Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-22

Human beings. she said. ma! De +
divided into two groups-interesting
and uninteresting. but idiots abound in .
both classes"
Cecilia and ] discussed this with
more or less gravity, until we had ex-
hausted the possibilities. Miss Octavia /
following with apparent interest and
setting US of at a new tangent when
our enthusiasm Jagged. She referred
In no way whatever to her chimneys.
nor did she ask me how had spent the
day. felt the pleading Of Cecilia's
eyes that | should accept the situation
as it stood. and having already agreed
TO Virgins suggestion that l abide In
Miss HOLSTERS house as spy-for
this was the ignoble fact-I felt the
threads of conspiracy binding me fast
So far as my hostess was concerned.
| was now less a guest than a member
OF the household.
The variety OF subjects that Miss
Octavia suggested was amazing. From
aeronautics TO the negro question,
from polar exploration to the political
conditions in Bulgaria she passed with
~ with a considerable fund Of infor-
nation to support her positions. She
knew many people IN all walks OF life.
AS we rose from the table Miss Oc-
tavia declared that she must show me
the pie pantry. / was now so accus-
toned TO her ways that ] should not
have been in the least surprised IL
she had proposed opening a steel vault
, nlled with a mummifed Egyptian dy-
nasty.
The gentleman who built this
house." she explained. had already
| grown rich in the manufacture of the
| famous rtbless umbrella before he &C
| quired a second fortune from a nos
| trum warranted to cure dyspepsia. he
was Unfortunately fond of pies. and in
order that this form OF pastry might
| never be absent from his home. he had
/ a special pantry built TO which he
might adjourn at his pleasure without
any fear Of finding the cupboard bare"
She led the way through the buffers
1 pantry and into n small cupboarded
room adjoining the table linen closet
At her command the butler threw open
the doors and disclosed lines Of shelves
so arranged as to accommodate In the
most compact and orderly form imag-
Unable several dozens OF pies. These
pastries. in the pans as they had come
from the oven peeped out invitingly.
Miss Octavia explained their presence
! in her usual impressive manner.
1T was one Of the conditions of the
sale OF this house 10 me by the origi-
! nal owners executors that the pie
vault should be kept filed at all times.
whether ! am in residence here or not.
He felt greatly indebted TO pie for the
success OF the dyspepsia cure. 1t had
widened and steadily increased the
market for the cure. and pie was to
him q conSecratPd and sacred food. II
was his habit to eat pie every night
before retiring. and on the Nightmares
thus inspired he had planned the STRAIT
egy Of all his campaigns against dys-
pepsia The man had elements OF
greatness. and these shelves are a
monument TO his genius. In order 10
keep perfect my title to this property
II is necessary for me TO maintain a
pastry cook. and as ! do not myself
care greatly for pie the total output
is distributed among the people OF the
nrighborhoOd every second day. The
station agent at bedford is n heavy
consumer. and retired physician al
Mount KiSco has a standing order for
a dozen week. My niece HeZekiah
OF whom you have heard me speak. is
partial To a particular type Of pie. and
one only 1t is the GooSeberry that de
lights Hezekiahs palate. and under q
in file 3. in the corner behind you
there is even now n GoOSeberry pie
that shall send 10 HeZekiah. who. FOL
reasons | need not explain. does uo
now visit aere."
But the dyspepsia man-you speas
OF him as though he were dead.
Your assumption is correct. Mr.
Ames. The builder of Hopeticld dieC
only few weeks after he had estab
lished himself in this house. Having
entered upon the enjoyment of hi
we'll earned leisure and made it un
necessary that he should ever go pie
less to bed. be gave himself up for {
. W bldNl A4hhiS-CANt IA GAS
ringues and died after great suffering
steadily refusing his own medicine Il
the end"
We still fingered in the pie cryp
after this diverting recital. while Mis-
Octavia entertained me with her views
on pies.
THE soul color OF pies varies great
ly. Nr. Ames. II has always seemed
TO me that apple pie stands for thu
homelier virtues OF our civiliZa ton. 1
is substantial nutritious and filing
The custard aud lemon varieties ar
feminine and do not. perhaps for tina
reason. appeal to me. Cherry pie a
Its best Is the last and final expression
Of the pie genus. and where cook
have been careful in eliminating tn,
seeds and the Juice hasn't made sod
den dough Of the crust cherry pit
meets the souls highest demands. II
the gooseberry l find a certain raci
ness or. II may use the expression
ZIP. Chat is highly stimulating. Boil
qualities you will observe in Hezekiat
II you come TO know her we'll"
81 have already formed a high opin
Ion Of Miss HeZekiah. and | should
deal harshly with any one who ven