Rock Island Argus., 1901-09-28
The Daily Short Story
TIDDLEY WINKs,

II LNO- btAlu
"why soT'
Last night when that glorious moon
was on the river they sat indoors play
ing tiddley winks!'
"a sad tale OF wasted opportunities" !"
said I. But what do you propose to
do?v
| 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 abb
bey, where we are going tomorrow"
Its never even left a card"
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" 1 inquired.
You can hear a chain rattle and a.
low wall"
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 thatr'
"Oh, people have seen things. I
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
combatants approached us.
"You two look awfully solemn" re-
marked Miss Dolly. us it a gunpow-
der plotT'
1 am still able to blush, but Emily is
utterly brazen.
"The back fits horribly" she ex-
planned sadly.
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 little bit of color last
night" said Harry.
THE superiority OF the sex must be
maintained" remarked.
"Poofv' calculated Dolly scornfully.
Holf ~ ff i
"Of course not. / can give Harry
fifteen at tennis
But In the battle of life the man is
the natural protector
"Please, your reverence, it 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"
/ 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. L noticed. however, that
their appetites were unimpaired. In the
brilliant sunshine of a July day II is
difficult to harrow.
About 10 o'clock that evening, when
the moon had accomplished it's task of
modelling the landscape in ebony and
silver quitting 1t into half mourning,
said Emily, I was discussing the
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 1 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 it was awful
coming back alone" said Emily.
/ made no reply. My imagination was
busy with the picture of the madman
stealing along these silent corridors
toward his victim. Emily chung tight
ly to my arm. Once she STOPPED, with a
cry of fright, as a piece of furniture in
one of the half dismantled rooms APP
peared like crouching figure.
81 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 a sharp click and rattle.
Whats that, johnny gasped Emil |
ly. "Oh, what have done"
took the key from her and opened |
the door as again the weird sound rang