Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-01

Is to be trusted, Mr.. Schmidt she
said mysteriously-and tantalizingly.
''He will not betray me to my cruel
monster Of father
~ saw you this morning riding with
him." said he glumly.
She turned her face away and for
moment was silent. "Shall we take
those chairs over there, Mr.. Schmidt?
They appear to be as abandoned as
we" She indicated two chairs near
the broad portals.
| He shook his head. "If we are look
ing for the most utterly abandoned
allow me to call your attention to
, the two in yonder corner"
at is quite dark over there" she
said with n frown.
"Quite," he agreed. (Which &C
counts, no doubt, for your failure to
see them"
"Mrs. CASTOR will be looking for me
before she began hesitatingly.
"Or Mr.. White, perhaps. Let me re-
mind you that they have exceedingly
sharp eyes"
"NIr. White is no longer here" she
announced.
His heart leaped. "Then I. at least,
have nothing to fear" he said
quickly.
She ignored the banality. "He left
this afternoon. Very well, let us take
the seats over there. rather like the
shall I say shadows"
"Now, tell me everything" he said.
"From beginning to end. What be-
came of you after that day al st.
Cloud, whittier have you journe yed,
and wherefore were you so benz on
coming to this now blessed Inter-
laken?"
easily answered Nothing at all
became of me. l journey thither, and
l came because had set my heart on
seeing the Jungfrau-"
"But you had seen it many tires"
"And l hoped that l might find
peace and quiet here" she added
quite distinctly.
"You expected to find me- here,
didn't you?"
Yes, but did not regard yasi as
disturber OF the peace"
You knew | would come, but you
didn't know why, did you, Hedelia?'
He leaned little closer.
Eyes, knew why" she sail calmly,
emotionlessly. He drew back instant
| ly, chilled by her directness. You
| came because there was promise Of an
| interesting adventure, which you now
are on the point of making impossible
! by rather rash exhibition o. haste"
He stared at her shadowY face in
utter confusion. For a moment he
was speeches.. Then a rush of pro-
testing sincerity surged up within him,
and he cried out in low, intense tones:
! Il cannot allow you to think that Of
anything to lead you to believe that
| am
She laughed joyously, naturally.
You really are quite wonderful, Mr..
Schmidt. Still must change the sub
ject. l trust the change viii not af-
feet your glibness, for it is quite ex-
hilarating. How long do ye'u purpose
remaining in Interlaken?"
That isn't changing the subject"
said he. 81 shall be here for a week
or ten days-or perhaps lonSer?" He
put it in the form of a question, after
all
Indeed? How l envy you. l am
sorry to say l shall have to leave in a
day or two"
His face fall. Why" BIZ demand
ed, almost Indignantly.
Il am having such a gool time dis
obeying my father, Mr.. Schmidt, and
eluding pursuers. 1t is only matter
of a day or two before ant discovered
here. SO l mean to keep on lodging.
1t is splendid fun
do you mind telling HE where you
are going to, Miss Guile?"
First to Vienna, then-well, you
cannot guess where. | have decided
to go to Edelweiss."
'EdeIweiss!" he exclaimed in aston
ishment. He could hardly believe his
ears.
ut is the very last place in the
world that my father would think of
looking for me. Besides, | am curious
to see the place. l understand that
the great Mr.. Blithers is to be there
soon, and the stupid prince who will
not be tempted by millions, and it is
even possible that the extraordinary
Miss Blithers may take 1t into her
head to look the place over before
definitely refusing to be it's princess.
| may find some amusement or enter
tainment as an onlooker when the
riots begin
He was staring at her wide eyed
and incredulous. do you really mean
to say you are going to Graustark
Il have thought of doing So Don't
you think it will be amusing to be on
the scene when the grand climax oc-
curs?"
All this time she was regarding him
through amused, half closed eyes.
She had distinct advantage over him.
She knew that he was the Prince of
Graustark; she had known it for many
days. Perhaps if she had known all
the things that were in his cunning
brain she would not have ventured so
far into the comedy she was construct.
ing. She would have hesitated-aye
she might have changed her methods
completely. Eut she was in the mood
to do ...,I ---. .'-,.'--
| Continued Next Wednesday,