Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-08

IL might be almost anybody" re-
turned Marley, who felt that his moth
erless daughters popularity reflected
somehow on himself who is the
particular victim you have in mindr'
and he laughed in advance.
'Sledge"' exploded Bert. "By tba
way, Marley, he gave you a hint of it
too. Didn't he ask you today while I
was there for an invitation to Molly's
party tomorrow night or something
like that?"
well, not exactly, but he did throw
out some pretty strong hints" ac-
knowledged Marley with grin. en-
tering into the joyous spirit of the oc-
casion. He asked permission to cali
on Molly. I told him that was I'D to
her"
How unusually considerater' OBJ
served Molly, biting her lips to SUD-
press the rising fury which had driven
the bushes from her cheeks and left
them almost waXen
The Marley butler, thin faced and
thin legged young man with a pain
fully intellectual countenance, stalked
past the hallway portieres in answer
to a below stairs ring and returned
from the front door with:
Mr.. Sledge, sir, to see Mr.. Marley"
SHOW him into the library" hastily
directed Marley, suddenly contrite and
feeling sinking horror, as did all the
others in the room, Of having this man
face to face with Molly. especially
after the crimes against her. of which
they had themselves been guilty.
The instructions were too late, how
ever.
! Good evening" rumbIed the deep
voice of Sledge, who just then appear
ed directly in the center Of the opening
in the portieres. He wore an Inverness
topcoat, the open front of which dis
closed a marvellous expaEse of white
shirt front. spaced with diamond
studs, the glitter of which paled, how
ever, by contrast with the enormous
solitaire which Illuminated the solid
gold watch fob presented to him by
the Young Mems Marching club Of
| Ward G. His hair was pressed as
smoothly to his skull as an earnest
Italian barber could plaster 1t, and
various angry specks on his cheeks told
how microscopically he had been shay
ed. The browning triumphs of his tot
let, however, he carried. In his right
hand he bore, held by wide velvet
! ribbon, in the same huge fingers which
clutched the gold headed cane pre-
sented by the Capital City Sledge club,
thirty dollar box of candy. two feet
across. wrapped with six beribboned
layers of fancy paper and provided
with an absolute maze of drawers and
partitions. In his left hand he carried
a speckless silk hat of the latest
French shape. and that arm encircled
a conical parcel, so big that 1t would
have staggered a small man, while
from the upper end of the cone pro-
truded square yard Of screaming red
roses.
Good evening. Miss Molly" he add
ed, becoming more specific. 81 brought
these for you myself" and he beamed
his cordial good will upon the entire
assemblage.
It was in this breathless crisis that
Molly Marley, aggravated beyond en-
durance, took her merciless revenge.
How perfectly deligffulr' she cried,
and she swept toward him with more
eager cordiality than she had ever be-
slowed upon Bert Glider himself.
We've Just been talking about you,
and then. to the intense CONSERVATION
of her father and her foremost sutton,
she added: IT want you at my party
tomorrow night. Won't you come,
please?'
The next day Smash, Molly's pet,
like the way of many good dogs. fell
into the hands of the official dog catch
er and was taken off to the pound.
Molly was In a pitiabe state. She ap-
pealed to her father He testify said
that he was busy. In her desperation
and hardly knowing why she did it. she
telephoned to Sledge. One Of Sledge's
men said that he was very busy. But
when he heard 1t was Molly he jump
ed into an automobile, accompanied
Molly to the pound and got Smash.
On the way home Sledge talked Of his
dog Bob. and Molly shivered when he
said he'd like to match Bob against
Smash. As If noticing her displeasurs
he changed the subject to Molly's par
ty, and for the hundredth time Molly
was sorry she invited him.
A yelp on the front porch announced
the arrival of Ben Sledge, and he ap-
peared in the brilliantly lighted hall,
holding a tightly stretched chain, to
the other end of which was attached
one eyed, stub cared. battle SCARED
bull terrier, which took such violent
dislike to the intellectual faced Marley
butler that Sledge was compelled to
hold him clear of the floor with one
brawny hand and spank him loudly in
the ribs with the other, whereupon
Bob gave a single yelping promise to
be good, and Sledge let him down.
This is Bob. Miss Molly" intro
duced Sledge I'm sending him right
back with Mike, but you said you'd
like to see him"
Delighted TO meet you, Bob" laugh
ed Molly. STOPPING down and pattine
him on the seamy head.
Bob deliberately batted his good eye
with all the effect of wink and