Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-06-13
She Hrgus Daily Short Story
"When Ben Sailed In. BY Harris Ingalls,
Copyrighted 1905. by Associated Literary Press.

ingly the neat little cottage they APP
something fcecy and white stood on
the porch to welcome them. Drakin
had gone into the telephone booth at
the station to announce their coming
and had emerged from the booth very
red and confused.
Hubbard hoped that his coming had
not been the cause of the confusion.
He knew that there were times when
things in the kitchen went wrong and
when visitors were not welcome. He
had suggested us much 10 Tom. but the
offer to return to town had been hooted
at, and Tom had laughed immoderately
70 cover his confusion at the discovery
of his embarrassment
But there was no embarrassment in
Mrs. Drakin's face as she made him
welcome There was only interest and
cordial friendship, and Ben was sur
prised TO find himself rather envying
his chum.
OF course Tom had been exception
ally fortunate in finding such WON
an. but as Ben tumbled into bed some
hours later he told himself that We're
| there two such women he should like
| to marry the other
They had sat talking until late in the
evening. and when Ben finally woke
| he discovered note on his dresser, In
which Tom explained that it was nee
essary for him to go to the city on
| business. but that he would return in
| the afternoon and> bring with him the
| trunk Ben had sent to the hotel.
Ben wavered-and was lost. He
slowly dressed and went downstairs
| to find Mrs. Drakin sitting in the din
ing room waiting for her guest TO come
| downstairs.
| Tom left his apologies" she explain
ed as she poured him his coffee. "Ht
| had to rise ut such an unearthly hom
to make the train that we decided Il
let you sleep. He viii be out on til,
| 4:10. and in the meantime | am sol
EMMY bound to hold you here at al
| hazards. Tom would never forgive mt
| If you should be gone before he cam,
| back
| 'You couldn't drive me away" de
| clared Ben gayly. III be well con
tent to sit out on the porch and just
think how lucky was TO run into Ton
yesterday afternoon"
"lll take my sewing out. and we can
chat as work." suggested Mrs. Ora.
kin. and presently they were estab
lished on the broad piazza. To- his
surprise Ben found himself chatting
with his hostess as freely as though
/ she were a man and not one of the
dread women.
Tom came out as he had promised
and Ben frowned as he caught sight OF
his friend perched on the seat of an
express wagon in which was his trunk
Now you've got to stay" announced
Tom. I'VE shall hold your trunk like
they do in the hotels n you try tc
escape us"
Il think that you would be wise tc
ship ME and the trunk back to town.
said Ben seriously, but Drakin hoote6
down the suggestion, and when Mrs
Drakin added her entreaties to Toms
he gave in. and the trunk was taker
up to his room.
That night when Ben put out the
light he did not jump. into bed, but lons
after the rest of the house was quie
he sat by, the open window. looking
! across the moonlit fields and wonder
/ ing wha. he should do.
i OF one thing he was certain. HI
was in love. and in love with hi.
5. friends wife at that. What was more
it had seemed to him that, as she hat