Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-04-29
The Daily
Short Story
A TIMELY FRIEND.
BY GeneVieve Ulmar.

wall. The rain had begun 10 fsH
and the wind was strong and chin
| The flashing Of lights and the eob,
of quick, sharp voices about the
rambling disordered garden and t5s
! gloomy towering mansion terrisse
her. Through infinite pains sbs
I had escaped from the house An
! parently she had been missed ana
/ they we're searching for her.
They, Eloise shuddered as abe
! thought Of her guardians. ber
/ gaolers, her enemies, for such sbA
considered them. She was AZ
| helpless lamb in the lair OF human
wolves. Eioise glided towards liz
wall and as5ayed To scale Il. Har
delicate hands were bruised ana
scratched as, GREATNESS. she twined
her fingers around a metal prong
| The outside OF he wall mad
smooth surface. 1t was a sheer
| drop.
ooh, dear!" uttered Eloise in dis
may, as she let 90 ana landed in 4
heap. Her arm. wrenched cruellv.
throbbed with pain. She feared she
was about to faint. Eloise struggled
to her feet and gaZed about wildly
Which way. How soon Will thsv
Gomez" she futtered, and then
bIindly staggered ahead in the mist
and darkness. She came in contact
with>a human form. That of a man
was outlined. Eloise voiced a feeble
cry OF alarm. Straining her vision.
she made out an automobile with
dimmed lights. Apparently It's own
err, the young man before her
caught her arm gently but firmly
as she wavered from side 10 side.
What Is il, young LADY," he in
terrogated reassuringly.
"Oh, get me away from herei"
pleaded Eloise. Il have hurt NY
arm-I am growing faint"
Without delay the young man
gathered her up in his arms, carried
her bodily to the auto and lifted
her into its rear seat.
Where would you go? You were
injured. l saw you fall. Shall il
be doctor?'
'"Oh, no." dissented Eloise In
stantly. Get me away from here,
from the village, from my en-
emiesi"
Her timely friend seemed 10 COM
prehend the situation. He started
up the machine and circled into
public highway, and as it cleared
the limits of the village he slowed
down somewhat.
IF you are seriously injured and
suffering" he spoke, you should
!, avya Y,oadipaI af+autiDp n orocU
'Oh, It is n6thing-the hurt" de-
clared Eloise. ''AH l wish is TO put
distance between myself and those
who have prosecuted me and those
who will surely pursue me. You
are a timely friend, indeed How
shall I ever thank you? But have
money, considerable jewelry with
me. I can pay you handsomely. and
oh, so gladly!"
Don't think of that" said the
man. Il am at your service, if as
you tell me you are in dread of
enemies. Shall it be Worden? That
is 20 miles distant and quite city.
There, if to reach a secluded refuge
is your aim, safety may be gained
Yes, yes, 'assented Eloise
eagerly.
Il know OF a little hotel there.
mostly occupied by working girls
and ladies who are strangers in the
city. Shall take you there?"
IF you will. l am truly CRATE
full" and then amid reaction Of
WEAKNESS and collapse Eloise sank
back among the cushions and
closed her eyes.
This is the hotel I spoke Of the
voice of her accommodating chauf-
feur aroused her at last.
Il know what you wish to say,
he observed. 1T cannot be a ques-
tion of pay for my services and you
need advice. May / call upon you
in the morning."
1t seemed unreal, like some fit
ting dream, all this TO ElOise, She
was shown to a comfortable apart
ment. She was summoned 10 the
reception room of the hotel about
the middle of the morning, TO ind
her helper OF the evening previous
awaiting her In an embarrassed
way she explained the situation.
Her father had died, appointed
Joel Traffon her guardian. He had
left will providing that If she
married before she was p all her
fortune should so TO an educational
institution. She might. however,
marry Elliott Weston, the son o.
an old friend So. apparently, this
distant individual had been advised
but he had never put in ar appear
ance. Then Traffon had treated
her as a prisoner, endeavoring Ia
force her to we'd his nephew.
There is only one way ont OF
the dilemma" she told her new
friend After what | have SUI
fered l care nothing for the toF-
tune. I shall marry. Just so thar
may defy my enemies. Once l Vio-
late the will. their power IS gone.
will not be treated like slave
! will not be parCeled of 10 tAIS
Elliott WN,ston like a chattel Help
me to carry out my design YOU
who have been kinder than brotA-
err"
He did not amaze her when ]
week later. he came 10 her aud lol9
her that he loved her and asked
her to accept him as her husband.
She was glad. for his earnest SIN
cere ways had attracted her IFoui
the first. And now. at the last as
he gave his real name 70 the ofhcia.-
ing clergyman at the -uiet mar
riage ceremony. the GROWING sur
prise OF the situation came lo1
EioiSe. for il Elliott Weston
sheltered him for the past four
years,