Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-19

lovely music"
AS she started for her bedroom she bumped into
who begged her pardon In a pleasant voice
Excuse me, but who are you? inquired Alice
"Tli turn on the light" said the stranger, as he
touched the electric button.
"OhP-gasped Alice Jane-"oh, 1 didn't expect to
meet you againp
81 presume not" the reply, "but we had to
aWe?" faltered the little girl.
yes you remember there were four of u.s."
Sure enough Between Alice Jane and the bedroom
door were four breadcrusts slim, brown legs keep
posRed floor they were new and be II ddn Int
seem strange or unusual to meet the four beadcruss
Il must dress" she said and hurried past them, hop
ing they would take the hint and go-oh, say-to the
Entering her room. Alice Jane turned on the light
Must be the cat" she said herself but the light
revealed large company Of bread-e5u5ts filling the
terday little stiff and perfectly straight
Glad to see you SAID the one she had slipped into
her apron pocket There was dusty gurndrop stick
81 didn't know you had arms and legs and could
talk said she, whereupon the that hard
hide the day before, tossed his and turned
I'VE would rather not leave YOU" explained bat
teredooking crust she had given the baby you have
AN enemy2" inquired the child
Yes you remember you ate two pieces of mince &
pc yves"
DO you also remember that you left the crust
Yes, couldn't eat it. II ate too much mince
|of course" agreed nimble crust you should
eat but piece of ince pie at night and you
should always cruss particularly mince-pe crusts
We, the breadcrusts, your friends. Not one of
wishes you any, harm But beware of that supper
a will beware" promised Alice Jane too frightened
to ask questions.
wears pickle cap. You remember you ate big
pickle and left enc end your plate. I'm telling you
hind US if should forget guard you
But want to dress" protested Alice Jane as the
etc fho-Od ,-,Or ctO CIV ber
Yesterdays erusts stepped back but in their places
appeared jolly crowd Of pienc erusts The child
ct-crust she had tossed toward the squirrels
when no one was looking. lie bumped cumsiy
against acknowledgements who wore an acorn-cup cap
oh my - exclaimed the child. you here?" I
SO hungry that day and it was such good chance to
81 was at the beach this summer" acknowledged
because VIC lived in a hotel at the seashore"
You threw me into the water, remarked thin
white crust tanning herself with gisening slvery
fan made of fishes scales. "a blue wave carried me
oh 1 wish" fatered Alice Jane, 81 really wish you
would -t &C. away ',,---d -. ,.,,.. rn.;
ply, sounded like the music OF sea-sheH
Scarcely were the beacl-cTusts gone, when dusty
Their caps bits of bark their pine-needes.
please go away" begged Alice Jane Il wish get
dressed. must ask you crusts who sitting
my shoes TO get up-and-why you schoolhouse crusts.
please don't pounce on my clothesF -.
she tried to be polite but beginning to feel frightened
twisted long short plump thin, brown. white and
black,-sfe snatchcd her clothes and dressed quickly
DO be careful" begged brittle old crust in a
cracked voice you threw me away when you were
baby and l can't stand it to have any one bump
against my at this late day"
and look out for meT threatened another with
dry cough Your elbows are sharp. I'm too old for
such treatment"
Then please 60" moaned Alice Jane. at seems to
company crusts and all"
You hurt our feelings" grinned raiTay:luneheOn
my brothers and shall wherever you do. We like
to travel"
$50 do we put in some crusts sparkling with sea-
salt
OH, groaned Alice Jane. q supposed you were
SGr9riG in the middle Of the ocean,
we learned to swim" was the reply
mo trying TO dodge your bread-crusts"
remarked tough old of Boston brown bread as
he nibbled at baked bean. We're yours until you
ia. Eat you" walled Alice Jane
But you all too old and dried Up now :"
Wed be all right in bread puddings," suggested
pantry-c-ust brushing spices off her shirt waist.
At last Alice made a dash for the door To her
surprise the crusts allowed her But scarcely
had she entered the room below. where many Of Aunt
when the crusts bounded in and frightened everyone
The doctor tainted and the minister turned pale
The phonoSraPh commenced 60 play and no could
gan to dance. 1t then the riiucc-pie ap-
pea-ed with rai5a7 elinGing to its sides pickle cap
alice Jane" it remarked IL terrible voice "Alice
Jane you sh1i cat thee o-rsts, every And then
no &C should Bic Ai.so Jszc il s;e stgrea-,cd
"Ot In 90 I'D !. 49, d-c--ni7 sobbcd tie
eIild IS Arnt Elizabeth Wiitoo:ab and Uncle Peter
~It was that riaoa pic!' declared Aunt Elizabeth
1T WIS tic rrinec pic agreed Uncle Peter Witt
.lad-a-d you trust always your bread-erustsl"
added Alice J1'e.