Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-15
CHAPTER TX.
Engaged If

as inV XII NaAItA htI bifaAA.
AT least you were not conscious
when you Grst saw each other"
What name did you sayf'
Mr. Bopp. my dance.'
Your dancef" ! calculated.
Eyes" Lucille turned to me. u
wanted to tell you two the first ones.
knew you would appreciate our hap
piness.'
My mind refused to grasp this dis
aster. had never seriously consider
ed Bopp as running even a very dan
gcrous second.
My mind puzlljIg over Luclle's state
ment, ! heard Nida's clear soft voice
saying, Mr.. Bopp. l am pleased-why,
aren't you called BoppyT"
"Boppy3' repeated Luciie curiously
"Yes, don't you cali him that2 All
the girls IN the Show Girl company
did ] WIS in the chorus then. We
used 10 regard him as almost one Of
the company. be was around with us
so much. We had a good time that
season" she added rehectiyely.
Lucille murmured, II should ina CINE
so"
Il know sou win be happy" Vida
was saying I've been engaged a good
many times and enjoy it more every
time"
You must be terribly tired, Monty.
I heard Lucille say; mo sleep for thir-
ty-six hours and no food for three days.
wish that there were something that
/ could do for you"
l listened in amazement Gould this
be Lucille, and was she addressing me-
She was. | puzzled over the gentle
ness IN her tones and the soicitudc
she was showing for my welfare. /
did not hit upon the answer then, but
/ have since
After awhile the rain let up, and We
went back to the house 10 see what
the others might have discovered and
lay plan Of campaign. Vida elected
to stay out Of doors, and suggested
that she take on Mr. Clair for a walk
told her that he was a woman hatel
and thus inadvertently aroused her in
terest
I'll have 10 make him change hi,
IDEAS She looked MP at me innocent
ly DO you think can do it?'
"Asl, him" I suggested.
Meaning that yoU don't think 7 can
! III bet my seal ring against yours tina
! can make him propose before dark
Mine Is a very curious one too. 4
Russian duke gave it TO me. I neye
met him, but he sent Il to my dressin.
room with some flowers"
II seemed 70 me TO be a possible wa,
10 gain a little solitude for reflection
aud / aSScntcd TO the wager.
You don't intend 10 tell him. then
that you are engaged already?r
"oh, no, not unit. be proposes. q
course ! might Ike him better than
do Ned Then ia never tell him"
could see that Ned Blaney was &c
Ing 10 have the time Of his lie imm,
dlately after he found himself hitche
more or less for lie to this volatil
young person. Vida was not one d
those who would pass by an invltin
pasture lot simply because she was 1
harness.
The rest Of VS. went into the hous
AS we came in the telephone was rim.
Ing. Asking Luclle's permission. I al
swered II.
Hello said y male voice. speakin
with staccato sharpness. May I spea
10 Mr.. Upton s Clair?'
put my hand over the mouthplec
and turned around. Lucille had eou
upstairs, but Bopp was gazing idl
out Of the window.
els Mr. Clair still there in the yard
asked bin.
NO; he went OF down the beac
with Miss Dunmorc."
Hello" spoke again into the tel
phone. "Mr. Clair was here momer
ago, but he has just gone for a wal
with young lady"
"Impossibler' The voice at the 9th,
end shot that emphatieally at me-
TITS So"
1idh - n mater.
what II he ISL This one is goln
to convert him.
"Humph. She can't do 1t. Who
she."
Her name is Miss vida Dunmore. =
vida Dmmore thereY"
Certainly"
Thank heaven he calculated fe
ventiy. I've been waiting for bou,
for her 10 get here. How does sh
come to be there?'
explained 10 the young man, VII
proved TO be Ned Blaney, as had a
ready suspected, all about the wreck {
the Mary Bell and the casting ashor
Of her passengers,
Thanks very much" said Blame,
with considerable relief in his vote,
'I'll come right over after her. Don
tell her that | called up and l wi
surprise her. Goodby."
lie hung up before I could tell hi,
than he probably couldn't get any kin
of boat TO come over to the islam,
but judged that he would find tina
,lnt soon enough for himself
Where's Miss Green?" asked Bop,
* advised her to lie down for a Ii
tie while and rest. This search {
wearing her out. She 10 leaving every
thing In nv charge
Il presume that congratulations ar
~ order" ] said. extending my han