Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-03

tact ne OarteQ lDlo d poOdCcOn-
lists shop.
Another shakedoyn," he reflected
ruefully. They're all passing me up
! today; but, great hooks! What's all
this about Medcroft and Consumer"
/ He bought some cigarettes and started
off for a walk, mildly excited by this
new turn of affairs. 1t occurred to
him as he turned it over in his mind
| that Mrs. Medcroft was amazingly re-
signed to the situation. OF course she
was not blind to her husbands infat-
uation for her sister. Therefore If she
were so cheerful and Indifferent about
1t 1t followed that she was not espe-
cially distressed. In fact, 1t suddenly
dawned upon him she was not only
reconciled, but relieved. She had ceas-
ed to love her husband! She could be
a free lance In Loves lists, notwith-
standing the inconvenience OF a legal
attachment. "She's ripping, too" con-
cluded Freddie, with a certain buoy
ancy OF spirit. IF she doesn't love
Medcroft she at least ought to love
some one else instead. It's customary.
I wonder Here he reflected deeply
for an instant, his spirits floating high.
Then he turned abruptly and made his
way to the Tirol.
1t came to pass in the course of the
evening that Mr.. Ulstervelt, supremacy
confident from the effect Of past
achievements, drew the unsuspecting
Mrs. Medcroft into secluded tete-a
tete. 1t is not OF record that he was
ever a diplomatic wooer. One in haste
never Is. Suffice 1t to say Mrs. Med
croft, her cheeks flaming, her eyes
wide with indignation, suddenly left
the side of the indomitable Freddie
and joined the party at the other end
of the entresol. but not before she had
said to him with uhrnistakabIe clear
ness and decision:
You little wretch! How dare you
say such silly things to me"'
The rebuff decisive! And be had
only meant to be comforting, not to
say self sacrificing. He'd be hanged
If he could understand women now
adays, not these women at least. In
high dudgeon, he stalked from the
room. In the door he met Brock.
"For two cents" he declared saw
agely, as IL Brock were to blame, I'D
take the next train for Paris"
Brock watched him down the hall
He drew handful of small. coins from
his pocket, ruefully looking them over
1.-TWO cents" he said. "Hang it all
I've nothing there but pfennigs and
hellers and centimes.''
In the course of his wanderings the
disconsolate Freddie came upon Mrs
Odell-Carney and pudgy Mr.. Rodney
They were sitting in quiet corner OF
the reading room. Mr.. Rodney had
had a hard day. He had climbed q
mountain-or, more accurately speak
ing. he had climbed halfway up and
! then the same half down. He was
very tired. Freddie observed from his
: lonely station that Mr.. Rodney was
fast dropping TO sleep, notwithstanding
his companions rapid flow of small
; talk. 1t did not take Freddie long t.
decide. He was an outcast and a par
iah and he was very lonely. He mus
have some one to talk to- Without
more ado he bore down upon the cou
pie and moment later was tact
fully advising the sleepy Mr.. Rodney
which that gentleman gladly accepted
And so it came about that Freddie sa
face to face with the last resort, at the
foot of the chaise-longue. gazing Will
serene adulation into the eyes of {
woman who might have had a son a!
old as he--if she had had one at all
She had been a coquette in her salaC
}! days-there was no doubt Of II. Sh,
had encountered fervid gallants in al
s parts of the world and in all stations
:. of life. But it remained for the gal
l. liant Freddie Ulstervelt to bowl he
>. over with surprise for the first tim,
II in her long and varied career. At tn
y end Of half an hour she pulled hersel
e together and tapped him on the shout
o der with her fan, a quizzical smile OIL
G her lips.
Il "My dear Mr.. Ulstervelt, are 70,
2 trying TO make love to me? You mic
l. Americans! How gallant you can be
II l am quite old enough to be you
). mother. Believe me, l thank you 70
l. the compliment can't tell you how
e appreciate this delicate fiattery. 70,
e are very delicious. But" as she aros
S-htIOuoigS u IOlIOW DIT. hOOneVI
l. example if were you. I'd go to bed
e Then, with rare smile, which coul,
II not have been more chilling, she lef
him standing there.
2 by Jove~ he muttered, passing hi
e hand across his eyes as If bewildered
What was / saying to her? Goo
d Lord, has it got to be habit with me
Was 1 making love to-her?" He de
Is parted for the American bar
Mrs. Rodney had but little sleep tina
ID night. She went to bed in state O
y worry and uncertainty, oppressed b,
T the shadows which threatened eterna
darkness to the fair name of the fam
L lily, however distantly removed. Kath
crimes secret had in reality been new
to her; she had not paid enough stten
ton to the Medcrofts to notice any
IL thing that they did, so long as the.
- did not do it in conjunction with tn
Odell-Carneys. The Odell Carneys wer
4 her Notwithstanding. noon and night
And now there was likelihood of tina
ft glorious horizon being obseured by
= sickening scandal I'm the vulgar fore
Is ground. Inspired by Katherines dread