Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-18
The Argus Daily Short Story
Culinary Capture-By Virginia Tyler Hudson.
Copyrghted. Associated Literary

Though women were few. and sin
| gle women fewer. in the construction
camps along the keys. it must be ad-
mitted that the coming of Nanon
O'Higgins caused scarcely a fiutter in
the busy camp life.
When old Jim O'Higgins cnrelessly
remarked that he would not eat at the
camp table. as he had his daughter
with him and would take his share
from the commissary to his shack, it
was the cue of AMER Regan and Peter
Ingraham and Frenchy Despard to
stroll casually over toward the O'Hig
gins shack at the close of the first
days work. 1t was not because OF q
lack of welcome that they went no
more--at least for some time.
Not much for looks. sure" was the
pronuncia mentO of AMER Regan as
they went back TO the bunk boat down
at the edge of the scraggIy coral beach.
Her eyes gave me the creeps too.
Looks as If she had a regular crouch
at the world"
Mos probably put in Frenchy. 'she
have-not with re worl', but with re
old O'Higgins. who have name her
Nanon. Parbieu! Such a name for
such femme: Youth and beauty, GER
easement. 1t means. and when you see
her, pouf. 1t vaneesh,'
One day Ingraham was stretched on
the white sands when O'HigginS came
upon him.
I'VE want you and some Of the boys
to come up to the shack for dinner to-
night. Mr. Ingra ham," said the old man
hesitatingE. This is my little girls
birthday. and thought
Ingraham hesitated.
"Oh. why not?' he thought. This
once won't hurt me. The old chaps
fond of the girl. suppose. too, and he
hates TO see her neglected" So he an
swered as he rose, yawning: "All right,
O'Higgins. We'll be on deck"
All three of the men knew what it
was TO dine well. In the city Ingra-
ham was known as such an epicure
that it was a standing joke with his
friends that he would starve down on
the keys on the construction camp COM
! missa,y. Like all true Frenchmen.
Despard, too, knew the value of things
culinary. But each was compelled TO
admit that never, even in the best clubs
and restaurants, had they sat down to
a daintier feast than that provided in
the little Florida shack. And that too.
on the necessarily limited fare.
''Mais QUIZ" exclaimed the delighted
Frenchman as together they strolled to-
ward the beach. Such soup: Such
an entree. Such sauce bernaise. 1t
would appear that we have moderated
the Mile. Nanon. Never have l had
such a salad of cocoanuts. 1t was
beautiful-enough to make Oscar turn
the envious green"
AT last he has been smitten with
the charms of Nanon." solemnly muir
INJURED AMER The little god has sot
busy and hit him in the stomaon. But
surely he don't expect to be without Il
rival. l, too, monsieur, have these
many years been in search of a good
cook"
Ingraham looked at his companions
scornfully.
Little beasts" he muttered.
"T weesh to inform you." said
Frenchy Despard one night. after
longer visit than usual, when be and
Nanon had gone for walk along the
coral beach. "Zat j have re honalre TO
be betrothed to Mile. Nanon O'Hig-
gins" He bowed low
well. you turned the trick on us.
all right. Frenchy." said the some
what discounted AMER. May i hope
to have All occasional invitation to eat
at your house? I can't say but what.
on the whole. I'm just as well salts
fed Well at least have the cook in
the family. so to speak"
Ingrabam looked up with frown.
For the first time the girls side of this
occurred to him. She was to be sac
rificed. but. with shrug as IL be
would efface the thing. although the
girls dark eyes haunted him, he turn
ed to his book.
Two days later Despard came In
from the construction camp early. He
was Entrusted by the superintendent
with message for O'Higgins to pre-
pare for visit from one of the board
of directors whose yacht had been
sighted. He went. therefore. at once
across the beach to the shack in the
palm trees. With the freedom of the