Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-31

which Margie had lived. The only
light was one downstairs in the rear.
Jack went back where he saw the
light and looked In through window.
The sight Le saw excited an appetite
already keen. He was looking into
kitchen. and viands were cooking on
stove There was no sound except the
sizzling of the cooking viands Jack
put his hand 10 the sash and found be
could easily raise Il. He did so. and
the odor Of the cooking. mingled with
the sound OF the sizzling. was delicious
TO hungry man. Together they took
away every vestage of conscience. He
climbed into the window, determined
to partake Of the refreshment before
him.
The first thing he did was 10 throw
open the oven door, and there was
turkey just turning delicious brown.
Jack had served a term in the galley
aboard ship. and he instinctively basted
the sizzling bird. Then he uncovered
dish on the rear of the stove and
from the delicious odor il emitted judy
ed that 1t was mince pie being warm
ed. Other dishes were in process of
preparation, but Jack was so entranced
with the turkey and the pie that he
took little notice of them.
1t was hard for him to wait til tie
turkey was thoroughly cooked. but he
held on to himself and waited. Final
ly he could refrain no longer. and,
''dishing up" he placed the various
viands on the table and sat down TO
eat.
Jack remembered that his mothe;
used to ask a blessing before each
meal He could not repeat blessing
/ to save his life. but he was so thank
! full for the delicious dinner provided
| for him by Providence that he shut his
eyes, bent his head and expressed his
| thanks in his own peculiar way. Then.
| Strengthening up and opening his
"binkers." he sat for a few moments
rigid. A young woman stood looking
at him from the other end Of the room.
On her face was an expression OF con-
sternation at seeing a man sitting at
her table about TO eat her Thanksgiy-
ing dinner.
''Ship ahoy!' said Jack by way OF
speaking to this person. who had SC
suddenly appeared on the scene,
"Well. I declarew was the reply
Would you mind tellin' me what
port you hail from?"
Would you mind telling me what
you mean by making yourself at home
in my house and eating my dinner?"
as this your dinner?"
my dinner! Goodness gracious,
what impudence"
Had Jack not been in his sailor toys
doubtless the girl would have been
frightened out of her senses. As 1t
was. she was simply astonished. Be
sides, Jack was a good looking chap.
with an honest eye in his head. and
when, realizing the situation, a smile
broke out on his comely young face
the owner OF the dinner could not help
responding in kind. Jack rose and In
a few words told her how he had just
reached port and had been given leave
TO go home for Thanksgiving: that he
had no home and had been looking
for a little girl he used to play with
called Margie wnen hungry as a bear
he had stumbled on a dinner. Then he
begged her pardon for proposing to eat
what belonged to her and added that
he would go on quarter OF mile
farther to where Margie used to live
when he was a boy.
why, my name is Margie," said the
girl I'm Margaret Wharton"
"You can't be my Margie! She was
little bit OF a Anyway. 1t was far
81 he 10 hnr
than this house Is"
Are you Jack HunterT
"Of course am. How did you STUN
BILE on thatT"
WHY, JackP'
whats the matter? Is this story
in a book, or am ! Jack Hunter, abe
seaman on the
You're Jack, and I'm Marge. and
you've just come in time to eat n
Thanksgiving dinner with me. Sit
down.
They talked so fast. each constantly
breaking In on what the other was say
ing without stopping from doing JUS
tice TO the dinner, that IL would be i'm
/, possible to lay down just what they
! said. but Margie got in information that
her parents were dead, her only broth
err was somewhere else and she was
teaching school In a neighboring city.
She had come to the old homestead 10
spend Thanksgiving by herself and
while waiting for the dinner to be
cooked had gone 10 a neighbours to Dor
row some articles which she had for.
gotten to provide.
Well. to make long story short
. these two, each being quite alone IN
the world. decided, as Jack expressed
= II. to convoy encL other Jack eonclud
! ed not to go back TO sea, accepting a
position with a boat builder. In time
8argie gave up her school, and tbs
couple are now quite contented with
4 their lot and under MargIe's able man
!, agement OF their finances slowly accu
!, fnulating funds as well as family.