The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-27
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~ LOUIS JOSEPH NANcRA[ FL
! and ragged loneliness of Nelly Mar

I and ragged loneliness of Nelly Mar
quis.
XVI.
Lucinda looked a second time.
More than a month had passed
/ since that brief acquaintance,
and Lucinda had put her out Of
! mind so completely that her efforts
/ TO recall the features of the other
conjured up only a foggy i'm
I preston OF shabby, haggard,
| haunted shadow, by turns wistful
and feebly defiant, that bore what
! might be no more than chance
likeness to this figure of Haunting
extravaganza at Bellamy's table.
A question forming on her lips,
Lucinda turned back to Summer
lad, but surprised the tail of his eye
veering hastily away, and fancied
a shade of over-elaboration in the
easy, incurioUssair he was quick to
resume.
She stole another glance across
the room. By every indication Bel
lamy found his company most en-
tertaining; he was paying her sal
lies a tribute of smiling attention
which she as evidently found both
grateful and inspiring While Luz
cinda was looking she drained her
highball glass and with an air
peremptory and arch planted it in
front of Bellamy to be replenished;
a service which he rendered with
the aid of a pocket MISLEADING |
to his own glass, however, water !
only.
Summerlad was cycling her with |
a quizzical air. Lucinda managed !
half smile.
Shall we dance?"
She surveyed the crowded floor |
obviously. "It's an awful crush,
I'm afraid - Nevertheless she /
got up and threaded the jostliag
tables with Lynn at her heels.
1t was an awful crush. Few bet
ter dancers than Lynn Summerlad
ever trod a ballroom floor. but even
he was put to it to steer a safe
course in that welter. Lucinda
heard a hiss of breath indrawn and
looked up to see Lynn's face dis
inquired by spasm of pain. In the
same instant he stopped short, in
the next he groaned between set
teeth.
Have to get out of this. I'm
afraid he grunted. My foot
somebody with hoof like a sledga-
hammer landed on it Just now.
That wouldn't matter, only the con-
founded thing got caught between a
couple of logs while We were doing
that river stuff"
He had an affecting limp on the
way back to their table where he
he would have TO yat l
home and out of his shoes before !
he could hope to know another in
stant's ease. IL
cross, sweetheart" he inquired
gently as they drove off. I'm sorry
you let me drag you away
1t isn't that" Lucinda replied. I
almost brusquely. Il wasn't en-
Toying myself, anyway-wanted tot
leave almost as soon as we arrived"
Then what is it,"
She asked eVasively: "How's
your foot?"
Much better, thanks Guess I
dislocated one of the small,
pr bones in that logging stunt"
thought possibly you were
pretending on my account" /
You mean. because your hus- /
band was there
1t was Miss Marquis, wasn't
Yes, Linda-afraid it was"
Afraid"
Your amiable husbands in for q
IN interesting life, if that young E
has got her claws into him c
Lynn: where do you suppose the a
girl has been all this time, since e
nat night she left the hotel? 1t a
seems funny she should disappear t
SO completely for-how long is it? t
lour weeks? fve?-and then turn t
up in Bells company" 4
Well" Lynn submitted. CT d
1aresay If you were to ask a
"Or if you were to ask herr" e
But Immediately Lucinda repent- v
ID her resentment of what she had d
astiiy taken to be an attempt to