Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-22
She Hrgus Daily Short Story
1.-The Mysterious Signature."-By J. Lud1um Lee.
copyrighted. Associated

1.-THE modern bungalow is delusion
and q snare"
'Suburbanites are an unneighborly.
churlish lott
respectively sum up their first month
at Meadow Manor. where. on the ad-
vice of old family friends. Mr. and
Mrs. Sam Rogers, they had taken
picturesque bungalow for the season.
Harriet based her Judgment on warp
ing doors and shortage in books and
other small domestic essentials. sum-
when women turned architects houses
would be properly planned.
Her brother founded his criticism on
the fact that the young Woman whom
he had nominated as the Meadow Man
or beauty had so far ignored his very
existence. She boarded the $50 train
with him five days out of seven and
yet seemed to hold herself aloof not
only from him, but all other masculine
creatures.
She was q most competent young
person and never gave him the least
opportunity to do her service. In his
determination to make an opportunity
for knightly service he ignored the
friendly overtures of other neighbors.
AT last opportunity appeared on the
horizon. Pierce had taken the 2:3O
train home in hopes of getting turn
on the links to counterfeit the depress-
ing effects of falling stocks. and there.
walking briskly ahead of him under
the arching trees of the quaint village.
was the. inaccessible beauty. And in
the dust at the right of her daintily up
lifted skirt lay handkerchief. Pierce
Elkins darted forward.
81 beg your pardon. but think you
dropped this
then ut the bit Of cambria in his hand.
and smiled.
"But did not drop it." she said and
in verification of the statement pulled
her handkerchief from her sleeve
Mumbling inaudible words of apollo,
gy. Pierce turned down the opposite
street toward home. Even golf did not
| improve his humor, and the next morn
ing at breakfast his mood had not
changed.
"Will you have two lumps?" asked
Harriet as she was pouring the coffee.
Seventeen" growled Pierce.
Seventeen. all in one cup!' cried
| Harriet in amazement
81 thought you asked me the day of
the month";" explained Pierce Two
| will do. The fact is, Sis. did not
sleep well last night, and my brain is
befuddled. That blamed roof leaked
again. and the rain came right fin on
| my bed. I've decided not to go to
| town this morning. but instead I'm go
| ing round to see our landlord and tell
him what think of him"
/ "The roof over the kitchen leaks
too," said Harriet plaintively. "You
might mention that also"
What's the beasts name?" asked
Pierce.
81 really don't know" Harriet an
swered THE bills come In signed
M NJ. per Hook & Hook
.Well. | won't bother Hook & Hook
for they are like all agents." SAID
Pierce. II want the man higher up
the owner himself. NJ. NJ" he mused-
81 bet his name is Mike Murphy. and
I'll also wager that I'll rouse his lrisl
before I get through with him."
HE lives In the little white bunga
low on Maple avenue. Mr. Hook point
ed it out to me-" directed Harriet. a.
her brother started on his mission. I
Pierce soon found the bungalow ant
rang the bell. He waited momen
i and then rang again. He was in NJ
mood to walt From the hall inside |
voice called. Coming, comingw
And she came-the beauty!
Pierce gasped. He had evidentl,
made another mistake.
II am looking for our missing land
Z lord" he exclaimed. Il really don
know his name some Lush contractor