Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-04


some meaning from the fragmentary
phrases; then with doubtful shake
Of his untidy head he said sympathet-
ically:
''Girls iss der deff1e. expect"
But the stranger made no reply. He
was gazing moodily down at the floor,
and hts thoughts were far away from
the little tailor shop.
| Nathan stitched away for awhile, his
thoughts intent on the troubled young
man who had followed him home that
he might throw work into the tailor's
idle hands. He understood that the
stranger had had trouble with soma
girl 1t appeared that she wouldn't
speak. This was an amazing state OF
AFFAIRS woman who wouldn't speak.
Nathan's neighbors never could COM
plain of that. Their wives spoke at
all hours in all languages and with
varying degrees Of emphasis.
'Mebbe she iss loving somebu6dy
else. knew a girl NIT a love fer
somebuddy what she WASN'T promised
to, und she died of der love" He shot
speculative glance at the down bent
head and repeated. "Mebbe your girl
|
Cheerful ideas you have. Sort of
Jobs comforter you are" calculated
the stranger. rising and coming for
| ward into the light Don't worry
about my affairs, old man. dare say
} you have troubles OF your
at iss der biziness It iss dull" re-
marked Nathan. 81 don't bother NIT
| lovings. 1 amt got no time"
Nathan bent over the handsome gray
coat In his lap. He was thinking that
| it needed very little mending Indeed,
| It appeared to be almost new, and the
creases were yet In the sleeves. He
turned the pockets inside out, hoping
| that some undiscovered tatters might
Justify his charging a dollar for the
job. A dollar meant food for an en-
tire week.
Suddenly his hand slipped through
one Of the breast pockets and went
down to the bottom. Of the coat Some
thing stif and hard was there, and he
slowly drew forth large square en-
velope-a letter sealed and stamped and
addressed. Nathan could not read
English, but his keen mind made In
slant connection between the unhappy
young man, the girl to whom he had
written and who had remained so ST.
lent and the letter reposing in the coat
! lining.
"a letter here iss." he said, simply
extending the missive.
Where did you find it?' asked the
young man without making any effort
to take It.
The tailor explained that the letter
had evidently slipped down within the
coat lining, where doubtless 1t had re-
posed for many days. The young
mans face grew paler, and with a
sudden snatch he took the letter and
glanced at the address.
"Great smoker' he yelled excite61ly.
mo wonder she never answered my
letter-she never had 1t. Where is the
nearest telephone-the drug store at
the corner? I'll be back in a mo
mentr'
Hatless and coatless the stranger
fed, while Nathan watched anxiously
until his flying steps had taken him
out of the areaway and down the
greasy pavement. Then he returned
to his seat on the table and his I'm
terrupted sewing.
ale fSs NIT all kinds of trouble" he
murmured sadly as he mended the
torn pocket First it's girls und It
iss a letter, und he speaks NIT strange
ness about all things. couldn't ask
a dollar for SO little job" He sigh
ed and got down to press the garment
carefully.
Presently the young man dashed |
back again, his face radiant, his eyes |
shining with happiness.
"Hurrah, Nathan! You're my mas
cot all right! shall never lose you |
again. III bring all my buds for you
to mend and keep in order, and I'll |
send all my friends. Say, she never
got the letter at all. OF course she |
couldn't, you know. 1t was In my
coat pocket, and If you hadn't spoken
to me at the bridge and offered me
money and sympathy and If I hadn't
followed you here the Lord only
knows how long Mabel and I would
have been separated or whether we
would ever have come together again.
Coat ready? There, IN put it on.
Now. here's nay address, and this is
for you Don't mention 1t. Yes,
called her up, and she's as sorry as
can be, and Pm going to get up there
as soon as I can"
He slipped into his coat, crammed
on his hat and thrust q bill into Ma
than's grimy hand
"She ISIS speaking once more?' ask
ed the little tailor after a dizzy glance
at the bill in his hand.
well, ratherr' The young man
flung his arms around the astonished
Nathan's neck and waltzed him
around the shop. Then he dashed out
Of the door and disappeared into the
night.
you're gettin' rich" remarked the
keeper Of the delicatessen shop when
he changed a ten dollar bill for Ma
than Kasky.
81 mendit coat for a crazy man,
explained Nathan. with solemn Joy.