Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-12-30
DAILY SHORT STORY
Modern ChiValry.
LCopyrient, 1sO1. by 2. ]. wehsterl

pretty Helen Burke to the Seashore.
While the boat steamed back in the
moonlight Helen 'beguiled the time tell
ing story of the,olden days. This led
to- trouble.
$50 she threw her glove down into
the lions den," said Helen in conclu-
sion, land the knight jumped over aft
err it. But when he came back he threw
it in'the lady'stface, which was thing
no knight that'calleu himself n gentle
man would do, and I'm sure L wouldn't
have blamed her if
1T served her right" interrupted
Harry. "Anyigirl who wanted fellow
to risk his life for the sake of an old
glove didn't deserve any better treat
ment''
Helen drowned disapproval.
IF he was afraid to go into the den,
he didn't need to-" she retorted. He
could just have said: Never mind the
old glove. I'll get you Il new pair to-
morrow But,after lie got it there was
no occasion for throwing it in her face.
I'm sure you wouldn't treat me that
winningly at the sturdy fireman.
But Harry was obstinate.
"And do.you think that the next time
we go up to the park, if you throw
your glove into a lions cage, I'll trail
after it? I'm afraid you'd be out a
glove"
Helen hadn't the least intention of
putting her lovers devotion to this
test. Nevertheless she was irritated at
the unnecessary positiveness of his
tones.
well, there are lots of other fellows
who would be willing to. Anyhow men
aren't as brave as they used TO be-" she
added, rather illogically.
AS Harry Warren risked his life pro-
fessionally on an average of once a
week, he thought this last remark
rather unjust, so he retired to the other
end of the boat TO smoke cigar and
general and of pretty girls with brown
eyes in particular. Helen's thoughts
were of the unreasonableness of men
and their readiness to take ofense
when none was intended.
When the time came for the band to
strike up Il twOstep, the fat musician
who played the bass Viol threw away
the cigar lie had been smoking. 1t
rolled to the top of the companiOnway,
down the steps leading to the lower
deck and finally dropped into pile of
waste left by some careless member of
the crew. There it smOldered. The
crew were occupied with their duties
about the boat, and the eXcursionists
We're dancing on the deck above.
While Harry Warren was debating
the problem of modern versus medi@val
chivalry and Helen Burke was wish
ing he would ask her for dance a
thin column of smoke came circling up
from the lower deck. At first no one
noticed il. 1t grew thicker. Then
broke out the most terrible cry that can
be heard on a crowded boat:
Fire Fire, The boat is on fire.
Harry Warren heard the cry of fire.
and his heart gave throb that had in
it little of eXultation. Here was
something that he could do, and do
well. He might not be willing to enter
a lions den for q glove. but lie would
show Helen that he possessed both
-
question of saving human beings from
the flames The first thing was to get
Helen to a place of safety, and Harry
dashed forward through the crowd OF
frightened eXcursionists. who were
rushing to the rear of the boat.
Helen had been sitting on the oppo-
site side of the boat from the spot TO
which Harry had retired to smoke the
cigar of wrathful meditation. When
the fireman reached the front OF the
boat, the smoke pouring from the com
panionway prevented his seeing clearly,
but he could make out dimly the nat
with the big flowers which he remem-
bered Helen had been wearing. FER
haps she had tainted or had been over
come by the smoke. Harry drew long
breath and rushed through the smoke
toward the gay bit of headwear-
In the meantime the officers had been
quieting the frightened passengers, get
ting out the fire hose and making prep
arations for manning the lifeboats IN
case the fire should be serious one.
Fortunately the flames had gained lit
tie Roadway and were under control al
most before the passengers in the rear
of the steamer realized what had hap
pened As soon as he saw that Helen
was i'm no danger Harry set to work to
assist the crew. When the blaze had
been extinguished, he started for the
rear of the boat in search of his sweet
heart. In his hand he carried the hat
with the big flowers The passengers
came trooping forward, laughing at
their recent panic. Among them was
Helen. Harry felt rather abashed at
being caught with large hat, plainly
the property of some young woman,
dangling from his hand, but Helen
looked at him with evident pleasure
and wide eyed admiration.
"And you went into all that smoke
and fire Just to save my new hat!' she