Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-05

nothing has been done TO it since All
the broken bits of carving are in that
little bag tied TO the top" explained
Miss Deborah.
Cant l take it downstairs. Aunt
Deb? I'm sure Dick can mend 1.-THE
is so clever And L will mend the
broken embroidery"
"Very well. dear. Tomorrow Norah's
husband will come and move this fur
niture downstairs: tonight. l fear. we
must sleep on the davenport. 1t is
growing late. Polly; let US get down
stairs and see about supper"
Together they dragged the heavy
screen down to the parlor, where Polly
once more fell into ecstasies over its
delicate carving and fine inlay of ivory
and mother of pear.
After supper came Dick Fraser, and
Polly waited for him in the deep We
randa and told him of the sale of Miss
Deborah's furniture.
Dick flushed holly and sank into
a low chair with a quick gesture Of
impatienee ITS a darned shamev'
he cried angrily. Here am I, a great
strong. husky chap. sitting around
waiting for people TO come and be
cured of their ills. while Miss Deborah
needs man TO go TO work and pull
her out of her financial difficulties! I
wish I'd never studied medicine.
wish I'd learned to be a carpenter
or something clser'
"Fiddle-de-dee. DR.. Fraser" cried
Polly impudently. IF it were not for
you what would become of all the poor
sick people in Little River?'
What has become of them now?"
inquired Dr. Fraser "They don't fill
my waiting room. They don't Jingle
my telephone bell. nor do they call me
up in the dead of night. 1 wish they
would he ended viciously.
It's been n healthy winter" COM
forted Polly, "and you know DR..
Brown is going to sell his practice
and so away. and there will be a
chance for you then"
I'm afraid not. honey. If I could
buy the doctors practice and his auto
mobile and his whole outfit I'd be
made. but what's the use Of talking?
Let us go in and see Miss Deborah. /
Perhaps / can help her a bit. You
''Norah has worked like a major
We shall camp tonight, and tomorrow
we are to have-never mind. If you
come over to tea you shall have a
lovely SURPRISE promised Polly as
they entered the house.
When they sat around the coy little |
fire in the back parlor Polly brought |
in the dragon screen and showed it to |
her lover.
''Of course you can mend it, Dick"
she said confidently.
DR.. Fraser did not reply. He was |
examining the fine carving with the |
eye of a lover. His skillful fingers |
itched to handle brush and glue pot |
and restore to its original beauty the |
dragon screen.
81 shall mend the embroidery" ex-
planned Polly. thrusting inquisitive
fingers into the various holes and rips
in the panels. "Look at this scaly old
dragon, Dick! He is fairly peeling
off,"
"And this dull green eye needs to be
remarked the doctor alb
sently.
Polly brought a basket of silks and
sat down near the light and gravely
her skeins against the faded
of the screen. Miss Deb
1rah, knitting near the fire, watched
ler with tender interest. These two
young people were the very main
spring OF her existence now that so
much of her life had become merged
n the past
The light shone on the dragon screen,
md the golden dragons Slittered until
{ almost seemed as IL their scales
moved.
How father loved that old screen"'
nused Miss Deborah
'Win it not be lovely to have it
round once more?" asked Polly, turn
ng her head, and then the screen
Tipped from her grasp, and she caught
wildly at the panel on which she had
,een worl-in". Shn caught n torn |
ragment Of one of the golden dragons.