Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-01-13
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
A Sad Mistake.

bis friend. Nicholas Peckley, who re-
joiced In the glaring fact that he was
an old bachelor past all redemption.
Its quite surprising what number
of most charming girls there are. Well,
Baltic. wish you joy. I'm sure"
Mr.. Baltic rubbed his hands compla-
Gently.
"You see," said he, "she is n rose, as
one may say, in the full bloom, is my
Myrtilla, just twenty-seven."
"She looks all of that" said his
friend obviously.
'Envious dogp thought Baltic to
himself as he trotted briskly down the
street.
And thus meditating Mr.. Brutus Bal
tic turned his steps to the casket that
contained his hearts jewel-in other
words, the house where Miss Myrtilla
Hopkinson lived.
The front door was open, and Mr..
Baltic walked complacently in, with
the air of man who feels himself
thoroughly and entirely at home, and
tiptoed up the stairs.
"Dear girl, I'll give her a SURPRISE"
said Mr.. Baltic to himself.
Miss MyrtiIla sat at the parlor table,
her back toward the door. busily en-
ployed in reading letter, while around
her lay scattered pens, ink and paper
and the paraphernalia of epistolary Oc-
cupation.
lone of my notes." thought the love
smitten swain; but while these thoughts
passed through his mind board creak-
ed n warning. Miss HopkinsOn looked
around with little shrek.
my goodness graciousr' cried Myr-
tilla. jumping up.
II have caught your cried Mr.. Bal
tic. playfully making grasp at the
note.
But Miss Hopkinson evaded his move
ment and thrust the note under a pile
of newspapers.
But as she did so Mr.. Baltic perceiv-
ed, to his inexpressible surprise and
dismay, that the billet. although in an
Enthusiastically masculine hand, was
none of his penning.
"NIyrtillar' he exclaimed reproach-
fully.
"Oh. Brutus, dear, how you startled
my poor nerves. cooed Myrtilla, trip
ping forward with outstretched hands.
Before Mr.. Baltic could select appro-
pirate words in which to demand an
explanation from his sweetheart the
tete-a-tete was unfortunately interrupt
ed by the entrance of Myrtilla's mar
ried sister. But as they parted on the
staircase Mr.. Baltic said:
'Myrtilla, when 1 came this after
noon
YES. dear" purred the fair enslayer.
you were reading q letter-a letter
from a gentleman"
Miss Hopkinson colored.
"Brutus, you surely don't doubt mew
"WiIl you let me see the letter."
mo"
Mr.. Baltic banged out of the house.
Miss Hopkinson dissolved into tears.
"Oh. deari oh. dear! Oh, dear!' she
bewailed herself. What shall do?'
Mr. Baltic went home I'm towering
passion of jealous rage and penned
note which would have done no dis
credit to any tragedy hero in the land:
False one. give you twenty-four hours for
explanation II at the expiration OF that period
you still persist in refusing to show me your
clandestine correspondence, shall regard our mu-
tual relations at an end B. b.
Il rather think that Will bring her
around If anything WILL" he said to
himself "And 1 won't post it either.
I'll leave it at the door myself"
The dusk was only family illuminat-
ed by here and there the yellow CLEAN
of an occasional gas lamp when Mr..
Baltic stalked up to the residence of
Miss Hopkinson once more. Two fig
ures were at the area gate-a woman
and man whispering in the twilight.
"Goodr' thought Mr.. Baltic. Its
Bridget and her young man. I'll give
my note to Bridget" But as he APP
preached the dread certainty stole over
him that 1t was not Bridget and her
lover, but Myrtilla and-and-who?
Stricken, as it were. to stone, he
watched Myrtilla give the man money.
He heard hurried sentences exchanged.
He saw the villain creep away, like a
serpent, through the dusk.
Now was the moment for action.
Woman he cried, bouncing forth
on the unconscious Miss Myrtilla. ~
have detected your maneuvers at lastl
Quick. give me the packet of letters he
handed youl 1 saw him."
II will die sooner" screeched Miss
Myrtilla.
In the conflict the box fell to the
ground, its lid separating itself and
rolling away. Something clinked out
upon the pavement. Brutus stopped
to pick it up. 1t was a double set of
false teeth,
Myrtilla sank on the area step, hid
ing her face in her hands.
as this all?" said Mr.. Baltic.
"Allr' echoed Myrtilla. "Oh. Brutus,
1 would have persisted sooner than let
you known
And that-that villain
WAS the dentists young mani" Sob
bed Miss Hopkinson.
my Myrtillal And that noteT'
Don't look at me so, Brutus. 1t was
the dentists bill. And now 1 know
you hate mep'
Not at all. DEAR" said Mr.. Baltic.