Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-09-06
DAILY SHORT STORY
HOW Mr.. MCPHERSON WAS WON


The Nickersons had been literary
people for generations. One of them,
who admired Thackeray above all au-
thors. named his only son PendenniS.
Pendennis was an honor TO the name
He would read no authors except those
who were only appreciated by crit
zeal few. He was rich in his own
right and had no need to labOr-just
the man whom girls looking out for
love in a chateau are disposed to angle
for. Among those who angled for Mr..
Nickerson was Miss Lydia Marble,
and she angled methodically.
Miss Marble believed that the girl
Mr.. Nickerson would wed must be in
tellectual and by all means literary.
Having procured a list of his favor
fte authors, she glanced over some OK
the- works ,she was much bored in
doing so) and admired them in Mr..
Nickerson's hearing. Nickerson was
charmed at the discovery. He had usu
ally found his girl friends devoid OF
good literary taste. How refreshing 10
meet one who could sympathize with
him in his likes and dislikesi
Miss Marble went to the mountains
for the summer. and Mr.. Nickerson
followed her. He carried with him
"Muchmore," a book by a new au-
thor that critics of the highest grade
pronounced a wonder. There was no
plot Nickerson detested all except
realistic novels, but the English in il
was simply perfect. Nickerson gave
the book to Miss Marble, who seized
upon it with we'll feigned avidity,
though she was much chagrined at its
length.
Now, the stories Miss Marble most
loved and the stories Mr.. Nickerson
most detested were detective stories.
Unfortunately, she had just got her
hands on The Mystery of the Munro
Murder" maze out of which the
real culprit energies In the last chap
ter, having done the murder at the
bottom of a we'll with a gold tooth
pick. The book was incased in a
flaming red cover and easy to be rec
ognized. Miss Marble felt that great
care was necessary in order that Mr..
Nickerson should not stumble upon it
while she was reading it. She first
skinned "Muchmore," making notes
upon certain points then she was ready
for keen enjoyment with THE Mystery
OF the Munro Murder"
There was at the hotel where Mr..
Nickerson and Miss Marble were stay
Ing pink checked. blue eyed little
girl, so demure that 1t seemed butter
wouldn't melt in her mouth. Her
name, Kittie Cloverleigh, was as gen
tie sounding as she was gentle looking.
Miss Cloverleigh cast longing eyes Oh
the intellectual Mr.. Nickerson. He
had noticed her as q delicious bit OF
flesh and blood who, if devoid of in
tellect, was surely very kissable. One
morning Miss Cloverleigh went to the
Marble rooms and there on table
saw copy of "Muchmore," with notes
In pencil. Miss Cloverleigh, believing
war" appropriated the notes and
learned that Miss Marble had gone to
the cliff to read. The cliff faced the
hotel from across valley about
mile wide.
Miss Marble the evening before had
noticed in n periodical q criticism of
"Muchmore'' by one of the most critical
critics of the day. Armed with Miss
Marbles notes and a study of this
criticism, which she did not under
stand, she sought Mr.. NickerSOn, who
was reading a review called THE
Critic Of Critics on the piazza. She
began to scintillate with opinions on
his favorite novel, "MuchmOre." Nick
erson was astonished. Miss Glover
legh's simple beauty had attracted
inn har 10 1yCiS of q hook
that no one could quite understand
charmed him.
On the piazza was Il small telescope
swung on tripod used by the guests
of the hotel to look at the neighboring
nloSntains. AS soon as Miss Clover
leigh had impressed Mr.. NickersOn
with her powers of criticism she pro-
posed that they should amuse them
selves with the telescope. She soon
turned it to the cliff.
why, l declare" she exclaimed, "if
there isn't Lydia Marbler'
Indeed" said Nickerson. What Is
she doing?"
Reading. The book has a red COW
er. | wonder what book it is?'
Miss Cloverleigh turned the glass
over to Nickerson, who looked at the
unconscious Miss Marble sitting on q
rock devouring a book which from its
cover he readily recognized as The
Mystery of the Munro Murder"
''Shes reading that detestable detec-
tive story he exclaimed.
rs she?' replied Miss Cloverleigh.
II don't see how she can read such
trash"
At that moment Miss Cloverleigh-
possibly she thought he was through
with the instrument-tried to look
through it and their cheeks rubbed
against each other. Both drew away
and, both mistaking the others inten-
lions, again attempted to put an eye
TO the telescope. The result was an
other meeting of cheeks