Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-03
CHAP Elk NV,
Molly Insist. on Protecting Bert.

IN ERT GLIDER strobe through
the Marley gate and trod on
IL the Marley porch and punched
the Marley doorbell in q fine
condition Of manly indignation. and he
demanded Of the emaciated butler with
the intellectual brow that Molly Mar
ley be brought into his presence at
once He waited in the library while
the butler went upstairs with that
hasty message. and 1t was no comfort
10 his soul whatsoever to hear the girls
devoting painstaking attention to an
apparently endless job of giggling.
With scant consideration for the i'm
portance Of the occasion. Molly, her
face flushed and her eyes glistening
with moisture from her recent earnest
efforts. came down when she was
ready, and she was still tittering, while
Fern, upstairs. could be heard In the
throes of frantic laughter.
Hello, Bert" laughed Molly. holding
her hand TO her jaw. and she sat down
weakly whats the mad rush."
What did you say to Sledge?" he
sternly demanded.
Her most immediate reply to that
was another half hysterical outburst.
I'm not quite sure" she giggled.
Fern and / have just been trying to
recall it all, but we can only remember
the funniest things"
You've made a fool of him and of
me-" charged Bert molly.
1--WE don't deserve any credit for
that" snickered Molly. It's so easy"
The man has taken too much for
granted" went on Bert. unsoftened by
all this hilarity and, indeed, made only
more indignant by it. From what
your father says, Sledge seems to be-
lieve that our engagement is off and
that he has been practically accepted"
Molly put her hand over her mouth
to suppress a shrek and. running out
into the hall, called Fern. The girls
met halfway up the stairway. where
Molly explained the glad news. and
Bert, stalking stolidly out there. found
them holding to the balustrade in order
that their enjoyment Of Sledge'S oh
fuse understanding might not tumble
them down the steps. He strobe back
into the library and barked his shin Oh
q rocker. Molly returned to him pres
entity for more.
I've been missing my red roses,
she confessed. Now l suppose III
get some more What else does he
Think"
Heaven knows" snapped Bert He
says he's going to the theater with
you tonight. Is that correct?"
Molly gleefuliy nodded her head.
Did you forget that you were going
to the club dance with me?" he indig
nantly went on, feeling like shaking
her
This time Molly shook her head, hel
eyes cleaning with devilment, and
from Fern, still on the stairway, there
arose a wild peal.
Bert closed the library doors.
Il forbid it" he commanded.
The craAge in Molly was so abrup
that it startled him into barking hi:
other shin. First of all she threw oper
the library doors. knowing, however
that Fern by this time was back in tn.
boudoir.
You may do your fOrbidding to Mr.
sledge," she told him, with blazin,
eyes. You were thoughtful enough
to consider seriously sending me t
him, and now whatever follows is u
to me- am going TO the theater to
night with Mr.. Sledge''
Molly, Molly. Mollyn' shrieked Fern
half running and half humping dow
the stairs. Run 10 the window, quick
and see the parade! Oo-o-oh! It
coming here,'
Molly laid aside her just indignation
for a moment feeling intuitively tina
a Sledge miracle was some place i
the neighborhood, and glanced out 0
the window, as Fern, gurgling incc