Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-05

I'D like my New York paper" said
Mr.. Timothy Scott for the fourth time
that morning
Just moment, Mr.. Scott" said the
busy clerk alphabetically. You see we
are very busy today" he continued.
hastily making change for a small girl
who had purchased a valentine. To
morrow's Valentine day. you know"
Il ought to know" growIed Mr.. Scott
irascibly. You have informed me of
that fact four distinct times this morn
ing. Do you mean to say that all these
people are buying idiotic pictures t.
send to their friends?"
They are buying valcntines-yes.
SIR" returned the clerk, with an appre-
hensive glance toward the several GUS
toners. your paper will be ready in
a moment. sir The package has not
been opened yet
80 busy selling valentines, of course.
You needn't repeat the explanation,
snapped Mr.. Scott. turning toward the
door. Pausing in the entrance, he Look
ed back. The little stationer's was the
only shop of its kind in the village.
Here alone doomed the flower garden
of valentines Here alone was the
source of his annoyance. A diabolical
plan entered Mr.. Timothy SCOTS clev
err head. A voice interrupted his mus
ings.
Here is your paper at last, Mr..
Scott" said the clerk affably. The old
gentleman looked about the store as he
pocketed the paper. The other custom
ers had departed; he was the only one
there.
"Show me all the valentines you have
in stock" he ordered sharply.
"Yes-yes. sir" gasped the perturbed
clerk as he dived beneath the counter.
Presently he emerged, dusty and
GREATNESS. bearing severallarge green
pasteboard boxes.
These in the store" he said, indicat-
ing the interior of the small room, "and
these In the boxes are all we have"
Mr.. Scott looked around at the rows
of valentines. There were picture
| postals. lace paper missives, few silk
and satin beauties and an assortment
of the coarse comic" valentines. All
of them expressed varied degrees of
sentiment, and they were all resplen-
dent in cupids, intertwined hearts,
| flowers and tender verses.
81 will take them ALL" said Mr.. Tim
| othy Scott, reaching for his pocket
book.
The agitated shOpman stared vacu-
ously until he caught the fierce CLEAN
I'm the customers eye; then, with trem-
bling fingers. he collected the valen-
tines and placed them in boxes. In
| ten minutes the store was denuded of
| its festive array. and Mr.. Timothy
Scott was the proud possessor of six
huge boxes of valentines.
Can you obtain any more for mer
he asked sharply.
| mo, sir" said the clerk There
isn't another one in the village, and
| couldn't get any one to drive twenty
! miles to Millertown after some"
Very good" said Mr.. Timothy Scott
as he paid his bill. Il will send my
man after the boxes" he said as he left
the store and entered the storm of fly
ing fakes. There promised to be o
heavy snowfall. and Mr.. Scott tramped
cheerfully toward his handsome homo
very well satisfied with the result OF
his mornings work.
Late that afternoon old Benjamin
staggered into the house under the
load of boxes from the stationer's, ant
his master ordered them placed in 4
corner of the library, where he sa
toasting his feet before the pleasant
blaze.
dis yer paper is all de mail dey
was, sah,p said the negro as he placed
the evening newspaper at his master:
elbow Somehow, Mr.. Timothy, seem: