Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-06-10

! pIandIy. But you. Brian Shaynon.
| YOU 20 always masked. waking or
! sleeping. Hypocrisy's your lifelong
mask. You see the distinction. old
servant
Beelzebub laughed proyokingly and
( DEITY wormed his way through the
press to the dancing floor itself.
As for the younger mamie OF the
ugly, twisted mouth-P. Sybarite was
content TO hold him in reserve to be
dealt with later at his leisure. For the
present his business pressed with the
wsning night
On the famous floor twelve score
couples swung and swayed to the in
toxicating rhythms of an unseen or
chestra.
Searching narrowly each fair face
that flashed past In anothers arms. he
waited with seeming patience. \ ran
corous discomfort gnawed at his fam
ished heart
But OF a sudden he forgot self pity
and vain repining in the discovery OF
the one particular woman swinging
dizzily past in the arms OF an incroy-
able whose giddy plumage served only
TO render the more striking her ex-
quisite fairness and the fine simplicity
OF her costume.
For she was all IN the black ana
white uniform OF BiessinGtOn shop
girl, black skirt and blouse. stockings
and pumps. relieved by snowy linen at
throat and wrists. with at waist the
white patch of her tiny lace and linen
apron.
Her gaze veered to his silent and
aloof figure. and for an instant his
eyes held hers. At once. 10 his con-
sternation. the hot blood stained her
lovely face from throat to brow.
Then. nodding with an air OF friend
" difidence. she flashed him strange.
perpIexing smile and was swept on
and away.
For a thought he checked his breath
in stIpefaction. Had she. then. reco=-
nfzed him? Was il possible that her in
tuition had been keen enough 10 pierce
his disguise. visor and all?
But the next moment he could have
sworn in chhGrined appreciation OF his
colossal stupidity. OF course. His
costume was that worn by Peter Ken
ny earlier in the evening.
So. after all. her emotion had been
due solely TO embarrassment and re-
greet for the pain she had caused poor
Peter by refusing his offer OF mar
rage,
In good time the music ended. and
near n great. high window wide to the
night the breathless shop girl had drop
ped into chair.
At Beelzebub's approach the incroy-
able. perhaps mindful Of obligations
in another quarter. bowed and moved !
off. leaving the field temporarily quite |
clear.
She greeted him with faint recur- |
renee Of her former blush.
why. Peterr' she cried. and So set I
the seal OF confirmation on his surmise /
as to her misrepresentation. II was won |
dering what had become OF you. |
Thought you must have gone home"
Peter did go home.' p Sybarite af-
hrmed. bending over her hand.
"You-you're not Peter Kenny?-
mo more than you are Molly Les
sing"
molly LEASING! What do you know?
Who can you be? Why are you
maskedT'
els It permittedy' he asked, taking
the tiny printed card OF dance engage
ments that dangied from her fingers
by its silken thong.
his lips hardened as he read the IN
ItiaIs penciled opposite the last dance;
they were "B. s."
"Bayard ShaynonT' he queried.
She assented with a nod, her brows
gathering.
CoolIy, with the miniature pencil at
tached to the card. he changed the
small. faint b to a large. black p.
the s TO correspond and
added to that 'ybarite:" then, with a
bow, returned the card
''You-Mr. SybariteY'
81. Miss Blessington.'
Butch. incrediblei' she cried. at
ant believe you"
Facing her, he lifted his scarlet vizor.
meeting her stare with his wistful and
iihident smile.
Miss Blessington." he pursued seri-
'usly. IF you have patience TO listen {
o what I've been through since we .
'arted in Thirty eighth street. En- 1
outraged by her silence, he told her
4 the nights happenings. And all. q
appears. that 1 might come at last 9
o beg a favor OF you i am about to 1
rensgress your privacy with q oues- 8