Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-15
CHAPTER xl.
Tha Lieutenant Receives Orders.

"HE next day brought not only an
agreeable change in the wealth
er, but most surprising altera'
ton in the manner of Mrs. Gas.
ton, whose attitude toward r. Schmidt
and his friends had been anything but
amicable up to the hour of Miss
Guile's discovery. The excellent lady,
recovering very quickly from her in
disposition, became positively polite to
the hitherto repugnant Mr.. Schmidt.
She melted so abruptly and so COM
pletely that the young man was
vaguely troubled. He began to won
der IL his incognito had been pierced,
so to speak.
He forbore asking when Miss Guile
might be expected to appear on deck
for her constitutional, but she volun-
teered the information, which was
neither vague nor yet definite. In
fact, she said that Miss Guile would
be up soon.
Now it is necessary to relate that
Miss Guile had been particularly firm
the first place, Mrs. CASTOR was given
to understand that she was not to
breathe it to a soul that R. Schmidt
was not r. Schmidt, and she was not
to betray to him by word or sign that
he was suspected Of being the Prince
Of Graustark. Moreover, the exacting
Miss Guile laid great stress upon an
other command R. Schmidt was
never to know that she was not Miss
Guile, but some one else altogether.
You're right, my DEAR" exclaimed
Mrs. CASTOR in an excited whisper as
she burst in upon her fair companion,
who was having coffee and toast in
her parlor. Marie, the maid, was
and the young lady herself was allur-
ingly charming in spite Of the fact
that it was not already done up
\ He Is the-er-he is just what you
think"
Good heavens, you haven't gone
and done it, have your" cried the girl,
a slim hand hating with piece OF
toast halfway to her lips.
Gone and done it?"
You haven't been blabbing, have
your"
How can you say that to me? An
/ not to be trusted? Am l SO weal
and
Don't cry, you old dear! Forgive
me. But now tell me-absolutely-
just what you've been up to-" and Mrs
CASTOR repeated every word Of the
conversation she had had with R
Schmidt. proving absolutely nothing
but stoutly maintaining that her in
tuition was completely to be depended
upon.
"And, OH" she whispered in conclu
sion, wouldn't it be perfectly wonder
full if you two should fall in love will
each other
Don't be silly!"
But you have said that If he shoult
fall in love with you for yourself ant
not because
IT have also said that | will no
marry any man-prince. duke, king
count or anything else-unless an
in love with him. Don't overlook that
please"
But he is really very nice. shout,
think you could fall in love with him
Just think how it would please you
father and mother. Just think
81 won't be bullied!"
Am l bullying you?" in anazement
mo, but father tries to bully me
and you know It,"
When she appeared on deck Ion
afterward she found every chair OF
cupied A warm sun, far from tul
bulent sea and a refreshing breez
had brought about marvellous tran!
formation.
She made several brisk rounds {
the deck, then, feeling that peopl
were following her with their eyes
admiringly, to be sure, but what {
that?-she abandoned the pleasant e!
ercise and sought the seclusion Of tn
sunless corner where her chair wa
stationed The ships daily newspape
was Just off the press, and many {
the loungers were reading the brit
Geographic news from the capitals {
the world. She procured a copy {
the paper from a steward and wa
glancing at the headlines as she mad
her way into her corner. Doubl
loaded type appeared over the rumo