Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-09-05
wEDNEsDAY-THE ROCK ARGUS SEPTEMBER s. 1917

T.oreIei was very white now. she
had decided swiftly, recklesslv. reason
ing that this pronered marriage was
merely a bargain by which she got
more than she gave She had accepted
without allowing her better self an
opportunity TO marshal its protests.
and, having closed her eyes and leaped
into the dark. It now seemed easier to
meet new consequences than to heed
those higher feelings that were tardIly
struggling for expression. She did
pity Wharton. however, for it seemed
to her that he was the injured party.
But she was IN a wanfon mood tonight.
and Of late q voice had been despe-
rately urging her 70 grasp at what she
could. that she might. as long as pos
sible. delay her descent into worse con
ditions.
She heard Tilas fnquiring: when
does eae marriage come off? Right
away?"
Bob. who appeared somewhat dazed
By the suddenness and the complete
ness Of his good fortune. smiled va
oantIy amy time suits me- he said
'.I'm a happy map-liftIe Joys are ca
tor Gloom has packed his grip"
Jim startled them all by saying,
crisplv: lets make 1t tonight.
know Bob-he's not the sort to wait
Fine. Never thought OF that But
I say-where do they keep these we'd
dingsT' he inquired, Every things
closed now, and there's nobody dane
ing at the city hall, Is there?" He APP
pealed beIplessly 10 Jim.
Jim rose TO the occasion with the
same promptitude he had displayed
throughout Marriages aren't made
in heaven any more-that's old stuff
They're made in Hoboken. while the
cab waits. Get your things on, every
body. while 7 telephone He allowed
no lettering; be waved the girls away
sent the waiter scurrying with his bill
helped Robert secure hat and stick
and then dived into telephone booth
as a vg00dchuck enters it's hole When
he had disposed his three charges in
side q taxicab he disappeared briefly.
10 return with a basket of champagne
upon his arm. # is wise general
who provides himself in advance with
ammunition.
The smooth celebrity with which this
whole adventure ran its course argued
a thorough preparation on James part,
but LOreIei was in no condition TO an
alyze. Even at the journeys end there
was a suspicious lack OF delay. The
vehicle stopped IL 81 narrow business
street, now dark ana dismal; its occu-
pants were hurried up a stairway and
into a room filed with iaw-books.
where a sleepy justice of the peace
was n0dding in q cloud Of cigar smoke.
There followed a noisy shutting Of
chairs. some mumbled questions ana
answers. the crackle Of papers, q deal
of unintelugibIe rigmarole. then a
mans heavy seal-ring was slipped
upon LoreleIs fager and she knew
herself 10 be Mrs Robert Wharton.
It was all confused, unimpressive. IN
real. She was never able fully to re-
call the picture of that room or the
events that occurred there They
formed bat a part OF the Kaleidoscope
tumble Of the nights occurrences.
The wedding party was IN the cab
once more, and II was under way, It
vTas all SO ike nightmare that Lore
tai began to doubt her own sanity.
once at rest in the dim-Iit tunnel of
the ferry boat. however, she was
brought sharply 20 herself by hearing
her brother excIaim: Say! He hasn't
kissed her yet"
IiI8s shrieked. and Bob stifeened
himself then slipped an arm around
his bride As she shrauk away he
mumbled angrily: Here, 1 won't
stand for that, and crushed her 70
aim. You are beautiful.
And you're mine. She's mine, Ell? No
foolishness about that. is thereT he
appealed 10 Jim.
AS they drew in toward the New
York side the chauffeur inquired,
"Where to. nowE'
why, drive US Jim hesitated.
(