Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-06
The Argus Daily Story
An Exchange-By Walter B. Sturgis.
Copyrighted. 1911 by Associated Literary Bureau.

til the days begin to lengthen and the
cold begins to strengthen. One morn
ing about the 1st Of January, when
the thermometer had dropped to zero,
l took out my heaviest outdoor gar
ment and took it to the window to see
If the moths had been using 1t. 1t did
not look familiar to me. get all my
clothes at Darby's, so L looked at once
at the tailor's mark under the collar
and saw the name of London maker.
/ was astonished. The coat was not
mine and never had been mine. The
| most natural and probable explanation
was that the last time l had worn a
heavy coat the season before 1 had
gone into a restaurant or hotel and
hung it up. On going out I had taken
another mans coat, leaving him mine.
Thrusting my hand into the pocket,
1 took out an unsealed envelope with
a photographers printed name and ad-
dress on it. Within was the likeness
of girl, about which was folded bit
of paper on which was written:
My Dear-I send the picture Some say
|
I'm curious to hear what you have to say
about It. Your loving MOLLY.
Monday evening
There was no address on the envel-
| ope, and 1 inferred that either it had
not been sent through the mail or, If 1t
had, it had been inclosed in another
envelope. The only clew I had to the
owner was the name of tailor in Lon
don. being in America and there not
being much likelihood that the maker
could tell for whom the coat had been
built, 1 did not think it worth while to
try to recover my property or return
what 1 had taken.
When 1 first looked at Molly's pho
tograph 1 was not especially attracted
by it. But l am free to confess that
the faces which have most impressed
me have at first made little or no i'm
preston on me. Possibly in this case
1 was later influenced by something
noticed written on the back of the pho
tograph In pencil and which escaped
my observation when first discovered
it. The words were, "a peachv'
However, 1 had changed from in
difference to interest in the face photo
graphed before seeing this encomium,
which 1 inferred had been written by
the recipient. 1t was rather a con-
frmation of my later impression than
creator of II. Being a bachelor and
fancy free, together with a bit of ro-
nance in my nature, confess 1 was
On the lookout for a mate. Indeed
1t is a question with me if both men
and women, unmarried. are not
though unconsciously, always in theiI
hearts expecting the appearance of q
life companion.
At any rate, put Molly's photograph
on my dresser and became very fond
of her. 1t grew upon me that she
was one to trust-one who, in case OF
need, would step to the front, a tower
of strength. One evening when came
to my room Molly had disappeared
from my dresser. l was surprised a
the disappointment I suffered at no
seeing her. / moved the dresser t.
see II the photograph had not fal!eI
and found it on the floor The Incl
dent, though trifing, suggested to mi
that If the photograph had become 81
necessary to my comfort, what would
the original be.
One evening l went to function,
bridge party, if 1 remember correctly
and on leaving stood waiting In thu
hall, hat in hand and overcoat on
for my sister, who was putting on he
wraps above. On changing the uIrec
ton Of my eyes whom should they hi
upon but Molly. She was standing il
a doorway looking at me curiously
but the moment l fixed my gaze upoI
her she turned away and passed on
of sight.
I did not leave the house till haC
learned her address.
Why had she looked at me, whom
she had doubtless not seen before
with more than the interest she would
take in a stranger? 1 was puzzled TO
a reason. 1 was interested in menta
telepathy, believing that there is some
thing in Il, and wondered If the inter
est that had developed in me for he
could have communicated itself to he
through some mental process not ye
laid bare to US.
l had no trouble in making Molly
acquaintance and lost no time in doini
SO. My sister Ruth managed it TO
me, first laying a plan for her owl
acquaintance with Molly, then con
irving a meeting between Molly anc
myself. Molly said she would be pleas
ed to meet Ruth's brother and woult
like to have her own brother NEE
Ruth. OF course 1 cautioned Ruth t
say nothing about the photograph
, which she had seen often on my dress
, err 1 proposed 70 announce my &C
quirement of 1t In my own good time
There was no reason for me to sur
: pose when / was presented to Moll
, that she had any knowledge Of n
whatever except having seen me for
moment in the hall after the bridg
: party. Indeed, she gave no evidenc
Of remembering having seen me theI
was certainly much more please
{ with her than with her photograp
4 and struck with the advantage or dis
advantage a living person has over hi
or her likeness. Character may b
!. stamped on a photographed fare. bu
;. other attributes are lacking. Mol;