Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-14
A Clever SWINDLE
Norking the Game at an English
Watering Place.

The prosperous" We're lounging on
I the terrace Of the leading hoteI in the
: fashionable watering place summing
themselves. 1t was a magnificent aft
ernoon. Everybody was lazily good
tempered and contributed 10 the gen
eral air of well fed contentment. And
then the woman" put in an appear
ance.
For moment she stood OH the stone
steps that led up TO the terrace, hest
tatinG. The prosperous" CAPPED at
her and wondered why she was there.
They probably classified her as one OF
the respectable poor
The woman" could not disguise the
fact that she was in trouble of some
sort. She advanced upon the pros
porous" and glanced timidly from face
TO face. Then. gathering her courage
in both hands. she walked right past
them into the vestibule of the hotel.
\ little buzz of speculation arose.
There was 10 doubt about il. They
found the woman interesting.
Wonder what's worrying her?" said
one.
Perhaps she thinks OF putting up
and is a bit doubtful about the cui-
sine" caclsIed a would be wit. The
cold stare with which his remark was
received told him that it was consid.
cred to be in decidedly bad taste. AS
facr. the prosperous" we've inclinet
TO feel sympathy for the woman"
They had been well fed. and it was a
magnificent afternoon; also they were
genuinely curious.
Soon she came out again. looking
more detected than ever She looked
around as If for less public means of
escape, but, finding none, strobe des
perately forward.
My good woman. You seem to be in
trouble. Can | do anything:''
1t was the elderly military looking
man in the corner who spoke-spoke
Grufiiy as one who is in the habit OF
doing favors ungraciously. THE pros
porous" thought it a trife daring But
they were secretly glad. And they lis
tened.
NO sir. thank you" replied 1.-The
woman
And then she belied her words by
rIuffied sob.
"I-I-ft's nothing. sir-nothing Mt
ALL she added
The military looking man rose from /
his seat.
Have the goodness to take that /
chair" he said peremptorily. land tell /
us the truth. / nave no doubt that we /
shall be able 10 assist you
When she had partly composed her /
self THE woman" stammered out her :
story. with the aid of much prompt I
Ing from her companion.
II am a widow. a color sergeant IN .
the Welsh Grays my husband was I
let lodgings in the town. There was
gentleman called Colonel Moorish
boarded in my house nigh on six
said he'd pay me as soon as
his dividends or somethin' came in at
ne half year.
Il managed to hold out and gave
him the good table as he was accus-
.omed to. though IL meant owing the
landlord. But Id do anything to have
he gentry in my house"
The prosperous" murmured sympa-
heticaIly.
Just before the six months was up
L. said bed have TO come an stay at
his hotel TO meet enc OF the directors
Who was going 10 pay him his money
An now they tell M that there never
vas no one hero by she name of Colo
,el Moorish. And-snd-tbe bailiffs
,ome into my bUuse this mornin'. an
heyN take all tiny furniture for the
u owe the landlord.
Twelve ponds repeated the mill
AIRY looking man he hesitated and
hen fumbIed in his pocket Well
lash II. here is - toward il" And
lis voice was Grufer thar ever.
He glared dercely at the meek little