Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-06-14
Copyright, 1913, BY Harper s Brothers

funk the job first. Wait till you talk
TO him. But you can't refuse his kind
ness. for a time at least There's no
where else for you to stay, and Muir
ray would pick you up and put you
into the cottage, muckrake and all, II
didn't. He had to go out on the work
this morning or he'd have been here to
welcome you. He sent apologies and
said lot of nice things which I've
forgotten
"Well"-Eliza still looked troubled
"all right. But watt she cried, with
a swift change Of mood. I've made
a little friend. the dearest, the most
! useless creature, We shared the same
stateroom, and we're sisters. She &C
tually says I'm pretty, so of course I'm
her slave for life" She hurried away
in the midst of Dams loyal protesta-
tons that she was pretty-more beau
tiful than the stars, more pleasing to
the eye than the orchids of Brazil A
moment later she reappeared to pre-
sent Natalie Gerard
cordiality in which there was trace
Of shyness unusual with him. "We've
made quite a change since you were
up here Miss Gerard" he remarked.
THE ships stop first at Omar now, you
see. l trust it won't inconvenience
you"
Not in the least" said Natalie. II
shall arrive at Hope quite soon
enough"
Dan led the two girls ashore and up
| through the town to moss green bun
| galow, its newness attested by the vel
/ low sawdust and fresh shavings which
! lay about Amid their e1clamations OF
! delight he showed them the neatly fur
nished interior and, among other won
ders, bedroom daintily done in white
with white curtains at the mullioned
windows and a suit of wicker furni-
ture.
Where he dug all that up l don't
know" Dan said. pointing to the bed
and dresser and chairs He must
have had it hidden out somewhere"
Eliza surveyed this chamber with
wondering eyes. 1T makes me fee
quite ashamed she said. though, OF
| course, he did it for Dan. When he
discovers my abominable mission he'll
probably set me out in the rain and
break all my lead pencils. But isn't he
magnificent"
He quite overwhelms one" Natalie
agreed. Pack in New York he's beer
sending me American Beauties every
week for more than year. Its hi!
princely way" She colored slightly
despite the easy frankness of he
manner.
You are still working miracles,
Natalie told O'Neil an hour later. whil
he was showing his visitors the few
sights of Omar, miracles of kindness
as usual"
Dan and his sister were followin
at a distance. arm in arm and chatter
ing like magpies.
NO, no! That cottage is nothing
Miss Appleton lad to have some plac
to stop"
This all seems like magic" Natali
paused and looked over the busy it'll
town. And to think you have done /
in year"
1T was not I who did it: the credi
belongs to those boys Of whom l toll,
you. They are all here. by the way
Parker. Mckay. Mellen. Sheldon. Do
Gray-he has the hospital, you know
And Mr.. Slater"
'Oh, we couldn't exist without Han
Ply Tom. No, the only miracle abou
all this is the loyalty that has made i
possible. 1t is that which has broker
all records in railroad building; that
what has pushed our tracks FORWARD
until we're nearly up to one of nature
real miracles. You shall see those gla
ciers one of these days. Sometimes
wonder if even the devotion Of thos
men will carry US through the fna
test. But-you shall meet them all tc
night-my whole family"
Il can't. The ship leaves this after
noon"
I've arranged to send you to Hop
, in my motorboat just as Mr.. Gordo
T sent me on my way year ago. Yo
! will stay with the Appletons tonigh
. and help at the house warming, the
Dan will take you on in the morning
Women are such rare guests at Oma
that we refuse to part with them. Yo,
agree?
How can refuse? Your wor,
+ seems TO be law here. I'll send wort
, to mother by the snip that l am de
tanned by royal decree
, She spoke with a gayety that scenes
a little forced, and at mention Of he
departure subtle change had com
over her face. O'Neil realized that sh
had matured markedly since his las
meeting with her; there was no longe
J quite the same effect of naive girlish
ness.
This was very unhappy year 70
your loyal subject, Mr.. O'Neil."
I'm sorry" he declared with sucl
genuine kindness that she was move.
to conflde In him
Mother and I are ruined"
viii you tell me about itT'
: It's merely-those wretched Goa
claims | have a friend in the Land OF
fee at Washington and, rememberin;
what you said, l asked him to lool
them up. l knew no other way to z,
about it. He tells me that somethin,
was done, or was not done, by US, ant
that we have lost all we put in"