Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-14

Captain Smith lives next door, ii
terrupted the girl. You'll find him at
home. for he has just gone in
Thank you," said Ralph relievedly.
AS he walked up the next neat
graveled path Ralph Meldon was pain
FULLY aware that smith was not an
uncommon name in East Bay and that
sea captains were as thick in the vii
lage as the prOverbial bees in a barrel
of sugar A half hour before there
had been but one Mary Smith in the
world. Now Mary Smiths confronted
him at every turn or every door.
At last he would see the Mary Smith
his Mary he had boldly determined
to call her one day. At this point
In his reflections he mounted the steps
and came upon a white whiskered old
gentleman swinging in a canvas ham
mock on the porch The polished
boots. the blue cloth suit with brass
buttons, the keen gray eyes under
bushy eyebrows. denoted the seafaring
man. He raised himself in the ham,
mock and peered inquisitively up at
his visitor.
Captain smith, queried Meldon.
Here" beloved that old salt, set
fling a blue cap on his snowy hair.
MY names Meldon. had the
pleasure of meeting your daughter at
Mrs. Drew's last winter, and l asked
permission to call and see her" Ralph
felt himself growing warmer under
the sparkling gaze Of the old captain.
"Never heard of your he beloved
forth. and then. lifting his voice into
an angry roar, he called, "Mamieg'
There was a sound of hurrying foot
steps-heavy footballs quite unlike the
tread of Mary Smiths fairy feet-and
the front door opened and elected q
oyung woman, rosy checked, fat, quiv-
ering with flesh and curiosity.
what is it, pa?" she demanded.
Captain Smith drew clay pipe from
his breast pocket and indicated the
visitor with a gesture of his hand:
Zone of your city beaus, Mamie. Take
him away"
When the reverberations of his ter
rible voice had died on the still air the
girls nervous giggle broke the strain
ed silence.
4 have made a mistake" explained
Meldon, for the third time that morn
ing.
"Who are you looking for?" asked
the girl good naturedly.
Miss Mary Smith. She is the daugh-
ter Of a Captain Smith. do not know
his given name" Ralph Meldon paus-
ed at the foot of the steps and re-
garded first the little brown church
and then the large conch shell on the
porch near the captains swinging feet.
A great light broke over Miss Mamie
Smiths rosy face. II guess you mean
Captain LeIhuel John Smiths daugh-
ter. OF course you'd be invited. being
city folks" She paused and surveyed
Mellon with genuine admiration in
her big brown eyes
''She said it was near the church
and had a conch shell on the porch"
insinuated Ralph impatiently.
''Oh, yes, indeed-just around the
corner of the church on the other side
Of the street. You see, almost every |
house on this street belongs to a Smith |
Just as many folks call the village |
'Smithport' as they do East Bay
Captain Smiths white head bobbed |
over the edge of the hammock Thine |
was he beloved. when there was
a Cap'n John Henry Smith in every |
house in this street, SIR
Indeed Meldon was properly as |
tonished. 'It must have made matters /
for the postmaster"
''It did, it did, sir. Postmaster got |
so riled with worrying over which |
John Henry Smith the letters was for
that he just dealt 'em out as they |
come to hand in the boxes, begin
hing at No. 1, one letter for each so
ong as they lasted until the letters
give out. Then next mail time he'd
begin where he left off till every man
lad a letter. He had a sight of
.Touble with the newspapers, every
,ther one having a different brand of
9oiticks- About once a week thare'd