Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-28

Inc train bad stopped again, ana
wickham. rubbing the moisture off
the window with the dingy curtain,
looked out into the night
Wickham shuddered and drew back
into the shabby comfort of his second
class carriage.
karlsruhe, probably" he thought as
the noise of banging doors announced
a speedy departure.
1t was too dark to read. Wrapping
his rug well about his legs, he leaned
back again and closed his eyes. Then
Just as the train started the door of
his compartment was opened, the light
from a lantern flashed across him, and
a woman, vigorously helped forward,
stumbled into the place opposite him,
and a worn bag was dumped By a por-
ter directly on his foot. AS If that
were not enough, the owner paid no
attention to his discomfort but sat i'm
movable in her place.
wickham was annoyed. He dislik
ed being the only other person in a
compartment with a woman, and this
Ollt, JuuSluS 1IOIli tue ShdODIuGSS VI
her wet brown skirt and the cotton
gloves on her Imply folded hands.
was utterly lacking in even the small
charm necessary to reconcile cross
man to the bore of opening and clos
ing windows and arranging another's
hand luggage.
ignoring the small bag at his feet
he watched the blurred lights 0? the
city until they were swallowed up in
the darkness. Then, closing his eyes
again, he tried to Tad his way back to
the comfortable half sleep that had
soothed him since he left Mannheim.
But he could not sleep. The pres
ence Of his neighbor, stu as she sat,
made him nervous.
Lifting the bag, he put it on the
seat beside her, but still she did not
move. And then as the train rushed
round a sharp curve she fell helplessly
sideways. Her hat, crushed into the
angle Of the head rest, fell back and
revealed her face in the feeble light.
Good heavensr' said Wickham. The
girl-for she was not more than four
or five and twenty-lay silent and still. !
II.
Wickham stared at her for a few !
seconds. Then, digging his flask out |
OF his bag, he sat down by her, bal !
nnced her limp body as we'll as he |
could in the wanton jerkiness of the |
train and poured a few drops of the /
fluid into her mouth.
1t seemed hours before a little color
came back into the pale face and the
sunken eyes opened.
"Danke schoen," she said presently,
drawing away from him. Forgive
me-"
Good heavens, I have nothing to
forgive" he answered with a vehe-
mence that he vaguely recognized as
quite uncalled for. "If 1 hadn't been
a brute I'd have seen at once that
you were ILL.,
"Oh, 1 wasn't i'll! I wonder wheth- 7
er, as you have been so kind, you
would let me have a little more. Most
Of what you gave me went-Outside."
why, you are English Wickham
exclaimed. handing her the flask.
How strange! You'd better drink out
Of the flask, the train shakes So"
Thanks. Yes, I am English" she
said, while he watched wave of bril-
liant color sweep up her thin cheeks.
Then. TO his disappointment she closed
ler eyes. and he dared not speak
gain.
Her hands. bare now of the disfig-
Iring gloves. lay loosely as before, and
lie saw that, though painfully thin.
hey We're white and slim.
Then she opened her eyes.
Don't be frightened" she said. try
ng to smile. but 1 am dreadfully
fraid L am going toto do it again"
"Oh. for heavens sake, my dear
-ounG lady, don't, Take some more
randy"
She waved the flask away. mo. no!
- Then suddenly she added, speak
ng very fast: THE truth is l am not
Il; am only hungry. If you happen
o have
Catching the look in her face as she
asted the meat in the sandwich he
hruSt into her hands, he fed to the far
nd of the compartment and stood with
is face to the wet window, positively /
lex with pity.
When she called he found her fold
~ the paper about the remaining
Il ate two" she said.
nth n little shamed laugh, "and-
han't try to thank you. l suppose
on never were hungry?"
NO. was never hungry" he return !
I. feeling himself an unmitigated
rute 81 was never hungry in my
fe"
Your people are dead?" he went ON. !
ha train was drawing into the SUIT !
lrt station, and he saw in the electric
gHt the half defiant expression of her
ice as she answered. :
MY father IS alive" she said. {
Then I'll like to punch your fathers :
lad" {
Yes? My father is the Duke Of q
lrbolton" q
'The Duke [
The Duke OF Tarbolton. Have you
FER heard of the Tarbolton vein? i
ell. there it is
She held out her left hand and nv