The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-10
THE OTHER MAN.
BY Joan NJ. Gray.
Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler Syn
dictate, Incl

by Joan N. tray.
I Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler Syn
! dictate, Inc.)
| Marie wanted the man Harriet
! loved and Marie worked until she
got him. Marie was Harriet's best
! friend and had all the opportuni-
/ ties in the world-and used them.
! Harriet had liked the man very
much and they had been INSOFAR
able for years. He had been every
/ thing to her since her mothers
death and she had taken it for
granted that they would always be
everything to each other.
She returned. Unexpectedly from
visit to a dance at the country
club and found them there togeth-
er. They were caught and plainly
showed their guilt and Harriet
withdrew gracefully, understanding
what had happened. She packed
her things and went to live with
Aunt Harriet.
She weathered the storm of com
ment with an insCrutable smile and
quivering heart Her world said
she didn't care, but Aunt Harriet
knew better. She invited her hus-
bands nephew out for a weekend
knowing that heart can be caught
on the rebound.
Harriet met Richard and Richard
fell in love with Harriet. She ac-
cepted it all with maddening- half
smile, plainly showing that she
didn't believe it.
Don't smile like that, Harriet"
he pleaded. You're too sweet 10
be synical."
I'm not cynical. I'm just very.
very careful" she returned. 81 do
not intend to let you make me think
you love me and then have you
leave me for the first attractive girl
who smiles at you"
Look at me-" he said. Someone
has done something to turn you
against everything. It's not pose
and it's not broken heart you're
hiding. It's wounded pride. Har-
riet, give me a chance"
Its not wounded pride and l
don't want to talk to you again"
But you are going to Mrs. Her
rick's dance with me?"
Dick was wonderful dancer
well, ye-es," said Harriet, but l
don't want to see you again until
then" and left him staring moodily
at the fire. Aunt Harriet came in
and sat down near him with her
Harriet doesn't want it talked
about, and I don't think I should
talk over her affairs with you, any
way, Dick" she said.
When Harriet came down the
i 81 20
decidedly pleasant to have Dick
waiting for her and to hear him
say that she looked lovely in her
crisp little rose frock. She shut her
heart to all softness and kept the
conversation on a safe basis.
They entered Myra Hedrick's
pretty living-room, now stripped
bare for dancing, and greeted her
With a shock Harriet saw Marie
and the man. She passed them with
a little nod and introduced Dick to
a group of friends amid the amused
glances of many eyes. She would
show them!
. The evening wore on and Marie
and the man were outcasts as far as
Harriet and Dick were concerned
Dick himself noticed that they were
the only ones to whom Harriet had
forgotten to introduce him, and he
had seen the man cast peculiar
glances at Harriet several times.
Here, 'then, was the cause of Har- /
riet's frankly disbelieving half !
smile
Harriet suddenly became aware
that Marie was smiling at. Dick and
that Dick WAS NOT aIOOf With sick
ening surety came the thought that
Dick was going from her as the /
other had gone. At the same NOM |
ent came the realization that she |
wanted Dick for her own and that |
she would fight to keep him But
for the instant she could think Of
but Marie's meanness. |
Lets go out and sit on the