Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-01

She ought to be soundly-spoken
to-" said he, breaking the sentence
with hasty gulp. Now, Lou, there's
lust one thing to do. | must go to New
York on the midnight train and get
her. That woman was all right as
tutor, but hanged if | like to see
daughter of mine traipsing around
New York with a schoolteacher.
She
You forget that she has retired on
competence. She is not in active en-
ployment, Will. You forget that she Is
one of the Van Valkens."
There you go, talking about good
old families again. Why is it that so
/ blamed many of your fine old blue
stockings are hunting jobs
"Now. don't be vulgar, Will" she
cut IN. MAUD is quite safe with Mi
randa, and you know it perfectly
well, so don't talk like that. 1 think
| it would be a fearful mistake for you
| to so to New York. She would never
forgive you and, what is more to the
! point, she wouldn't bulge a step If
/ you tried to bully her into coming
/ home with you. You know it quite
as well as | do
/ Maud's continued absence was ex-
| planned to Prince Robin that evening,
| not by the volcanic Mr.. Blithers, but
| by his practiced and adroit better
/ half, who had no compunction in
ascribing it to the alarming condi-
| ton of very dear friend in New
! York-one of the Van Valkens, you
! know.
! MAUD is so tender hearted. so
I loyal, so really sweet about her
( friends. that nothing in the world
could have induced her to leave this
( dear friend, don't you know
/ ~ an extremely sorry not to have
| met your daughter" said Robin. very
! politely.
"Oh, but she will be here in day
or two, prince
/ unfortunately. we are leaving to-
morrow. Mrs. Blithers.'
Tomorrow" murmured Mrs. Blith-
ers. aghast
al received a cablegram today adj
vising me to return to Edelweiss at
once. We are obliged to cut short a
very charming visit with Mr.. and
Mrs. King and to give up the trip to
Washington. Lieutenant Dank left
for New York this afternoon to ex-
change our reservations for the first
ship that we can
whats this?" demanded Mr.. Filth,
ers, abruptly withdrawing his arten-
ton from Count Quinnox, who was
in the middle of a sentence when the
interruption came. They were on the
point of going out to dinner. whats
, this?"
"'The prince says that he is leaving
tomorrow
Nonsense" exploded Mr.. Blithers
with no effort toward geniality. ole
doesn't mean it. Why-why, we
haven't signed a single agreement
Fortunately it isn't necessary for
NE to sign anything, Mr.. Blithers, "
} broke in Robin hastily. "The papers
are to be signed by the minister of
finance, and afterward my signature
is attached in approval. Isn't that
true, Count Quinnox?"
u daresay Mr.. Blithers understands
the situation perfectly" said the count
Nj. Blithers looked blank. "Of course
) understand it," he said bluntIy. Still
l had it in mind to ask the prince tc
put his signature to sort of prelimi
| nary document which would at least
assure me that he would sign the final
agreement when the time comes
That's only fair, isn't it,"
Quite fair, Mr. Blithers. The prince
will sign such an article tomorrow OF
the next day at your office in the city
Pray have no uneasiness, sir. 1t shall
be as you wish. By the way, l under
} stood that your solicitor-your lawyer
I | should say-was to be here this
I evening. 1t had occurred to me that
l he might draw up the statement, II
: Mrs. Blithers will forgive US in oul
) haste
} He couldn't get here" said Mr.
3 Blithers and no more. He was think
ing too intently of something more I'm
portant. What's turned up?"
Turned up, Mr.. Blithers?"
'Yes-in Groostock. What's taking
you off in such hurry"
THE prince has been away for near
~ six months" said the count, as II
that explained everything.
Was it necessary to cable for him
to come homer" persisted the fnan
| cier
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