Rock Island Argus., 1913-09-10


At the end of another fifteen minutes
Nell went out and looked up and down
the road. but there was no sign of mo-
torcar or the expected party.
I'm hungry as a bear" sighed Nell
at last It's after l o'clock. and I've
simply got to eat!'
Back In the kitchen she found the
strange young man filing the doorway
into the hall.
Excuse my sudden appearance" he
said diffidently, but I've been in the p
woods all morning. and I'm about
starved. Can't we have something to
eat without waiting for Mrs. Beekman
and the rest of 'em?"
"Why. of course" said Nell slowly.
and with a charming smile she admit
ted: I'm hungry as a bear myself.
That's very small steak for nine peo-
pie, isn't it," she asked anxiously.
II could eat every scrap myself" he
announced as he neatly slipped the
steak TO 4 hot platter and carried it
| into the dining room.
'I forgot to introduce myself" he
said pleasantly. 81 am Debridge Ellis"
And | am Eleanor Gaines said
| Nell, acknowledging his introduction
| with simple courtesy. "Will you have
/ a cupful of coffee now. Mr.. Ellis?"
! III you please" he said, passing her
J plate containing the choicest portion
/ of the steak.
! This is great" he said as he attack
1 ed the mealy baked potatoes. II tell
| you keeping bachelors hall isn't all it's
cracked up to be. Why, I've eaten SO
many sardineS that the junkman has
to call once a week for the empty
! tins. That's almost fact"
Then you live around here. too?"
asked Nell. with interest.
why. yes" he answered. with a
/ puzzled glance ut her. After that he
was silent for n long time. but they
! fell to chatting on Indifferent subjects,
and by the time they had discussed the
sliced peaches and the thick. yellow
cream the time had passed so swiftly
that Mr. Ellis announced reluctantly
that it was 3 o'clock.
"Oh, dear! | am afraid something
has happened" cried Nell auxiously as
they arose from the table.
Pardon my asking the question.
Miss Gaines, but will you please tell
me who is Mrs. Beekman?"
Nell stared. who IS Mrs. Beck
man?" she repeated. why. don't you
know:"
He shook his head. smiling in the
particularly winning way that was
very attractive to Nell Gaines. II new
er heard of her before, and am Won
dering why she has honored me by
holding sort of Glorified picnic here
in my bachelor quarters"
In your bachelor quarters" echoed
Nell blankly. why. Mr.. Ellis, surely
you are mistaken. This is Mrs. Beck
mans place, isn't it-Happy Day Cot
tage? Why, I read the sign over the
porch"
ITO be sure you did," he exclaimed
I after a moment. Il see 1t all now. 1t
was n very natural mistake TO make.
Miss Gaines. 9nd I'm in a perfectly
glorious dinner. but I'm afraid you
have missed a delightful time with
your friends. Please come around TO
the front porch with NE"
A very bewidered Nell followed him
around, and together they gazed at the
| lltllc W illle lulhltl Sl5u ONtl
the porch.
Happy Day Cottage" it read sure
enough.
You see, Miss Gaines, the village
boys run down here out OF season and
amuse themselves by transferring the
signs from one cottage To another.
much to the Indignation and confusion
OF the owners. This Happy Day sign
has been on my cottage for a week
and let it stay. This is really Pine
, Cottage, and / saw that sign down
. on the big red cottage at the end OF
, the row. Very likely your friends are
down there feastins and wondering
: where you are. Shall we go down
there now and eXplain?"
"Oh. let me think for a momentr'
cried Nell.
: The result OF her cogitations. togeth-
er with the sage advice of her host.
was that she alone should drive up To
! the real Happy Day Cottage and say
nothing OF her odd adventure.
, You must let me clear away this
wreckage," insisted Ellis as he helped
Nell into her cloak II don't mind In
the least. and | shall never forget ms
! surprise at finding you here and the
I pleasant hours we have spent. Indeed
, this shall always be TO me Happy Day
, Cottage. for it marks very happy
. day"
5 So Nell allowed him to put her inta
the runabOut and gave him permission
T.. 10 call upon her some day. and she
rolled slowly up to the real Happy Day
! Cottage, where the astounded motorists
T brought her remains OF their cold din
ner and maryeled at her lack OF ap
petite.
T And the ne=t year, after Nell had
married Delbridge Ellis, they spent the
j summer at Silver Lake. and Ellis nj
ways called the place "HoneymOer
y Cottage" though the name over tn,
door plainly said Pine Cottage"
& Sept. 10 in American