Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1917-10-10
HUNTING FOR PEGGY
BY OLIVER GRAY.


John Salisbury Oliver put down the
evening paper folded to the closing
stock quotations and took out his
watch. He had dinner engagement
and it was time to dress. Ordinarily
he would have been bored, for the fine
edge Of his spirit had been wearing
dull of late at all affairs of the sort.
He had wearied Of cajoling and flat
terry. artful mothers and fond daugh-
tiers, for, having made up his mind at
twenty that he was going to be rich
and deciding never to marry until he
was, he had spent almost half Of his
life in peaceful solitude. And having |
made good his decision Of getting rich |
to the amount of seven figures one can
easily understand his popularity now.
This particular evening, however,
was different. He was playing new
game, and the game was this: He had |
decided to marry at last. 1t seemed |
that the office was running without
him these days. And so in his lone
liness it occurred to him to travel. And |
the thought of travel suggested COM
panion, and companionship suggested
marriage, and marriage, Of course, de-
manded woman. That was the new
game-to find the person he would
choose for his wife.
1t all sounds much more simple
than it was, for John had an ideal. Not
an airy-fairy, fade-as-you-touch ideal,
! but a real one. He wanted someone as
nearly as possible like Peggy Mcclure,
the merry, teasing little companion of
! his boyhood. -
He rang for Clemens to come and |
lay out his things, equalize the shower
! to 70 and arrange articles for shaving. |
The real ceremony of barbering and
dressing he attended to himself.
Clemens came in. '1'm just wonder
ing, SIR" he said, appearing with a box
under his arm, IF there hasn't been
mistake, sir. These things came from
the tailor's an hour ago and there's
nothing but those two overcoats you
discarded while ago."
"The dickens!"
THAT'S what think, sir. remem-
Der you laid out three Of your best
suits to be pressed. I put them in
box and told Della to give them to the
tailor's boy. This Is what came back,
sir" ....
''Two overcOats, you say. Why,
know now! I promised Mrs. Wilson
to send some warm things to the dis
pensary, and on your day off I gave
them to the boy who would call. Evil
IDENTIFY they have got mixed. My three
new perfectly good spring suits are
probably making some poor fellow mis-
cradle in the fresh-air camp, while my
tailor is evidently in despair at having
customer who wears overcOats |
year out Of date. What shall do,
Clemens?'
Cant you call the lady, sir?"
"Yes, I can do that. But think I'll
go instead. They're open all evening, |
aren't they?"
II should say all the time, sir, for
work like that"
$50 should I, Clemens. It's funny,
isn't it, that the suits I ordered for
travelling should go travelling without
me. wonder where they are. I'd
like to find them, it's such a nuisance
to be fitted for Others"
The lights Of the dispensary were
still showing brightly as his limousine
drew up to the curb. Inside in the
waiting room a woman was taking
down names and addresses of people
| on cards. It was to her that John |
Isade his appeal.
eff you wait I'll get the nurse who
takes charge. She's likely to know
about your box" And going into an
other room she returned with a per- |
son whose features were completely |
hidden by an antiseptic ms k, white
like her cap, apron and the rest Of her
immaculate uniform. D.,
II remember the Clothes" she said
instantly. II was sure Of a mistake,
they appeared to be so new. They
haven't been sent out yet. They are
up in the supply room. But if you
have the overcoats with you, know
where one is needed right away.
cannot tell you the number, but can
take you there if you have time to
wait. I'm off duty in ten minutes. The
man goes away early in the morning"
So Sohn sat down and waited and
then went out to ask the chauffeur
something about the new car. Then
the nurse came out dressed for the
street and John held the door open for
her to get in.
'Tt's West Fortieth street, near
Tenth avenue" she said, settling back
into the seat. .s...-.
And John, repeating the address,
got In also and shut the door. Then
suddenly the street light caught the
CLINT Of strand Of hair, silver white,
waving softly over the little nurses
ear, and John, STOPPING, looked for the
the first time fully into her face.
peggy" he cried. II might know
I'd find you on an errand Of mercy.
Thank heaven, I've found you! can
not believe you're real!'
you've taken q long time hunting,
john" softly.
peggy, dear, I love you. Well