Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-09-28
The Daily Short Story !
TlppLEY WINKs.

/ TWO. Sdlo EMMY.
"why sof''
Last night when that glorious moon
was on the river they sat indoors play
ing tiddley winksw
"a sad tale of wasted opportunities"
said 1. But what do you propose to
do?1
Emily leaned toward me and In a
low, dramatic whisper unfolded her
idea.
"AIone in the haunted chamber-she
clings to him-he kisses and soothes
her-in that moment their eyes are
opened to their love-she sees him as he
is
Heaven forfend," murmured.
"a common danger knits their souls
together, and-well-they get married.
you know"
"Yes." I replied. Emily's rhetoric
had apparently given out. $50 few es-
cape that. But still don't quite under
stand"
You know the ghost at Manley alb
hey. where we are going tomorrow"
Its never even left a card"
There's a haunted room, and 1
shall lock them up in it. When they
come out. they'll be engaged" said
Emily, nodding gravely to express a
wisdom beyond her years, which are
few in number.
but what is the nature of the ghost
" manifestations? inquired.
You can hear a chain rattle and a.
low wall"
1 was a little skeptical.
Somebody who was mad wns
chained up by some one else and got
loose and killed some one"
And only a wall and a rattle to
commemorate all that?"
"Oh, people have seen things. 1
shall work the story up before lunch
tomorrow"
Just then a cry of victory and a
wave OF the conquering mallet pro-
claimed the end OF the game. and the
complaints approached us.
"You two look awfully solemn" re-
marked Miss Dolly. us 1t a gunpow-
der ploty'
am still able to blush, but Emily is
utterly brazen.
'The back fits horribly" she ex-
Poor dear! Never mind. Come
with us. I'm going to give Harry his
revenge at tiddley winks."
'She thinks she can beat me. you
know. 1 was a little bit of color last
night" said Harry.
THE superiority OF the sex must be
maintained" remarked.
POOR calculated Dolly scornfully.
"You don't believe in it?'' asked.
"Of course not. 1 can give Harry
fifteen at tennis"
But In the battle of life the man Is
the natural protector
"Please, your reverence, 1t isn't Sun
day." interrupted Dolly. with a little
courtesy. Come along, both of you"
You would take me from grave con-
sideration of the battle of life
ITO play tiddley winksr cried Dolly.
''RatherI Come along"
1 went.
Next day we were to drive over TO
Manley abbey after lunch and return
late in the evening. Lady Emily had
arranged for a moon.
During the meal my sister tried to
harrow the young souls of the lovers
with grewsome stories of specters, es-
pecially the wailing shade attached to
the abbey. 1 noticed, however, that
their appetites were unimpaired. In the
brilliant sunshine of a July day Il is
difficult to harrow.
About 10 o'clock that evening, when
the moon had accomplished it's task of
the landscape in ebony and
silver quitting 1t into half mourning,
Ix-l M
dearth Of agricultural labor with my
host, when my sister approached and
asked leave to take me indoors.
'hIischief?" inquired my host Cwho |
knows my sister.
Business" replied Emily gravely |
and led me away.
"They have been in half an hour" |
she whispered as we crossed the lawn.
"They should be done by now" |
agreed.
The haunted room was situated in a
wing of the house not used by the /
present owner, and Emily and were
often compelled to grope our way along
In darkness.
They were wild to see the room, so
took them there. Then / slipped out /
and locked the door. But 1t was awful
coming back alone" said Emily.
1 made no reply. My imagination was
busy with the picture of the mailman
stealing along these silent corridors
toward his victim. Emily chung tight
~ to my arm. Once she STOPPED. with
cry OF fright, as a piece OF furniture in
one OF the half dismantled rooms APP
peared like a crouching figure.
"I thought-it moved" she whisper
ed. Hurry, Johnny
At the door of the haunted room we
stopped and listened. For a moment
there was silence. Then from within
came sharp click and rattle.
whats that, johnny gasped Emil
y. ''Oh. what have doneT
I t0ok the kew from her and onened