Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-04
The Argus Daily Story
Ned Bromley's Assurance-By Esther Vandeveer.
cepyElgnsed ny Literary

recognize me for the man who sat OPP
posite him and asked him to go to a
gambling house. Do you See?"
Yes. That would he very good way
out of it, You might send il TO me-"
This broke into Mr.. Bromley's calcu-
lations. II occurred to him that he
might as well send his find to Mr..
Crane direct. But Ned's wits were
sharp enough for the occasion.
Il wouldn't like" he said. Ito surren-
der the property to any one without
being sure of what was doing. You
see, stand in a delicate position. II
knew | was delivering the goods to the
owners daughter would feel all right
about it. | wouldn't even ask a re-
ceipt"
But you don't know me-"
The matter was now getting where
Ned wanted it. He availed himself of
the opportunity without hesitation.
Il would trust any woman with so
sweet Il voice with untold wealth."
4 pleased "Te-he"' came from the
other end Of the wire and Immediately
the reply. well, you may bring it'it
you like"
"When?"
Il suppose You prefer to come when
papa is not at home:'
Certainly. | wouldn't meet him for
anything"
Papa goes to the bank a little be-
fore in the morning and comes home
about go"
In that case would better make the
return tomorrow morning, say about IL
O'clock"
very well. will be happy to-
mean will receive it at that time. But
what am to do about the reward?"
"Oh. the reward is in permitting me.
n stranger to return the pocketbook to
you in person. | am very anxious to
see if your face is as charming as your
voice"
There you will certainly be disap-
pointed. l mean-rather, l don't mean
that my voice is charming-there,
you've got me all mixed up"
Never mind; l shall have the ines
Unable happiness Of seeing for my
self"
There was more of this before the re-
ceivers were hung up. but so much in
the same vein that it would become
tiresome through repetition. The next
morning at IL o'clock Mr.. Bromley rang
the bell OF 742 Lincoln street, a hand
some stone front residence, and sent
/ up his card. When the young lady
| came into the room he stood mute with
| admiration. But his eyes were any
! thing but mute. Indeed. his gaze was
such as to make the young lady lower
her eyes. but it was nevertheless graft
/ flying.
1t is necessary to pass over a few
months in the thread of this story.
when, Mr.. Bromley and Miss Crane
having become avowed lovers. found it
necessary 10 let the lady's father into
the secret that she desired to marry
/ man whom he was likely to recognize
as one who had offered to show him
small game. They put their heads to-
gether in an attempt. among other
things. to discover a device to prevent
the, old geptleman's recognition of his
would he son-in-law. The effort was
failure
There's only one way to meet the
case" said Ned at last.
What's that?"
Cheek"
"What do yOu meanT"
I'll declare l never met your father
before in my life"
Since there was no other way out Of
the matter Ned arranged to call when
the body Of Mr.. Crane" was at home.
which Ned had not done before He
! carved out new pair of whiskers. had
his hair curled and put on a pair Of
! eyeglasses. Moreover he wore us diff
ferent a suit Of clothes from those he
had on when he first met Mr.. Crane as
possible. When introduced TO the old
gentleman the latter, hooking at him
scrutinizingly, said:
"Your face is familiar TO me. sir"
81 hope you haven't met that fellow
who looks so much like me and 1s al
ways getting me into trouble" Ned
broke out. He's a stool pigeon for a
gambling house"
That's the man." replied we other.
HE had the impotence TO ask me to
go with him to his vilainous place"
what shall | do about it? II the
thing gees on much longer | won't have
a shred OF character left"
Miss Crane went to the window
making a great effort to repress her
laughter. while her lover discussed
with her father the question az TO
whether tie law could be made avail
able to protect the former against a
man of bad character who resembled
him.
= Notwithstanding the success Of this
daring stratagem Ned afterward occa-
sionally caught the Old gentleman look
ing at him with an expression indicat-
! ing that he wasn't quite certain but
, that he was the man he had met IN 4
, street car. However, Ned married
Miss Crane, and there was one thing
. his father-in-law never Suspected-t that
l Ned was the person who had returned
his cost pDrketboOE.
} Il Inn in a rner,can