Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-08-24
The Daily Short Story
PLANcHETTE.


| I'm her most convincing manner.
"well, think it's all rot" drawled
George Logic.
Its not" said Mrs. Melville quickly;
sis it, Jim?"
Her husband, large, good tempered
but annoyingly placid man, looked up
from his paper.
ct don't know, my dear" he said,
cautiously. 81 dare say there's some
/ thing in 1t, you know" And he re-
sumed his paper. They all laughed ex-
cept Mrs. Melville. who said pettishly:
'Jim. you are too absurdly cautious for
| anything. But you believe in it, Billy,
don't your she continued, turning TO
the man sitting near her.
my dear lady, they say seeing is be-
Iieving. have never seen-ergo. 1 can
not believe"
Mrs. Melville stretched out her hand
to the bell. Mary" as the maid
opened the door, bring a tray and a
glass, please"
Here's the tray" interrupted Billy.
''Where will you have IL, Mrs. Melville?
Here?" as she put 1t on small table.
Yes, that will do; upside down,
please. Thanks. And the glass?"
George has it, said Billy.
81 was just making sure 1t was
empty, Mrs. Melville" replied George
in answer to her look.
Very well. Let's begin. Who will
try with me? VIII you. Billy"
II should be charmed" he answered,
IF you will show me the way"
"Oh, it's easy enough" said Mrs. Mel
vile. "You see-why, we haven't got
the lettersr
1.-THE post isn't in yet" remarked
George.
Really" said Mrs. Melville, your
witticisms are most terribly wearying.
George
Yes" assented Billy. You might
give us a rest. Can 1 help you?" he
said to Mrs. Melville, who was rum
maging in her desk for the letters.
mo, thanks; I've got them. Now,
you see, we put them round the tables
So" And in a most impressive silence
she solemnly placed the letters round
the edge OF the tray. There!
Now that's DONE" she said Mt last.
Billy" she went on, sit down there
and put your fingers on the glass as L
do" And she sat down opposite him.
"Well?' inquired George.
"Wil some one please ask a ques-
tion?' said Mrs. Melville in a solemn
voice.
Nobody volunteered any remark.
"Jim,' she continued, raising her
voice.
"Eh?
ASK the glass question"
ooh, all right" He put down his
paper and sauntered over to the table.
What sort of question:" he said.
ooh, anythingI Only be quick"
"WelI-er-which horse will win the
Eclipse stakes? That do?"
"WeIl," said George, IF the glass can
tell us that, it's cleverer than most
people"
You must keep quiet, George" said
Mrs. Melville YEARLY, ''Or how can we
do anythingY'
Amid a breathless silence the glass
moved jerlIily about the tray and finally
stopped at >.
There's no horse entered that begins
with 3" said George cheerfully.
"But perhaps" demurred Mrs. Mel
vile, slightly abashed by the failure.
this glass doesn't know about racing"
TRY n champagne glass;" suggested
George. They are usually to be found
at races"
MY good George" said Mrs. Mel
vile. who was evidently annoyed by
his skepticism, ''if you will persist in
being funny, how can you expect us TO
do serious thing like this?'
81 don't know, I'm sure" answered
George.
Look here, George" said Jim, do
keep quiet and give the wife a chance.
Let's try again. Look here. VIII it
rain tomorrow"
Very slowly the glass approaches Y,
hesitates. and then edges toward n.
English weather seems to perplex
it." said Jim. AIR as the glass stops
at n, now we're getting on. Goodp'
The glass rushes across and stops
att.
''HeIIor' cried George. Something
wrong there. 1t doesn't seem to work,
somehow, does it. Jim?"
NO" admitted Jim, reluctantly; ait
certainly doesn't as yeti
How can you expect IL to predict the
weather." said Mrs. Melville. angrily.
do ask it something sensible. You
try. George"
"Me?" said George. "Oh, all right. |
Who's the cleverest person in the |
room?"
The glass stops at J.
That's JIM" said Billy.
The glass moves on to o.
AT last" sighed George. cts found 1
a vowel" "And another" as the glass
stops at e. "Why. it's actually made
a word-'Joe'"
''ThereT' said Mrs. Melville. trium-
phantly.
splendid" said Billy.
But. by the way" asked Jim. "is
there anybody called Joe in the room? ?"
NO" answered Billy, ruefully; 81
never thought of that"
u