Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-03-22

the pangs of hunger drove them back
I had ridden half a mile toward
HOpe6eld when l eSpied a woman rid
ing rapidly toward me. and as she
drew nearer l identified her as Heze-
kiah. mounted on horse 1 recognized
as one Of the best in Miss Octsvia's
stables. Hezekiah rode astride. as a
woman should. her bicycle skirt serv-
ing well as a habit. She rode as a boy
rides who loves freedom and ouickened
pulses and the rush OF wind across his
face. She was hatless. for which the
sun and l were both grateful. The big
bow at the back Of her head turned the
dial back to sixteen
She drew rein and hshed what seem
ed to be sailed almonds from her
sweater pocket She flliped one Of
these into the air and caught it in her
mouth with lazy toss Of the head that
showed the firm contour of her lovely
throat had never seen her more self
possessed. 4
DO you care much for this horse"
she asked carelessly.
TITS a good horse. l fancy Miss Oc-
tavia thinks so herself There are
places, Hezekiah, where they hang
people for horse stealing"
Thought l might need one today, so
I borrowed him through the back way
to the old red barn. The coachman is
an ancient chum, and Aunt Octavia
would never mind even If she knew.
And she will know. all right. Any
10
once too often, and there is a satisfac-
ton in a horse. Where's our sensitive
and impreSsionable WIggy? Saw him
riding over toward Klseo yesterday
p. m. with chin on his chest-dreadful
riding FORM
Virgins is at Orton's-the play
wright's, you know. I've telephoned
him 10 hustle back, but he's out of our
reach somewhere. ] couldn't speak TO
him direct; had TO leave a message for
him"
Just like Wiggy to die on the last
lap. What did you make out of Broth
er Pepperton:"
Your note scared me-thanks so
much for your note-but he's all right.
Engaged TO another girl"
An she sighed, its comforting
that Cecilia couldn't keep them all
going all the time"
We rode along together. our horses
in walk. and told her everything
| knew of the condition Of affairs. in
Guiding a true account of my ex-
perienceS at the inn the day before
and Of the finding of the old chest be-
longing To Virgins great-grandfather
her brown eyes opened wide at this
concluding with the diphtheria strata
gem and Dicks menace TO Cecilia's
happiness
He's really bright little boy. Com
ing home on the steamer he gave me
post graduate course in pragmatism
( that I've found helpful in keeping
house for papa. It's too bad we have
4 to lay trap for Mr.. Dick
"Is it? Just how are we to manage
that. Hezekiahf"s
oh. that will he easy enough He's
pretty desperate. and since the com
7 pact between the suitOrs has gone to
/ pieces he knows he will have to show
/ his hand pretty soon. He thinks you
are wild about Cecilia. He Laws great
+ stress on his thinking powers. and he
( probably argues that you are bound to
pop pretty soon. It's Just as we'll he
/ thinks so. but we must finish this up
/ today. I'll he Il nervous wreck If we
Cont close the books toEfght There's
( your friend Dick now"
/ She indicated a high point in the
B II -I.,,., - -. \
/ from which she had shown met
/ seemed. oh. very long ago,-the pro
/ cesSion ~ suitOrs crossing the stile
Dick. mounted. was gazing off across
+ the fields toward HopefeId Man and
/ horse were so distant as to create the
/ illusion Of an equestrian statue on a
high pedestal.
Napoleon before Waterloo" l sug-
/ gested.
He does look like Napoleon. doesn't
/ he?" she laughed. He's a bit fused
/ today. He knows that Wiggys not at
/ the inn and that you are up to some
! thing. ANA to little Mr.. Dick the archi-
I tect probably looks like one Of those
! mysterious knights you read about,
/ who suddenly appears at the tourna-
ment all canned in an ice cream freez-
! er. with tin pail over his head Mr.
/ Pepperton : presence no doubt worries
! him. as ] don't think they ever met.
/ Cecilia and Mr.. Pepperton are riding.
! ! lodged them Just before | struck
you. walking their horses I'm the most
/ lOverlike fashion in lane over yon-
/ der, but if Mr.. Pepperton is really en-
1 gagged it's all right. though if l were
/ the other girl / think I'd he anxious"
Pops playing the game, that's all
| What are you going TO do now"
She glanced at the sun. / fancied
| that it was with such scanning of
| the heavens that her sisters thousand
| years before had noted the time.
This is my pie day. There's IN
/ doubtedly a geoseberry pie waiting for
me at the bungalow. And papa will
I expect me FOR luncheon. I'd ask you to
come too. only you'll have all you can
do 10 keep Mr. Dick from lpersusding
! somebody o he the sixth man. so he
can slip in as number seven. If we get
/ through today all right. you may come
for luncheon tomorrow, maybe Papa
/ told me he liked you. He said you