Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-14
The Argus Daily Short Story
The Conch Shelby Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted. 1910. by Associated Literary Press

While Mary Smith was visiting ner
rich cousins, the Drews, in the city she
met Ralph Mellon. He asked permits
sion to call upon her at her home, East
Bay.
Ralph Meldon did not get down to
East Bay for several months after
that. At last he closed his rooms and
went down to his brothers farm, some
ten miles distant from East Bay.
The next day a numbering stage car
ried him over to East Bay and depos-
tied him before the postofice. 1t
pleased Ralph to walk down the crook
ed village street and pick out the
house in which Mary Smith lived.
A brown church stood at the corner
where an intersecting street made a
sharp triangle. Next to the church
was a tiny white cottage powered in
honeysuckle vines and ivy. Tulips
and hyacinths made gay the brown
earth borders on either side the neat
path that led to the front door.
Instinctively Ralph turned in at the
gate and strobe up the path. 1t
was not until his hand had lifted the
brass knocker that he remembered to
look for the conch shell on the porch.
The door opened. and a neat maid
servant looked curiously at his town
cut garments.
rs Miss Smith at homer" asked
Meldon confidently.
Yes, sir: walk right In"
Ralph followed the girl into dark
ened parlor, where she left him. The
stuffy little room with its rose gar
landed carpet. marble topped tables
and grim rows of chairs did not
breathe eloquently of sunshiny Mary
Smith, but Ralph's heart beat faster
at the sound of a light footstep out
side the door.
Presently the door. opened, and
lady stood before him, tall/and gaunt,
with small severe features and frOwn-
ing black brows. Her black hair was
drawn into a hard, uncompromising
knot on top of her head, and the thick
lenses of her spectacles gave an add
ed fierceness to her black eyes.
She bowed stiffiy as Mellon arose to
his feet, and she surveyed his gloves
and stick with open disapproval.
Il don't want my life insured" she
snapped, opening the door suggestively.
Meldon REDEEMED under her insulting
tone. Really, madam" he was be-
ginning when she silenced him with
a gesture.
Neither do I wish to buy set Of
The Worlds Greatest Literary Lights
nor The European Encyclopedia nor
any other books for which you are the
agent. 1 am very busy today!' She
opened the door wider, but Meldon did
not stir.
You are mistaken. madam. 1 am
not an agent for anything whatever.
merely called to see Miss Smith"
81 am Miss Smith," was the tart re-
ply.
Miss Mary Smith, l should have ex-
planned"
Il am Miss Mary Smith"
'Then | have made a mistake in
the house. 1 hope you will pardon
The intrusion said Meldon quietly as
he passed through the door.
Its a common enough name" re-
Joined Miss Smith less acidly as her |
visitor went down the steps. She look |
I'd admiringiy at the tall, well setup |
igure as he stepped briskiy up, the
street. "He must be looking for May |
Smith. 1 dare say he wants summer
BOARD"
Ralph smiled to himself as he looked |
1t the next cottage to the one from |
which he had been almost forcibly |
elected. 1t was quite as attractive as
he other one. and it, too. had large
'onch shell on the front porch.
In response to his knock pale, tired
ooSing girl came to the door.
81 am Mary Smith, she said in an
Iwer to his carefully worded inquiry.
I'm afraid I've made another mis-
AXE" said Ralph, with pleasant
mile as he turned away. Il am look
ng for Captain Smiths cottage /