Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-07

OF n chair. Several minute. % oaes
when the doorbell rang ao.sl pa'ea
only hope was that the rnans.@ Ny
become convinced TINT there W goAt
one In the house and would 90 s n
1t occurred TO me to teIenbo,.
authorities at the asylum tha, "
patient was at orr house I'm, .aei
not make the slightest sound a, s..1
of being heard by the man binss,, "a
/ kept still. scarcely daring 70 b-a..s
He rang the bell three times. ~.
stead of going away to uurda- !. 2
one else, he deliberately sat &C. .'as
a bench on the porch. could M,
him. but could hear every mo+,o.
made.
could not remain where ~,
must 20 downstairs On tiptoe 70 a..
I had left any weak spot I'm NJ, -.
fcation On turning I caught
Fiction of myself in the mirror - =
dresser. Agitated az / was. -
not but notice my appearance ~
dress, a very old one that had mn, =
TO do housework. was bedraggIe4 -
soup and spotted with grease a.
my right eye was a smudee. ana !
the left side Of my nose was ano,h..
AS to my hair. tousled Is NOT s,r,.-
enough to describe it. But Of -.
Importance was this when a mzrs,,
was sitting quietly on the porch ~.
ing to effect an entrance TO rnr,a..
me? l did not give my appearane.
thought, but went noiselessIy dow "a.
staircase. | had drawn every cu-,,-
below its window sill. not leayi,p
crack that would admit a streak -
sunlight so could be seen.
/ examined all points OF ingress an
finding everything as secure as / cu9
make it, thought what next could d
There was no telephone booth. tbs !.
strument being in the dining room I
occurred to me TO go upstairs. bin
down blankets with which to ccyrs
SO as to deaden the sound, and in,c--
the asylum managers Of the luus5.,
presence. Having got the blarssy
and covered myself and the phops
put the receiver to my ear. IfIhs
been obliged to ring l would not har.
dared make the call.
What number"
Give me the East Arlington Lurzr,
asylum at once"
The line is busy" :,
That's all / got out Of Central 30.
I heard two women bidding each otte-
goodby, and they spent half an hou,
doing so. while l was kept waiting
with a lunatic on the porch. When
had heard the last goodby called 70.
the asylum and gave my information /
was told that force Of attendants |
be sent at once.
Throwing off the blankets, went 10 l
/ window OF the drawing room. near /
which the maniac sat, and listened
leard nothing. but smelled tobacco
rhe man while waiting to get at ne
vas quietly smoking Then suddenly
e got up and walked TO the steps
nd | heard an exclamation. Coud
t be that relief had come-that was
aved? II
There were steps without and
a bel of voices, followed by jerk Ct I
he doorbell. II
What should I do? l was not sure
that to do. | did nothing. II
A loud rap at the door. Il
My aunt's and my cousins voices
including Tom's) outside.
For heavens saker' cried my aunt /
What has happened to the girl" I
/ unlocked and unclaimed the deOr x
here stood a number Of persons, tnFe E
len from the asylum, my aunt snd
ousins and the lunatic. Every eye
as turned with anxiety on me.
By this time l knew that l had mace
goose of myself. L gave sieSg N
mile. e
Il thought" l stammered, polnnns
, the man with the suit case, lna'
e was an escaped lunatic."
There was a burst of laughter. III,
Hes my friend. Alan Irving. san
ON. Hes not very bright pul
.ouldnt quite consider him iun
c."
Good graciousr' exclaimed u
onsin Bess. What have you pes'
ping to yourselfT
Then l remembered my soileo aleS
v smudged face and, turning nsu
Tom had made an unexpected
Ingement TO bring Mr.. lrving =.
ith him for the week end. Iom "
Used the train, and Irving haa cV~'
1t alone.
So this was the result OF my dleaa'
nv first meeting with the man y.
Id been picked out for me; ny A.
g fresh my most becoming ores,
,pes of making a favorable impe II
On, Could | have made worse ~.
was followed TO my room "
,usins Bess and Julia. who founa
bling convulsively and In W.
ms | gradually recovered my eS
nifty. -,
When l went downstairs Mr. h
Is kind enough TO say 10 nue. "a. n
ings l admire. brave man az
wardly woman stand at the neao
de afterward declared that. uau~
d smudged as was when os -
W me. was comely. But tns'
ttery. ~
We made a match OF II after ab'
April Z in American