Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-09-11
The Argus Daily Short Story
The Tin Peddler-F. A. Mitchell.
Copyrighted, 1911 by Associated Literary Press

few women's garments; therefore
/ there must have been a married cou-
pie On the wall among other pictures
was one of those stiff photographs one
sees in the country-and, for that mat
ter, among city folks-of a bridal cou-
pie 1 inferred that 1t was a likeness
of those who had occupied the prem
ises. There were pictures of old and
young persons, evidently the fathers
and mothers of relatives Of the bride
snd groom.
My first theory was that the house
had been occupied by young married
couple; that one had died and the
other had shut up the house just as it
was and gone elsewhere. Secondly, 1
fancied that the couple who lived in 1t
had 9uarreled and both left it to go
away by different paths. Thirdly, no
tfcing the photograph Of a sour look
ing old woman, I concluded that the
family had been broken up by moth
er-in-law. Rummaging in an old desk,
came upon a check book, figures on
the stubs of which indicated that The
bank account it represented was large
IL overdrawn. This led me to fourth
theory-that- the occupants had suf-
fered from financial difficulty and this
was the cause of the house having
been deserted.
How many other theories might
have formed had my reveries net been
interrupted I don't know. The inter
ruphon was tap on a windowpane
behind me. Quickly turning, I looked
TO see the cause. but apparently there
was no cause. l was turned from ing
suggestions as to the former occu-
psncy of the premises to wondering
what had caused the tapping. I arose
went to the window, threw up the
sash and, putting out my head, looked
about me. Seeing nothing, 1 went
back to my seat before the fire.
In a few minutes there came an
other tap. Turning again, 1 saw the
cause The fame on the hearth light
ed up the face Of young girl.
Now, / maintain that there's nothing
prettier on earth than a pretty girl,
and when a lonesome bachelor In a
house By himself sees a pretty girls
face at his window, illuminated by a
freight, it's the pretLiest sight he ever
saw at any rate, If a vista Of heaven
had been opened to me 1 couldn't have
been more delighted.
/ whirIed my chair around and sat
enraptured The window was Just
high enough from the ground and the
girl just tall enough to show her face,
but not the rest of her body. She
could see me fairly well by the light
of the fire.
"Who are you" she asked, "and
what are Won doing hereT'
I'm a pin peddler, and I stopped
here for overnight"
as that all? / thought you must be
a robber."
81 suppose robber would be more
attractive to you than a tin peddler."
Not a nice tin peddler-"
There was some encouragement IN |
this. But was curious to find out /
about the house was in.
where did you come fromT' |
asked
From just over a rise IN the ground. |
Our place is hidden by trees. l saw |
smoke against the sky and came TO /
the hill TO find out what it come from /
Since it was from this chimney 1 |
thought I'd come on and see who was
in the house,
I'm very glad TO see you I'm Gu
riOus to know how the premises hap
pened TO be left as they are. I've been
forming theories about it. Perhaps
you can tell me which theory Is cor
rect"
What are theyT'
That couple" pointing to the picture
of bride and groom, had just been
married and come to live here. Is
that so?'
mo; another couple just married
did"
well. one OF he other couple died.