Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-08-29

It's mistress feet.
But the objects that intrigued the
visitor most strongly we're several
paintings. They were Of q kind she
had seldom seen. and IN the afternoon
light one stood out with particularly
startling effect. Il was q dusky land
scape; there was q stream. a meadow
edge. trees 5ust growing black against
a diving sunset. herd OF cattle DOM
ing out Of the west Before this pic
ture Iorelei paused, staring with wide
eyes az wonder.
Lilag flung her hat carelessly into a
chair. 1T q cigarette from a Tiffany
humldor. then turned with the spaniel
in sber arms and. beholding her guest
with rapt. upturned face, remarked.
with laugh.
Looks like the real thing, doesn't it2''
s'Oh-it's wonderful-so clean and
cool md quiet I've seen cattle in Vale
that looked Just like those, when I
went barefoot in the grass"
Some Dutchman painted this
names on the corner. He's dead now.
believe 1t used to hang in some
museum forget where. I IKE pic
lures Of women best, but" she
shrugged and left the sentence unhn-
isbed. There's g dandy in my bed
room. although II didn't cost half az
much as that barnyard thing Tha
frames q foot wide and covered with
solid gold ?
II had no idea yoH lived like this.
T,o-eIef peered through = pair Of
French doors and into a perfectly ap-
pointed library. with q massive mahog-
any table. deep 1ounging chairs, writ
ing desk. and a dome-crowned read
ing lamp.
MY study" Tdlas laughed shortly
That's where improve my mind
not. The books are deadly. Now come
Hitcby Hoo must have dinner ready
His name isn't Hltchy Koo bot Il
sounds ike 1t. aud he's the cutest
little thing: got the cutest little
swing She moved down the hall
humming the chorus Of the senseiess
popular song from which she had
quoted
Everywhere was the same evidence
Of good taste in dec0ra ton and luxury
of equipment. but a suspicion had en-
tered IoreIei's mind. and she avoided
comment. Hitchy 300 was cook, but
Ter and house boy. and IN view "a Miss
Lynu's disorderly habits It was evil
dent that he had all he could do to
keep the place presentable- His mis-
tress ate without appetite and in e
hvpercritical mood that took no ac-
count OF the wasteful attempts #ro
please her. Quite regardless Of the pa
tent little Jap she found fault with
him savagejy, so that Lorelei was
often painfully embarrassed.
$50 You like nay home. do you|' she
queried. after time.
i've never seen one SO beautiful
I8las nodded "Hitchy sleeps out
and that leaves me the whole place
Jarvis furnished it. even to the books
and I'm studying 70 be a lady" Again
she laughed mockingIy. II make a
bluff at reading, but so long as I talk
! about Napoleon he nevo~ thinks to
question me. I know that French gink
backward
Il wish I had 4 h0bby-somethin 10
interest noe. something TO live for,
said Lorelei. Iamely
Yes It gives you something TO
think about when you're alone. It
helps you to-staud things" For tbs
first time LUas showed a trace Of feel
ing in her voice. she dropped her chin
into her palm and. leaning upon the
table. stared 80 if at a vision. Her
dark eyes were somber her br0ws
were low cred and drawn together.
The supsbod informally Of the meal,
the constant feuIt6nding OF the host
7 ess. made it something of a trial Lore
/ lei was not sorry when IT was over
/ and LIias took her 10 look s. the va
cant fat.
( Miss Moore's apartment offered
/ wide contrast 10 the one they had just
/ quilted, being very small aud very
modestfy furnished: but 1T was on the
second floor. convenient to both eIeva-
tor and stairway. it boosted a piano,
#and the superintendent allowed his
prospective tenant to name her own
( terms. She descended with relief, feel
/ Ing that she had made not bad bar
gain.
! She stated. as she sank into Lilas'
/ big library chair, Il feel quite inde-
pendent at last The rent is ridieu-
/ Ious. and I can do my own cooking
Don't make fool Of yourself. You
can do as well as I've done. You have
the looks"
But I'm not engaged TO q muldmil-
i0usi-e,"
ut seems queer. when I think Of it, -
/ Lilas mused. Jarvis Is one Of the
richest men In New York. and he made
his money cut OF the steel business
the business into which I was born.
Have you ever been through q mill 2"
mo"
/ Its wonderful, terrible. can smell
the hot Stag, the scorching cinders, the
smoke. 10 this day. Some nights !
wake up-screaming, it's so vivid.
/ see the glare OF the>furnaces. the beIcb-
+ ing flames, the showers Of sparks from
! the converters. the streams OF white
hot metal. and they seem to pour over
me I have the same dream always,
/ I've had 1t ever since the night after
my father was killed"