Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-07-27
The Daily Short Story
the PosIs0RlPI.

| for nobody, not even for Polly, to
| whom, 1t was said. he intended to leave
his money whenever death should force
him TO let go his hold-on 1t. provided al
| ways she did nothing meanwhile to
make him change his mind.
Polly's projections had early led me
| captive. l don't think-and it's sub
| ject ON which l have repeatedly put
myself through rigid course OF self
examinations don't think her pecuni-
airy prospects had the least to do with
the state OF my feelings. which 1 was
more than once on the point of declar-
| ing to her. but she would always stop
me by saying. "You must speak to I'm
| Gle Bob first
Hes in the library now" she said
one day. You might go in and talk
with him at once
Go in and talk with him! l should as
soon have thought of interviewing a
royal Bengal tiger in his native Jungle!
Couldn't you speak TO hima" l hint
| ed.
Not for the worldr' cried Polly,
turning pale at the bare idea.
THANK heaven, he can't live al
| durance.
Whats that you say" Numbered
the Infatuated uncle, opening the door
in time to catch my last words. Get
out of my house. you puppy, and while
live see that you never enter it
again"
The thing got wind, and to escape the
general laugh that followed / changed
my abode to distant city. There was
no use staying 10 be jeered at. My
hopes were dashed.
In time / mustered courage TO open a
correspondence with Polly. l didn't
speak openly of love. and of course she
didn't. But we wrote each other all
the news. Such dear. delightful, ram
bling letters as used TO get from her
so full of gossip and with such artless
slips in photography and syntax.
One OF them was handed me at
breakfast one morning. l stopped 10
open and read it.
"HuZZar' | exclaimed as l reached
the end. springing up, upsettinG my
coffee and scalding the leg of the next
bOarder. Don't blame me. reader. I'm
der similar circumstances you would
probably have done the same.
"P. S.-Uncle Bob's dead" were the
concluding words of the letter.
To dispose of so serious n matter so
briefly l might have been thought a
little unfeeling. but who could care
much for such an old curmudgeon, and
then in view OF future possibilities thus
unexpectedly opened TO Polly and my
self she may have felt a delicacy men
larging on the subject.
think l should have repeated my
"Huzza!' TO the extent of three times
three If the scalded boarder hadn't
brought me TO myself by calling me
fool" 1 restrained the further ex-
preston of my feelings and retired for
reflection.
How 1 should have enjoyed being at
the old fellows funeral" l was wicked
enough to say to myself, and 1 couldn't
help smiling at the thought of DIR. Mel
Iowtone Cunder whose ministrations old
Bob had often slept before) portraying
in dulcet accents the imag inary virtues
of the dead.
Leaving Polly a decent time to as
suage her sorrow, set out. determined
to press the suit to which there was
now no impeachment. \ day by rail
brought me to her and my native place.
l hurried to the house, now doubtless
her own, where we last parted 1t was
plain her grief had lost its edge, for as
approached heard the sound of mu-
sic within. l entered without ceremo-
ny and found Polly at the piano I'm n
dress anything but mournful, playing
an air anything but dirgeful.
The sight of me startled her.
"Gol gol for heavens saker' she ex-
claimed, lowering her voice to a whis-
per.
Not until have laid bare my hearth
1 replied. falling on one knee in the
most approved style.
whats the jackanapes up to now?"
roared a voice behind me which had
hoped was forever hushed in death. II
thought l told you never to show your
self here again while lived?"
II thought you were dead" 1
stammered.
Dead! Who the mischief told you
sou
"Pollyr I answered. resolved to be
avenged for the trick Polly had played
me.
II didn't" said Polly.
"You did!' 1 retorted. You said so
in your last letter"
Il didn't" she returned. ct only men, |
toned the death of Uncle Bob, the col !
Ored coachman."
1 saw it all. Polly's postscript had
meant only that.
She flashed upon me look of scorn /
for letting out the secret of our CORE |
spondence. Old Bob laughed fiendish |
laugh. 1 rushed bareheaded into the |
street. Old Bob threw my hat after me, |
and l have never been within miles of |
the place since.
The Work of the Liver.
From the amount of food directly alb
sorbed the veins OF the stomach and |
small intestines are especially rich in |