Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-07
t he Daily
Short Story
A LOAN OF A LOAN.
RV Eihel Eoleuas

IIer taste for literature took in almost
every branch, but fiction was her "a
yorite She read Sterne. Fielding
| Smfllet and other authors who were
the first English novel writer's, as wei
as the best fiction OF the 18th century.
OF course she was dependent on the
town library for boys, since no prI.
vate library could supply her re.
quirements for week. She was chum
my with the librarian. 8h0 favored
her, notifying her of the return to the
library of any book she wanted thai
had been taken out.
Miss Winters was not wealthy ans
since she expected to spend her lid
reading desired a husband who has
sufficient means to enable her to spend
her time in that way, She had decided
on tue man she wanted. He was Boz
Shackelford with an income Of s20G0i
dollars MIR Shackellord had jus
been graduated from college
Bob was fond OF Miss Winters. bu
not fond enough to bring matters to
head and ask her to be his wife. Vheu
he wanted some one to spend an even
ling with Or go for ride with him ir
his auto he had only to Selephone lie.
lena Winters and a companion was pro.
vded But the matter of giving up his
independence by marrying her never
entered his head.
1t had entered Leona's head ant
found Judgement there. But how &c
turn Bob into lover was problem
she was unable to solve,
One afternoon Bob had called tc
take Miss Winters 10 ride and was
waiting in the drawing room for her
There was a telephone in the hall He
heard Leona's voice say.
Yes, I'm Leona Winters"
Bob's ears were very sharp; he
John Bunyan, and later, Is here
waiting for you
Fifty years ago John Bunyan's "pil-
grim's Progress" was read by millions
today it is scarcely read at all Shack
elford had never heard Of the book or
its characters. Even Apoiyon was not
i4nown TO him by that name. though
with Satan or The devil ne was quite
famiIiaE The next thing he heard Of
: this telephone dialougue was Miss
Winters saying;
II Z can't come today; I'm just going
: out TO ride"
I, Don't let your engagement with me
e interfere with your meeting the gentle
4, man.. cried Bob. "I'll excuse you"
a MICS Winters was standing with the
S receiver at her ear For a few mo-
ments she did not understand what
Bob meant To gain time she said:
a WYATT a moment" through the phone,
N and asked him TO repeat.
RI Gould you make our auto spin Just
t, as well tomorrow" she asked Bob
ati oh, yes, certainly; any time you
Re like
L Through the phone Leona said: "Ill
be with you in a few minutes" Then
she entered the room where Mr.. Shack
n elford sat scowling, said he was
V "awfully' good to excuse her for the
ii day and she would gladly ride with
: him tomorrow. But Bob went back on
70 what he had said, and told her that
.s he had engagements for every day dur
l. ing the rest OF the week. Then he left
n the house giving the door a hang.
D Miss Winters sank back in chair
laughing, then began to think how she
:, should follow UP the advantage she
=. had gained. She had thought OF Dor
:, rowing a lover from the young men OF
y the town, but none Of them would
-. serve. The idea Of going back TO a
+. man who had been dead a couple OF
:, hundred years had never occurred to
- her After much thought she decided
Il to be governed for the future by cir
he cumstances.
~ She heard nothing from Bob for a
= week; then she wrote him to know
- when they were TO have their ride Boz
gave her curt reply suggesting thai
if MIR Bunyan had no car, he-Bob-
., would be happy to lend him one.
- Leona. after consideration, wrote Z
~ severe reply stating that she would no
-, permit him 10 dictate as to who Should
~ he her associates. It was none Of hi
% concern if she took up with Lawrenc'
- Sterne, or John Inglesant OF any othe
~ of her friends. though she confesse'
- that John Bunyan was superior 10 an,
of them.
Bob never having heard Of thes
To-. gentlemen made inquiries. Then b.
"a heard that John Bunyan had writtei
- the greatest OF all aliegories, Law
- renee was celebrated author Of IN
~ 18th century. and John Ingleson wa
Ia ,; the name Oh a EDL6I8 uuft--
H. Leona did not suppose that 30
~ would remain long in ignorance OF tn
~ fact that he had made guy OF him
~ self. and she was not mistaken. On
~ afternoon she saw him drive UP 10 he
'na door in his car. alight and pull lusiii
a a at the doo-bell When she went down
.iS stairs TO receive him she stopped
bjs the telephone and asked for the L
tba brary.
emf Has Peter Simple come in yet.
she asked
The reply was inaudible TO Bob, an
Yah there was more, too, that he could n
/ hear
ay Well" said Leona. when Pet'
on Simple comes in you need not keep
H. for me. I've had enough of his kind
When Leona went into the DRAWN
room she found Bob as red as turkt
.ott cock and shame-faced grin on hiI
in She smiled her prettiest, offered NJ
, . her hand and the trick was done.
tha Bob since his marriage has becon
Ma a great reader. He no longer boas
mt of his contempt for learning.
re- szszsaazzasaar''zsaHssa
his whose name the police did not ieai
was In the house with Mrs. Woo
ward when the police entered. II
lar women were drinking beer The p
ons lice made a. thorough search OF u