Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-16
The Argus Daily Short Story
Woman's Ideal Home-By A. B. Searle.
Copyrighted. 1910. by Associated Literary Presa

.tee women and he had better go and
look for them. Coming upon a blue
eyed. 6axen haired girl, he begged her
to assist him in his search.
The president was looking over the
proofs of an article detailing the OBJ
jects of the home when the three
guides entered. The president looked
up and. seeing the ladies alone, was
astOnished-
Where are the ladies you had IN
charger" she asked.
Don't know" said one OF the
guides.
Don't know. What do you mean?'
lone after :he other they disappear
ed"
Good gracious"
Stepping to bell button, she push
ed five times. which meant that every
woman in the institution should report
in person Immediately at the presi
dents office. In a twinkling old. mid.
die aged and young ladies came pour
ing into the room. When there seem.
ed to be no more to come the president
ordered:
Call the roll"
The roll was called. The AS were
all present. but when the BIS were
reached Miss Butler Uoretta) was alb
sent Among the F's Miss Fairchild
(Doral failed to respond. A third
Ominous silence occurred when Miss
Waterman CHelem was called upon TO
answer.
Ladies'" said the president sternly.
there was something unusual in the
appearance of the three visitors that
made me hesitate to show them our
institution. 1t is evident from their
nonappearance upon the sounding of
the alarm that they are somewhere in
the building. and the nonappearance
of Misses Butler, Fairchild and Wa
terman, three of the prettiest girls in
our home, means that these visitors
are-yes, ladies, we may be sure that
they are men,
Heavens exclaimed a hundred
voices. ana 200 hands were clasped
over another hundred boSomS.
You ladie5 were appointed to show
these-these tntruderS the premises.
Go at once and make search for
them. Bring them and the three miss
ing girls here. All others remain
where you are"
Meanwhile there was a concentra-
ton of the enemy's forces. The three
visitors and the three missing young
ladies were in room together, and
the girls knew that the visitors were
men who had walked into a lions or
rather a lioneSs' den. Miss Butler was
terror stricken on behalf of her cous-
in. and the other two girls sympa-
thlzed with her and them. The girls
were startled at the sound of the sig
nal order for all to appear in the pres
ident's office. Miss Butler. seeing that
the battle was on. took command.
Two points of retreat were to be con-
sidered, the cellar and the cupola. She
chose the latter.
You girls she said to Misses Fair
child and Waterman, go and report.
Leave these boys to me-"
sit would not be honorable" said
Miss Fairchild. Ito let you shoulder
the matter. | shall go with you"
ME. too" said Miss Waterman, her
excitement getting the better Of her
grammar
The six of them ran up to the Gu
pola and closed the trapdoor behind
them. Then they all sat down on the
door. screened from any one below by
the encircling railing and seat
Battles are often won or lost in con-
sequence Of some trihing incident. and
it was so in this case. One of tho
searchers whose part it was TO visit
the cupola attempted to open the trap
door. Since she could not move IL, she