Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-06


and came toward Dick as he closed the
door.
Dick Lewis was tongue tied. He had
seen many women in his life, but never
one Just like this. She was tall and
slender, with sweet, oval face lighted
by soft brown eyes. Her golden brown
hair was braided into coronet above
her white forehead. The dark eye
brows went up ever so slightly as she
waited for her visitor to speak.
Suddenly 1t dawned upon Dick that
this could not be the poor widow of
whom he was In search. This young
girl could not be the mother Of four
children, although her gravity and the
mourning gown she wore lent her an
air of maturity.
"You came in answer to my adver-
tisement?" she questioned at last.
YES" stammered Dick, wiping the
perspiration from his brow.
Then you must be Mr.. Lewis, for
only had one answer yesterday. and
that was yours" she went on, motion
ing him to a chair and resuming her
seat by the window.
81 was hoping 1 might be Of some
service to you." began Dick awkward
". "You see, I've got more money than
I know what to do with, and I came
east to spend some Of 1t, but it's mighty
lonesome spending money all alone,
and it's a COMPOUNDED idiotic thing to
do when there is so much need for 1t
in the world. suppose I sound kind
of goody -goody. but I'm not
/ The girl in black stiffened and all the
pretty color faded from her cheeks.
Her brown eyes lost their gentle ex-
preston and became sharp and ques-
tioning. She arose with single grace
full movement and looked down upon
him in the brief moment before he re-
membered to get upon his feet
'T scarcely understand Just what
your business is with me, sir, but it Is
evident that you do not wish any type
writing done" she said haughtily.
"Typewriting he echoed blankly.
al came to see If 1 couldn't help you
keep those four kids out Of the orphan
asylum and
-Four kids-er-four childreni What
do you meanr demanded F. Selden, be-
wilderment mingled with her hauteur.
II am referring to your advertise
ment in yesterdays Trumpet" Dick
was on his feet now and looking down
at her disturbed face.
81 don't know what you mean.
didn't advertise for an orphan asylum Is
she said confusedly.
mo, no; of course not. Only, you
see, l got your answer to my inquiry.
and supposed you were the party
poor widow wanting help to keep four
children out of the orphan asylum" ex
planned Dick.
F, Selden shook her head and a faint
smile curved her pink lips A slender
hand went up to smooth the golden
brown braid, and Dicks heart leaped
strangely to notice that there was nc
wedding ring upon the third finger OF
that left hand-indeed the finger was
quite bare of rings.
81 am Miss Selden, and do typewrit
ing here. Business was so dull that
placed an advertisement in yesterdays
Trumpet. / noticed the other adver
must have addressed your envelope to
me instead of your widow"
II must have done that" admitted
Dick with some chagrin as Miss Sci
den produced a copy of the Trumpet
and showed him his error. $50 that
widow didn't get my letter after all
l shall have to write her another one.
Perhaps-perhaps you'd write it on the
machine for me-"
Before he wrote the letter he told
her all about himself and his trip to
New York and how glad he was to
find useful way to spend some Of bis
money. She listened with sympathy
and after the letter was written and
properly addressed Dick found courage
to voice a great desire.
Miss Selden, wonder IL you'd lei
me come up tomorrow or next day and
report on the case of the widowr'
81 shall be interested to hear the out
come" said Miss Selden politely.
Dick Lewis found the Widow
Schmidt as poor as her advertisement
limited at. II gave him pleasure tC
= set her up in business in a small no
ton store in the suburbs.
Dicks greatest delight was In telling
, all this to Freda Selden, who listened
with genuine interest. He called on hel
once more and gave her a bulky pack
age Of papers to be copied, and that
time he was introduced to her widow
ed mother, who happened to be in tht
Office at the moment.
Lewis didn't see as much Of New
York as he had intended. his time be
ing taken up with hunting manuscripts
for Miss Selden to copy. He wrote Il
all his friends to send him manuscripts
to be typewriter. he to psy all costs
He discovered that every friend he had
in the world had at some time beer
> innoculated with the literary fever
/ When Dick Lewis went back to GolC
Greek to build his handsome home OF
: the hilltop he carried with him
: bride and a mother-in-law as well Al
5 the blessings of the entire schmid
: family.