Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-29
The Daily Story
TWO OF A kindly CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyrighted 1918. by Associatel Literary Bureau

MN eat ana run III THIS way Is Jes'
scandaIous!"
Il don't blnme you. Maria," said the
captain meekly
Maria rocked herself to and fro. fan
ming herself with a corner of her SinS
ham apron.
I'm going down to the postotice e
inquire If nnybody's seen him. II Ma
ria Pitt once ciapped an eye on hin
she would never forget him. Away,
reminds me of a camera. that woman
does" growled the captain. shruggins
himself into his blue coat and dragging
his cap over his white hair.
When his stalwart form had disap
peared over the bridge by the fioui
mill leaned back in my chair ano
ooked up into the leafy greenness oi
he big paper mulberry tree.
! remained in this attitude. gazing
Upward, open mouthed and staring.
Miss Telham, Land sakes. What's
the matter?" gasped Maria suddenly.
Look" l murmured. pointing MP
ward where the pale face of AnaGias
Slime peered down at us from the higt
branches of the mulberry tree.
Land shrillcd Maria And she
too. gaped at the strange sight.
Nothing was visible save Anapias
mean little face. and that was pale
and drawn with fright. There wa.
something elusive about the face ug
there. 1t reminded me of the Cheshire
cat in alice In Wonderland" and ]
wondered II Ananias' face would fad,
away as did the cats. leaving only
smile behind.
1t looked possible. for Mr.. Sline'i
mustache was twitching in an attempt
at smile, but every now and then hi.
prominent blue eyes rolled downward
to the lower branches OF the tree as Il
there was something to be feared be
meath him.
Presently I followed his glance and
saw. and Maria saw at the same time
and we were speechless before the
Queerness of 1t all. In a lower crotch
of the tree. her back supported by the
smooth trunk. her feet incased In bal
briggan stockings and congress gal
tiers. was the Widow Rowell. Ananias
prospective landlady. Her hawklikt
nose and her sharp chin almost met In
witchlike ferceness as she knitted
busily away at a. long. red wooler
stocking
Maria. was the first to recover her
self
"Hettie Rowell. whatever do you
mean by such actions?" she shrieked
going to the edge of the piazza, where
her head was on a level with that OF
| Mrs. Rowell.
Mrs. Rowell smiled sweetly down
upon Mrs. Fish. and her almost vertical
eyebrows went up to meet her gray
| hair.
Dear Maria" she lisped pleasantly
I'm just waiting for my boarder, Ana
MAS. He thought he'd like to get s
view of the harbor from the top OF
the tree"
"Pshaw. Ananias! What does thi,
f, mean?" shouted Maria up into the
treetop What air you doing with
your carpetbag up there and the wild
ow sitting here in the tree like IA
catbird"-
Like a cooling dove. Maria Fish," in
terrupted the widow with dangerous
smile
Like a cooling dove knitting a RED
wool stocking" amended Maria grim
ly. 81 ask what is she doing here. Ana
niasT
Waiting for me. Mrs. Fish," sale
Ananias quite meekIy. she came aft
er me, she did, saying she'd been wait
ing dinner for me two hours. and wheI
told her I'd been invited to spend tn,
night here and couldn't come to he
house till tomorrow. why, she up ant
few at me sos-well. I'm seafarini
faint no hard Job for me to get VI
into the rigging when things are ho
below" Now Ananias actually smiled
We'll. Hettic. what you got to say
Air you crazy?" demanded Maria al
grily.
1.-THE captain engaged board for M
Slime from me, Maria. and. faint n
him away from my house. a.temptin
him with all sorts of cookery" sh
said In her dulcet tones. Hes m
boarder. and he's going home with N
# have TO stand here all night an
wait for him."
Maria was pale with anger. TAX
your boarder and CO." she said coldl.
And ] wish you joy of each other
And she went into the house.
Half an hour later I saw Anan!a
Slime come down the mulberry TIRE
with his shiny black bag. He cast
reproachful glance at me as he passe,
but be followed closely in the was
of Mrs. Hettie Rowell
When we related the incident
tired Captain Barnabas he shook h
head dismaIly.
II foresee the end already" he mn
INJURED "Ananias has met his mate
Ia the Widow Rowell. She's buris
two husbands and calculates TO plaI
a third before she dies. III warra-
Ananias Will he the third"
Until that happy release I'm sure
wish them Joy OF each other" sniff,
Maria meaningly. They're two Ut
Kind"