Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-02
8he Hrgus Daily Short Story
Fair Means or Foul. BY Jane Lee.
copyrighted, 1908. NJ NJ Cunningham

About 3 O'clock maid announced to |
Miss Merrill that young man had |
called. saying he had found a purse |
and would like to have her identify it. |
Helen ran down the stairs, delighted at |
the thought of finding her lost treasure. |
In front of the open fire stood Clayton |
Marshall. warming his hands.
''Mr. Marshall" exclaimed Helen, |
with the pretty blush that was one of
her girish charms. 1.-The maid said
there was man here who had found |
my purse but | guess he must be out
side"
'Not at ali. Miss Merrill am the
man who has the purse" and he drew
forth from the depths of his pocket the
missing trinket. Helen's cry of delight
did not seem to be contagious. for Mar
shall assumed rather a depressed air.
\ "Mr. Marshall. you are surely fairy
prince! Yesterday you seemed like a
second Noah escorting me in your mod
ern ark up to my home" said Helen
gayly. To-day you come Ikea Santa
Claus, giving me back my purse. How
can l ever thank you enough?" she
added.
II want to tell you something, if l
may" said Marshall as they seated
themselves in comforta BILE chairs. 81
saw you talking to that policeman yes
terday long before you saw me-" he
continued. again and again l have
asked your precious old uncle to intro
duce me to you. but he always put ne
off, saying. What awhile, young man;
wait awhile
81 got so l hated the sight of him
more and more, and ! determined to
meet you in some other way. but no
| opportunity seemed to come until yes
| terday. AS l was about to cross Broad
way l saw this mass of shining gold
whirling past me, and as l stopped to
pick it up heard you talking to the
policeman. went on. slipping the purse
in my pocket. feeling quite sure that
you would call me back. You did,
and, well-you know the restr'
''Such a deceitful man. unused Hell
en-. "And all the time that | was catch
ing pneumonia you had that purse in
your pocket Oh. how could you?"
THAT is just what's bothering me- -
said Marshall. How could IL" But
his eyes twinkled But if you were
very, very much in love with a mar
and wanted to know him would you
hesitate to steal a purse in order tc
accomplish that end? Now. honest
he pleaded as he drew his chair to q
more confidential angle.
Helen Merril's eyes began to dance.
''Men are such stupid, simplN mind
ed creaturesv' she began. Imagine
: asking a woman for an honest answer
Why, the thing is almost absurd. Ye
I'm going to be honest; but, mind you
only just this once" she said as sh'
i leaned forward, almost whispering.
, Just this once" said Marshall, an(
the space between them was shorten
= ed by several inches.
ii Il could have got home yesterda.
without your help" she confided. 'Al
? l had TO do was to go across the stree
J to the First National bank and writ
r my check. But l saw you coming, ant
we'll whenever l asked Uncle JOIN
I why he didn't have you to dinner Xix
e some of the other men he'd say, Wal
awhile, young lady; wait awhile AM
:, and 1 thought l had waited lon
' enough-and you know the rest
t Now that we have both been so ter
. ribly honest with each other" sal
: Marshall as he rose and stood besid
| the chair which held the second cul
Y prit, suppose we go together to Uncl
/ John and make a clean breast of it t
e himT'
e Not at all. You know, only prom
/. Used to be honest just once and tina
:. would make twice." argued Helen.
4 There's luck in odd numbers" sal
- Marshall "You were honest to m
i just now. That's once. Let's go an
be honest with Uncle John, and that
t twice. And then once more l wan
e you to be honest and answer a ques
e ton. That's three, the odd number"
= They were in the hall by this tim
e on the way TO the library and Uncl
John. Marshall leaned very close to he
a AS he asked her the third. No one eve
J. heard it save Helen, but after that
l. really did not matter what Uncle job
e said