Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-07

aSeF wen hDpWH 10 me coming awsv
| from her house. wondered wba, (,
had been doing there and wished -
ask him. but refrained. / thought !.
looked at me viii something akin !.
jealousy. We bid each other sonS
evening and passed on without vo-s
upon the subject that was uppermos.
In the mind Of each. Entering *.
house, 1 found Alice, aud it was ~.
long before / gave her an opportunl,-
TO inform me why he had called.
"Oh. you mustn't think that Won n.
the only string l have to my bow
she replied laughingly, and that IVA,
all 1 could get out of her.
The next day as was about 70 on
ter my Office Parkinson, the man b,s
seen coming out of my fiancee's hons
passed by and, seeing me, stopped and
said:
at seems that you and I are after
the same thing" be said.
1.-The same thing! What do you
mean?"
Come. Don't pretend to be stnp,d
You know where 1 met you last even.
ing
certainly 90!
"Well?"
"Well?'
''I've got it all in my own hands and
there's no use in your interfering. You
can't do anything"
You speak in riddles"
what nonsenseI Own up, man.
You're trying to get ahead Of me. I
having been first in the field"
'See here, Parkinson" l said. with
rising color. Miss Woodruff is encag.
ed to me, and there's no use for You 10
try TO get ahead of me. 1t is you who
are intruding."
The most singular expression came
over his face l have ever seen on the
countenance of any one. He stood
gaping at me for few moments, then
with an abrupt good morning. turned
on his heel and left me-
l called on Alice during the after
noon, hot for an explanation.
81 supposed" l said haughtily, that
you and / were engaged?"
$50 did l."
"Will you please explain what You
mean by encouraging another MANI"
encourage announcer man
l told her of my meeting with Par
kinson and of his having accused me Of
trying to get ahead of him. She burst
into an uncomfortable fit Of laughter
81 think it time" she said, that you
and l came to an understanding. Sit
down. I have a story to tell you"
1 obeyed her impatiently.
1.-The first time 1 saw you" she said,
was when l left you play called
'Constancy.' The next day the man
uscript was returned TO me by some
one who found it, though l don't to
this day know where"
A cold chill began to creep down my
back.
81 offered it to several other man
ayers and finally to Mr.. Parkinson.
He brought it out under the name of
A Sylvan Butterfly"
"a Sylvan Butterfly"
Yes. You remember that the play
was great success"
go on
"Well, Parkinson made up lot OF
losses on other failures through 4
Sylvan Butterfly Then you. out Of
Difference TO my feelings, paid me $500
for play you had lost. Never mind
that now, dear; it's all in the family
and I've made a good deal Of money
which you will share with me out OF
the play And now you can under
stand why l laughed at you when you
told me of Parkinson's accusation that
you were trying TO get ahead of him
He is trying to get me to sign con
e., r,1o I have bppn
holding off till | could learn whether
you or he had better produce it. HaF-
ing made one success for me, he nat
urally feels entitled TO my second pro
duction. He knew nothing about my
enga cement to you and thought you
were coming to see me with view TO
getting my play"
Having finished her explanation. or
rather. confession. she leaned back on
her chair and regarded me with an
amused expression. though there was
I slight sign of worry as 10 now
would take 1t. sat thinking. and the
more l thought the more il was appaI
mt to me that Miss Alice Noodrnh
lad held over me most beautiiui az"
-antage. Finally l went 10 Der anu
ook her in my arms.
"If you could play a part on the
.tage.- 1 said. "as we'll as you have
played me Won would be the most re
narkable actress on or Off the boards
let Parkinson have your new pa!,
lie is entitled to it. and | am not
hall be content with your love- toe
ther fellows may have your plays.
1t was this experience more than -
thers that taught me that play
ottery My wife's second play was
allure. and she never wrote anotue.
ne Parkinson lost on IL wnat ~
ad made on "a Sylvan Butterfly
nd !. so far as my wife's plays scis
came ont with nothing os'
r gained. but my profit came IN gef
Ing n wife | adore.