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

I'D to Molly" he stated. with a trace
Of stiffness.
"All right. Put 1t up to Molly" said
Sledge and looked out Of the window
again.
Marley hesitated and half arose. BE
knew that his call was over, and yet
he had something else on his mind.
by the way, Sledge." he observed
trying to speak as II the matter had
Just occurred to him, that note OF
mine at the First National-it falls due
next week I am afraid I shall have
to have an extension"
Sledge nodded imperceptibly.
Tell Davis l said it was all right.
he directed.
Bendix returned, and With him wa.
Bert Glider, redolent of the odor Of
barber shop and with his curly black
mustache wa1ed and brilliantined I'm
til it was filled with almost painful re
| Elections. He greeted Mr.. Marley will
much more effusiveness than that gen
tleman did him.
Hello, Marley he said, grasping tn,
street car magnates hand with tire
| mendous man to man heartiness. "YoI
are just the one I want to see. ",
been trying to get Molly on the phone
and they tell me she'll be in at you
office some time this afternoon. vii
you carry her the happy news tina
Dicky Reynolds Is in town and that
invited him to her tafry pulling tomor
row night? Tell her to invite Jessi,
| Peters"
| Sledge turned slow questioning eye.
on Marley.
You going to be home tonightw h,
inquired.
well, yes, I rather think So" fal
tered Marley.
Pm coming out to see you" decided
Sledge.
I'll be glad to have you" admitted
Marley. Il suppose I may see Davi,
tomorrow"
Sledge nodded assent, looking stonily
| out meanwhile at the hand hole in tn,
| high board gate at the end of the area
way
We'll. Glider. tell us about it," invit
ed Bendix as Marley went out.
Il want you to tell me- laughed
Glider, in happy unconsciousness tina
he was deadly offense to Sledge, VIII,
called him pretty" lis the Ridgewoot
| avenue extension sure go?"
"Why do you want to know" in
quired Bendix.
Il have little speculation in mini
which depends on it, confessed Glider
Subdivision at the end Of the line
| suppose" guessed Bendix
well, yes" acknowledged Glider
Foxy of you to think Of It," ap
| plauded Bendix. Your only fault 1
that you don't guess those things first
Who do you suppose would acquire
deed to that land before the extension
was publicly announced?'
Il know the answer" returned Gil
der. crestfallen, but still handsome
you fellows"
Certainly not denied Bendix. Blu
some friend of the family-yes, may
be. How much will you give for tn,
land?
I'm not at liberty to state" replied
Glider uncomfortably. THE owne
made me a price on It this morning
but 1t was confidential"
"The owner didn't know he wa
tagged" retorted Bendix dryly. "Yo,
may have the land, l think, for TWEEN
ty thousand, Glider. but you'll have t,
speak quick
Twenty thousand" gasped Glider
why, old Person offered it to me TO
eight"
That's what we intend to pay him.
Give me a day or two to think i
over" begged Glider.
"All right; you're on" agreeds Ben
dix and hurried out Of the room.
Bert was about to follow him whel
Sledge called.
Glider" was his peremptory sum
mons, what kind of flowers does Mol
ly Marley like?''
Bert Glider almost stuck the ash enc
Of his cigar in his mouth, then sud
denly upbraided himself for fool a
he mentally complimented Sledge Oh
deserving his reputation Of being tn
most astute politician in the state.
Red roses" he promptly returned
and twirled the right hand curl Of hi
mustache. He stopped that process
abruptly and felt Of the curl with deel
concern. One of the hairs was disar
ranged, and he fixed it with the aid o
a vest pocket mirror
Thanks" said Sledge and resumed
his interested inspection of the hant
hole in the gate.
Sledge looked out Of the window TO
long moments Of thick silence, ant
then he expressed his thoughts on
plot in hand in this fashion:
"Say, Bendix, send a load of rose
out to Molly Marley for her party to
morrow night. the reddest ones they'v
got"
CHAPTER IL
Molly Invites an Additional Guest.
"TA7HERE are the red roses
NV Molly?" asked Bert Glide