasper metaphorically
threw up his hands and went to bed.
He was done with. women forever.
Professor Digby of the Fanshawe
museum scanned Jasper's flushed face
and resolute mouth with deep interest.
Il am fiattered by your offer, Mr.
Dane" he said at last, but | cannot
understand why you. a prosperous
young lawyer, should want to throA
up q lucrative practice and go into the
wilds Of Africa with me. OF course
there's plenty of sport in it, but you
assure me that you are not sports |
man, and there's no end Of hardship |
and danger"
Il want to 60" said Jasper obsti /.
natelv. "If you won't let me Join,your !
expedition, professor, I'll have to look |
up another one, but am no end of a |
good photographer. and | could shoot |
dingbats and things with a camera. !
couldn't u"
That would be very interesting and /
very valuable" unused the professor. !
Suddenly he turned and shot a pene-
trating glance at Jasper's glum coun- |
tenance-
"Who Is she?' he asked bluntly.
''Wh-what-what do you mean" !
stammered Jasper, rising to his tall /
height.
"Slt down" said the professor kind
". u always put that question to
young men who want to go into the