Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-02


day early in February.
Some few without the saving grace
of faith had almost persuaded them :
selves that second flood was immi-
nent, while others plodded through the
sushy rivers in cutters too wide to be
jumped with no feeling save dumb
misery.
The wind blew with such velocityl
that 1t was impossible to hold an UNI
brella. and broken ones had been
thrown into the cutters, giving the ap-
pearance of q fleet of black ships as
they whirled and finally stopped at the
corner sewer. Women who were forced
by circumstances to be out held their
skirts with one hand and took firm
grip on their hats with the other.
Among the few stragglers the police
man noticed the figure of young girl
who had passed him several times now
peering over. the curb as if fascinated
by the ebb and flow of the stream.
Her clothes were of good cut and
material. Her curly locks were much
bedraggled, and a tiny green stream
was running down one cheek. thanks
to the combination of rain and green
ribbon upon her hat The man in uni
form and brass buttons stepped to her
side as she hesitated at rather peril
GUS crossing
bad day. miss" said he as he offer
ed to help her across the street.
Bad? l should say it was! And in
more ways than one! You see, have
lost my purse. and 1 am visiting in
Bayville. l have not even money
enough to get back to the house." ex.
lessly at the policeman.
He eyed her suspiciously To his
ears such stories We're not uncommon.
That's a good story, all right! Sure
| it's true, are you?" he said.
Just then the tall figure of a man,
| with his hat pulled down we'll over his
| eyes, passed them. The girl frightened
as she saw him.
| "Oh, call that man, please do" she
cried as the tall figure strobe on. Hes
from Bayville too
| The policeman ran over and touched
| the man on the shoulder.
/ Lady over there wants you, SIR
/ The man glanced back, and then
with one agile leap across the gutter
he was at her side
Miss Merrill, can it be you? What
on earth are you doing out in this pour
ing rain?" The, questions fell thick
| 60
Let US step into this drug store, and
do tell me what can do for you"
They entered the store. and a friend
ly clerk offered them chairs and Their
politely retired to the rear of the store.
Helen Merrill tried to adjust a stray
lock and turned her blue eyes to NEE
her companions interested gaze.
1T was awfully good of you to say
you knew me. That policeman wa:
having seen me in uncle's trap"
How could fail to see you" muset
the man, and the girl blushed as sh,
resumed her story.
Il came In town to do some shopping
and I've lost my purse. 1t was only
showing this morning. and 1 could no
foresee this awful wind and rain storm
l dropped my purse as l was crossin:
the street, and, though I've looked an,
looked the whole length of that dirt.
, gutter, 1 cannot find it." she explained
to him. He offered no response. H
was apparently lost in studying thu
depths of the blue eyes before him
''Oh, won't you send me back home
: Mr.. Marshall? I know Uncle JOIN
will consider it neighborly courtesy.
Clayton Marshall smiled and glaneet
at his watch.
: 81 am awfully sorry to hear abou
/ your plight. Miss Merrill, and of cours
t l will take you home at once. w
> have just time to catch the 2:30 train
p that is, unless you would rather hav
a bite to eat first"
"Eatr' she cried ~ feel like
, drowned rat and must look like one
!. No restaurant would admit me. Hun
CRY as I am, I~fear that home is tn
place for me-" Helen replied. But,
she continued, "if you will put me o
!, the train it will be quite sufficient
: Surely your Office is not closed S
early"
Marshall protested and finally wo
!, the day. He called a hanson, and tt
i gether they took the train for Bayvfll'
Ii They telephoned in advance, and til
family carriage was at the depot t
: meet Helen.
Uncle John can thank you bette
! than 1. she said as they parted.
Think SOP" asked Marshall. An
then they both laughed
The leading papers the next morr
ing contained a large and conspicuou
advertisement: Lost a gold mes
purse, containing bills, gold pencil an
family communication ticket betwee
Bayville and New York. Liberal r.
ward IL returned to Miss Helen Me
rill, Bayville. n. Y"
Helen Merrill was visiting in one {
those richly appointed suburban home
now frequently seen on the outskir
4 Of large city.
Her Uncle John, a retired stoe
broker land bachelor, hated town Iii
4 and lived in BayyiIle the year roun