Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-05-15
8he Hrgus Daily Short Story
Changing First Impressions BY Lulu Johnson.
= BY

Though they became fast friends,
weeks passed before Grantley put his
fate to test. They were making IL long
railroad jump, and Grantley, passing
through the day coach given over to
the chorus, dropped into the seat be-
side Nettie, whose chum, Bessie New
ms, was restlessly pacing the aisle.
Its a funny place for Il proposal"
he said abruptly, but there is such a
racket in the car that no one can hear
what the others are saying. Besides.
you won't give Il fellow chance to
catch you without that everlasting
Bessie Nevins along. love you. Net
tie, and l want you TO marry me. Will
you, dear?"
The girls face grew troubled. and
she put her hand upon his for an in
slant.
I'm sorry you asked me-" she said
softly. II am sorry to hurt you. 1t was
for that reason that THAT / have
stuck so close to Bessie
Then you don't care:" he demand
ed.
"In a way, yes" she began. But |
am sensitive to first impressions. and
somehow l can't look at you without
recalling that property stomach and
the absurd chin whiskers. You have
been awfully good, butch. can't love
| -a-funny man"
But l didn't suppose you thought l
was. always a fool. Look at that fool
ish house right there on top of that
bill. Think what it must mean 10 live
| there all winter. It's all right in the
| summer time; but, oh-oh-in the Win
| ter timer
Nettie glanced at him quickly. She
could not understand his abrupt change
of subject. and she concluded that she
had not hurt him very much. since be
SO soon forgot, which was exactly
Grantley's purpose. But from that mo-
ment he hated the padded stomach
and the false hair which were his
bread and butter
! He made no attempt to reopen the
| discussion. and the weeks went past
rapidly with no apparent change in
| their friendly relations. Nettie did not
dream that beneath his fun Grantley
nursed the sorrow she had caused and
that only in the watches of the night
| did he give way TO feelings none the
| less poignant because so successfully
| concealed.
| Then came the lesson the girl needed
They We're playing small theater in
a week of one night stands. At the
matinee some gas tanks used for color
1 effects thrown up from beneath the
stage in the last act exploded as the
operator tried to start them up. He
was the 'company's electrician and un
accustomed to handling calcium lights
An incorrect mixture of the gases. fol
lowed by a momentary panic of the
man. and the damage was done
Flames burst through the traps to the
stage, the dust on the fireproofed
scenery carried the fire to the rigging
aloft, and the place was ablaZe. II
only remained for the stage hands tt
drop the fire curtain. cut the skyligh,
| ropes and then make for safety.
/ Once the skyiights were opened tn,
draft drew the flames UP to the ROO
and away from the auditorium; but
i though this saved the audience, 4
meant death for the girls who wer,
dressing on the top floor The small
theater was insufficiently supplied
with dressing rooms. and the choru.
was herded in an unfinished loft abov,
the auditorium. usually given over t,
the storage of odds and ends Wit
the skylights open they We're trapped.
| With no thought for himself, Grant
ley sped up the narrow iron stairwa.
lending to the loft. Behind him tn
stage was a mass of flames. So h
drove back the few girls who wer
trying to make their way down tn
stairs. Most of the chorus were to
terrified to attempt to escape, but a
Grantley burst into the room they ros
to their feet, wild with nysteria.
The roofs the only chance erie