Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-16

slv one. you are. always signin' youi
name p. Sybarite' and pretendin youl
! maiden monaker was Pete. But now
we know you. Take of them whisk
ers-Perceval.'
really wise mind reader would
have called policeman then and
there. for mayhem was the least of
the crimes contemplated by p. Syba
rite.
IF that letters for me-" he SAID
quietly. give 1t here. please"
Special d'liv'ry-jus' come" an
nounced George. "Oh. you Perceval-
Esduirer'
The letter was torn rudely from his
grasp.
"Hererhe cried resentfuIly. Where's
! your manners-Percevalr'
Dumb with impotent rage. =. Syba-
rite climbed back on his stool. while
/ George sat down at his desk and. with
| leer, Watched the bookkeeper care
| fully slit the envelope and withdraw
! its Enclosures.
Ignoring him. p. Sybarite ran his eye
! through the few lines of notably. care
| less feminine handwriting:
/ My Dear PercevaI-Mother and 1 had
I planned to take some friends to the thea
| ter tonight and bought a box for the
| Rnickerbocker several weeks ago. but
| now We have decided to go TO Mrs. Had
! iey-Owen's post Lenten masquerade ball
instead. and none OF our friends can
use the tickets ] thought possibly you
might like them They say Otis Skinner
is wonderful. OF course you may not care
to sit I'm a stage box without a dress suit.
but perhaps you won't mind. II you do
maybe you know somebody else who could
go properly dressed. Your affectionate
cousin. MAE ALIS.
Drawing to him one Of the Wing
ham & Wimper Ietterheads. p. Syba-
rite dipped a pen. considered briefly.
and wrote rapidly and freely in mi
mute hand:
My Dear Mae AIys-Every man has his
price. You know mine. Pocketing false
pride. l accept your bounty with all the
gratitude and humility becoming in a poor
relation And II arrested for appearing in
the box without evening clothes 1 promise
solemnly TO brazen It out. pretend that l
bought the tickets myself stole them
and keep the newspapers ignorant OF our
kinship. Fear not. trust me and enjoy
the masque as much as 1 mean TO enjoy
the play.
And IL you would do me the greatest of
favors. should you ever again find an ex-
cuse TO write me any matter. please
address me By the initials OF my ridicu-
possible for me to live down the deep
dsmnation OF having been born a Sybs-
rite. but the indulgence of my friends can
save the further degradation OF be-
ing known a Perceval
With thanks renewed and profound. /
remain. all things considered. remotely
yours. r. SYBARITE
This he sealed and addressed in
stamped envelope: then he slued round |
on his stool to blink pensively at Mr. |
Bross.
That gentleman having some time |
since despaired OF any response to his !
persistent batting was now preoccu- |
pied with hand mirror and endeav-
oring to erase the smudge of marking |
ink from his face with handkerchief |
Its no use. George" observed +. !
Sybarite presently. Try soap and wa |
ter. i know It's painful. but. believe !
me. it's the only way. I'm going to 1
shut up shop in just FIVE minutes. and /
II you don't want TO show yourself on |
the street looking like a difference OF
opinion between a bull calf and a
fountain pen
"Gotcha." interrupted George. rising
and putting away handkerchief and
mirror. iii drown myself II you say
me to death"
"One thing more"
Splashing vigorously at the station
airy wash stand. George looked gloom
lily over his shoulder and in sepulchraI
accents uttered the one word:
"Shootrr
How would you like to go to the
theater tonight:"
I'D like It so hard" George replied.
that I'm already dated up for an
evenin' OF intellect enjoyment. Me
and Sammy Hollis goin' round 10 MI
ner's Eight avenoo and bust up the
show"
II mean a regular show. at Broad
way house"
Quit your kiddin'," countered Mr.
Bross indulgentIy. Come along: got
an engagement to walk home and save
/ nickel. and so've You"
Wait a minute" insisted r. Sybar
tie. without moving. I'm in earnest
ibout this. / offer you a seat in
stage box at the Knickerbocker thea
er tonight 70 see Otis Skinner in 'Kis.
net with Miss Prim. Miss LEASING and
nyself-on one condition"
Go TO it,
You must promise me to quit call
nc me PercevaL here or any place else.
oday and forever. And never tell
nybody. either"
George hesitated
And what II ! keep on?''
Then I'll make up my theater party
-ithout you-and break your neck ints
he bargain" said r Sybarite-
Your George laughed derIsively
You break my neck: Can the comedy.
eau. Why. I could eat you alive. Per
svaL"
We're going TO settle this question
fore you leave this warehouse. ]
ont be called PercevaI by you or any
her pink cared cross between Ba- y
ANS ass and laughing hyena." =
Mr. Bross CAPPED with resentment
You won't eb:" he said strident-