Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-12

most equally happy. though not so
highly favored. Fern warned her. in
giggling, whispered moment. to keep
her back to the wall lest she be stab
bed. Her cup Of happiness was full
/ when the famous musician. near
sighted man who wore bis hair short
and inspected her rapturously through
half inch thick glasses. composed a
sparkling little rondo for her at piano
in quiet little alcove and named it
Molly" and wrote 1t on her dance card.
all in the space Of seven minutes.
True, he had danced with her two
numbers before and had had time to
think of her-possibly to think Of her
in rondo terms.
Occasionally she caught sight OF
Sledge in the throng. although she had
not seen him on the floor and she real.
lied that her number with him would
be sit out Perhaps that was why
it had been put down so far in the
program. when she would welcome a
rest. 1t was like his doing. for she
had to acknowledge that he was at
least farsighted
One thing perplexed her. He was
much less awkward and much more at
ease here than he had been at her
party. Whenever she saw him he was
| talking siavely with men Of large af-
fairs. and, to her surprise. she observ-
ed that. in every case he was accorded
notable respect. Even the musician
seemed absorbedly interested in him.
and her leading millionaire came back
, to him again and again. She wonder
ed why men sought him. and she was
still wondering when the eminent So
biologist fairly snatched her out of the
arms Of the mayor after the eighth
dance.
Come and watch me smoke ciga-
rette." he begged her. I've been try
ing to get chance 10 talk with you
again the entire evening. but there's
always such an increasingly mad
scramble around you that the attempts
made me feel undignified'
You'd worry lot about that" she
guessed.
Wouldn't T. he laughed will yen
chill if we step out ON the terrace
Il don't know how she happily told
him. and they hurried outside. where
he led her to seat in the moonlight
and deity made her comfortable with
three cushions from Us many chairs
Sledge and Senator Allerton passed
them as he lighted his cigarette. and
he looked after Sledge until the match
burned his fingers.
There is the biggest man | have
seen in long while" he remarked as
he sat beside her on the settee.
They say he is not only the boss OF
the city. but Of the state" replied Mol
ly. very much interested. You knew
that, didn't YOU
of course" he acknowledged, but
| scarcely think that would influence
my judgment | have studied great
"anv men Of more power and influence
than he has at present. but none OF
them. SO far as can recollect. seemed
TO have his elemental force Wherever
| he was born. lie would have been a
leader. He is Il wonderful man. Throw
him in savage country and he would
| be king"
A huge figure approached them.
Hello, Watt" rumbled the deep
voice of Sledge. My dance. Molly.
We'll, you having good ume?"
asked Sledge. sitting comfortably in
the seat Mr.. Watt had just vacated
THE time of my life" she assured
him, with happy animation.
That's the word" he heartily ap-
proved. IF there's anybody here you
want just tell Cameron. If he don't
trot EN- right over tell me"
The mayor has been very kind" ac-
knowledged Molly. beginning TO Won
der
Hes got his orders" returned
Sledse complacently. Let me see
your dance program" and he took it
from her lap. Il thought So" he COM
up. and you didn't get him."
"A dark horse?" she faltered.
"a ringer" he explained. Lord
Bunnchase. Andrew Lepton. the big
coffee monopolist. sneaked him in here
under an alias. and nobody's on" He
puzzled over the card moment. "E.x-
cuse me till fix it." and be stalked
away.
Molly sat silently. allowing cold
wave OF humiliation slowly TO chill! her
soul. Why. Sledge had carefully pre-
arranged her triumph Of the evening.
He had assumed control OF her dance
card and of her succession of delight
full tete-a-teteS. He had driven the
star performers into her net as if they
had been droves of sheep. True. men
had sought her second time of their
own accord because of that charm
which she knew she possessed-a
vaguely understood attractiveness.
which was more than beauty. more
than cleverness. more than mere sex
receptiveness. She had won by her
own power. but Sledge had given her
the glorious opportunities. His omnip-
otence began to annoy her and his
ruthlessness to infame her already in
famed resentment
She knew precisely what was hap
pening at this moment. He was Great
ing havoc in not less than half dozen
dance cards. with 10 conjunction
about having disconnected or dis
tressed any one. Then there was Bert
downtown battling with disaster
which had thrown him completely