Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-03

My plans are never sensible, and
what few ! have are as empty as my
pockets. To tell the truth. have
neither plans nor pockets" she laugh
ed, since this is a borrowed gown"
Pockets in gowns are entirely mat
tiers Of hearsay anyhow; l doubt II
they exist You are going back to
Scatter
No. Mother would never allow 1t,
In fact. when she learns that I'm out
here she'll probably send me back TO
New York as fast as can go"
Doesn't she know where you are:
Indeed. no. She thinks I'm safely
and tamely at home. Uncle Curtis
wouldn't object TO my visit, fancy;
at any rate. I've been counting on his
good ofices with mother. but it's too
late now
Tn like you" he said; Il can't brook
disappointment I'm going on
In answer to her questioning look he
explained his plan Of intercepting the
freight steamer that night. whereupon
her face frightened with sudden hope.
Cant l go, too?" she implored eager
" She was no longer the naughty
young lady he had met upon entering
the room. but a very wistful child.
I'm afraid that's hardly
Please, Please. Be a real prince
and grant me this boon. Won't you:
Ny heart IS set upon it"
- o. ei-+ Ia-
eyes-eyes which showed they had
never been denied 1t was hard for
O'Neil to refuse anything to a woman.
IF your uncle is willing" he began
hesitatingly.
He isn't my really uncle. l just
call him that
Well if Mr. Gordon wouldn't OBJ
ject, perhaps l can manage it, provid
ed, Of course. you promise to explain
to your mother"
Miss Gerard's frank delight showed
that she was indeed no more than Il
child. Her changed demeanor awak-
ened a doubt in the mans mind.
1T will mean that you'll have to sit
up all night in an open launch" he
cautioned her.
I'll sit up for a week
With the creepy water all about and
big black mountains frowning at you?"
''Oh. fiddle" she exclaimed You'll
be there if l get frightened" Rising
impulsively, she laid her hand on his
arm and thanked him with an odd
rniurIi-1r Of frapLDoSS opd ShvDocc DC
if there could be no further doubt OF
his acquiescence. He saw that her
eyes were the color of shaded wood
land springs and that her hair was
not black, but of a deep. rich brown
where the sun played upon it. the hue
Of very old mahogany, with the SAME
blood red fame running through It
He allowed himself to admire her ii
silence until suddenly she drew back
with startled exclamation.
What is it,
Il forgot have no clothes" Hell
words came with a doleful cadence.
The universal complaint of your
sex. he said, smiling. Allow me tc
talk with your hostess. I'm sure she
will let you walk out with your Dor
rowed fnery just like Cinderella. You
viii need nick thick coat too
But this is her very. very hes,
dress"
She shall receive on the next ship q
big box all lined with tissue paper,
with the imprint Of the most fashion
able dressmaker in Seattle. I'll ar
range all that by CABLE
You don't know how she loves II. 4.
the girl said doubtfuny
Come! Call her in. II I'm to be a
prince you mustn't doubt my power"
Nor did the event prove him oyercon-
hdent. Before he had fairly made
known his request the good lady of
the house was ready to surrender not
only her best Sunday gown, but her
futtering heart as well. Murray O'Neil
had a way Of making people do what
he wanted. and women invariably
yielded to him.
To Natalie Gerard the trip down the
bay and into the sound that night was
wonderful adventure She remem-
bered it far more wildly than the ship
wreck, which became blurred In retro
spect, so that she soon began to think
Of it as Of some half forgotten night
mare. To begin with, the personality
OF Murray O'Neil intrigued her more
and more. The man was so strong. SO
sympathetic and he had such q resist
less way OF doing things. The stories
she had heard OF him were romantic.
and the superintendent wife had not
allowed them to suffer in the telling.
When midnight came she found that
she was ravenously hungry, and she
was agreeably surprised when O'Neil
produced an elaborate lunch. There
were even patent bottles filed wifi
steaming hot coffee, more delicious.
she thought, than anything she had
ever before tasted. He called the meal
tnelf AFTER theater party. pretending
mat they had just come from a Broad
way melodrama Of shipwreck and
peril. The subject led them naturally
10 'aik OF New York. and she found he
was more familiar with the CITY than
she
Il usually spend my winters there"
be explained.
Then you have an Office In the citvr
~Oh. yes. I've maintained place Of
business there for years
Where is It? On Wall street?"
NO" he smiled ''On upper Fifth
avenue It's situated in the extreme