Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-18
The Argus Daily Story
Miss Randalrs Customer-By Clarissa Maclde
copyrighted 1912. by Associated Literary Bureau

house.
LET him eat bakers trash" was
Hester'S ultimatum.
A few days later she was talking TO
AIRS. Blake.
THAT Mr.. Chandler is an old man,
isn't her. asked Hester.
ooh. no; not so very old-leastways
he don't appear so to me, Hester. His
hair is gray as can be, but he is so
pleasant and boyish acting seems as IL
he was as young as my Jimmy. He
sets lot of store by your cooking.
You've never met him yet, have your
Not exactly" admitted Hester. I've
heard his voice, though. and don't see
how anybody can think that's pleas
ant"
Now, isn't that the funniest thingI
Everybody thinks his voice Is the incest
thing there is about him"
81 DON'T" said Hester, with decision.
When the following Friday came
Hester passed the cottage OF Mr..
Chandler with a scornful lift of her
head. Not for the testy mapmaker
were the toothsome dainties she had
toiled over all day long. What II he
did ike pie? She wouldn't make pies
for any man who spoke to her in such
a manner.
As she prepared for bed that night
Hester's anger abated little as she
thought of the bread1ess, cakeless, pie
less state of Mr.. Chandler. Somehow
she could not reconcile Mrs. Blakes
description of him or the boyishly en-
thusiastic note he had written with the
surly voice which had twice accosted
her from hts window.
Saturday was Hester's lazy day. She
rested from her hard work of the day
before and usually occupied herself
with some light needlework or she read
little. On this particular Saturday
she was sitting on the front porch. her
never idle fingers engaged with a bit
Of fancy work, when the gate opened
and a brisk step sounded on the path.
An instant later a tall form doomed at
the foot Of the steps.
The stranger was q handsome man
the handsomest she had ever seen, Hes
ter admitted to herself as she took in
| with a swift glance the broad shOul-
! ders, the sun tanned countenance light
J
| gray hair which made him appear
young or old, as opinions might differ.
He smiled and lifted a gray cap from
his head.
Miss Randailg' he inquired in the
very incest voice Hester had ever
heard.
YES" replied Hester wonderingly.
| my names Chandler. I'm wonder
ing if you realize, Miss Randall, that
I'm simply starving for lack OF your
sustaining goodiesT'
I'm sorry" faltered Hester, blush
ing
"Why did you forget me? But, there;
1 needn't ask that. OF course I'm
your latest customer. and | suppose
you didn't have anything to spare for
me, ehT'
THAT wasn't the reason" returned
Hester, with sudden spirit. Il had
! plenty of time to bake for you, Mr.
Chandler, but l don't care to keep a
customer who-who talks to me In
such manner"
"How-how-I don't believe I under
stand" stammered Mr.. Chandler in
undoubted bewilderment
Hester explained, painfully embar-
raised at the amusement mingled with
the concern on his face.
It's that rascal, Peter" groaued
Mr.. Chandler. "You see, Miss Randall,
Peter is a parrot that belonged to an
aged cousin of mine, for whom / was
named When Cousin Philip died he
left me the dandiest collection Of In
dian relics, with the strict condition
that I must personally care for Peter
until he sees 1T to shuttle Off. Now,
my cousin Philip was something Of a
hermit, and 1 see by Peters vocabulary
that his master detested visitors. Now,
permit me to bring You the Ill man.
nered Peter in order to verify my state
ments."
Hester assured him that she was al.
ready satisfied. and after she had en-
joyed a good laugh at her own ex-
pense she filed the basket OF the
hungry Chandler and sent him away
rejoicing, but that was not until an
hour had passed, during which time
they became acquainted.
Hester continued to leave her cook
cry on Chambers porch, and once
when she failed to bring 1t he went to
her TO find out what was the matter.
He found that something had gone
wrong with her oven and insisted on
fixing 1t for her. They both knelt down
to see into the CRATE, and their heads
touched Before either Of them knew
what had happened Chandler had kiss
ed her. Hester arose, apparently very
much disgruGtled, but when Chandler
put his arm about her and kissed her
again she didn't look as chagrined as
might have been expected.
1t was year afterwsrd that Mrs
Amos Blake picked the grains Of rice
out of her best hat and tucked 1t away
in its bandbox. al feel that | ought
10 have all the credit for Hester's
marrying Mr.. Chandler because 1 got
him as a customer for her, but they
say the road to a mans heart is by
way Of his stomach. and suppose
Testers cooking counts a good deal
toop
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