Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-10
T h e d ally
Short Story
EATS THANKSGIVING DINNER IL
HIS SHIRTSBEEVES.
By Ruth Graham.

Thanksgiving day with dependency
instead Of anticipation of pleasure.
Her motherswas i'll and kept to her
room. she had no brothers or sisters.
therefore she would be alone at the
table for the Thanksgiving dinner.
There seemed nothing further to DO
but to ignore the day entirely.
There was no reason why she
should not permit the servants to en-
JOY themselves on Thanksgiving dav
so she told them that they might 90
where they pleased after the morning
work was finished: and they availea
/ themselves of the permission.
The Wentworths usually remained
very late in the autumn In their coun-
try cottage. at q seaside settlement.
and this year were TO remain till
Christmas time. Their cottage was
country house as comfortable In win
ter as in summer They called it
THE Good Cheer" and it was cheer
full even in winter. Gertrude be-
thought herself of inviting a friend.
Miss Burns, TO come out from the city
and spend the day with her.
Thanksgiving morning came. and
brought a letter from Miss Burns de-
clining the invitation since she could
not be spared at home. 1t also brought
the first snow storm Of the season and
bowling wind
But had Miss Burns accepted the in
yitation she would not have been able
to make her way 70 The Good Cheer
for the storm increased in violence and
whirled the snow with impossible
Jrsf+ DIR ATTY ctr
Iiving-Toom window looking at the
blizzard without Within there was a
cheerful blaze of logs in the fireplace,
but no cheer. since Gertrude was
alone.
The house stood back from the road
about fifty yards, and presently Ger
trude saw an auto car struggling past
the house. Il stalled and the drives
looked about him for shelter. Noticing
the name, THE Good Cheer" above
the front door of the house. he natur-
ally supposed it TO be a hotel. Turning
= his car aside onto space bare Of
+ snow he alighted and fought his way
j through drifts to the house. Gertrude
d was watching him and answered his
n summons at the door
Il big blizzard" he said cheerily. 81
= think I'll stop with you till there's
(. better going
Q Gertrude saw by his words that he
+ supposed the place to be hotel, and
: bid him enter Shaking the snow off
r him he did so and she pointed the
way into the living room.
What lucki" he exclaimed. throw
= ing off his overcoat and hat and hand
v ing them to Gertrude, TO put in the
v halFcIoset.
i Would you like dinner, sir?" she
Is asked, respectfully, as maid TO a
Y guest Of the house
K Dinner? / should smile And I'll
e pay extra If you'll serve it right here
l. in this room. before this splendid fire
d. What time do you dine?"
d ANY time you like. This is Thanks
le giving day, and all our guests are din
IT ing out. The servants have been given
sr the day of. can get you up dinner,
T sir, and serve it right here in this
De room. But need to have notice"
''NoticeI Just you consider yourself
notified to serve dinner for one, the
ie best You have in the house Expense
4 not to be considered, as soon as con-
$ venient for you"
as Taking out dollar bill he slipped
N it into Gerrtude's hand, saying that
ne there would be another tip at the end
o. OF the banquet" Gertrude took the
Sc money, promising to do her best, and
n disappeared leaving the young man
>, stretched out in an easy chair before
ay the fire, putting Justify at a long cigar.
nd Abou+an hour afterward, this young
if gentleman, who was known at his club
as Dick Summertime, from his CHEEKY
disposition, his real name being Rich
n ard Sammerwan, having sank into a
ed pleasant daze. was aroused by cries
as Of Help! Come, Quick
h Dashing into the kitchen, whence
OF the cries enumerated, he found Ger
he trude yainly endeavoring to quench q
de- pan of blazing fat. She was blowing
ID It which only made 1t burn more
he fercely. Mr. Summerwall looked abou
an him for something with which u
of quench the ire and seeing nothing
Of serFiceable took off his coat auJ
NJ. snlothered the fame.
Heavens cried Gertrude You "
re- spoiled a silk-lined coat
he Mr. SummerwaIl looked from Ger
1rt trude to the contents of the kitchen
IT. which were III frjghtful disorder, thel
back at Gertrude.
ms. You're nc cook" he said
IN, Gertrude. who didn't even know h0v
to fry bacon, was badly ratified, broke
down and confessed that she was
IL lady. that they were in a private house
Of and the rest Of the situation. Mr. Sum
an, merwaH thereupon turned in his shir
Ter sleeves and acted as chef, assisted b
ith the young lady. The two manage
ID to get up pretty good dinner and at
tu- ii together before the fire in the liz
ing room, though 3ir Summerwall wa
obliged TO eat without a coat.
ate And so il was that Gertrude Wen;
'ct. worth spent her happiest Thanksgy
zen ing in her life. meeting her fate: 70
'rf, Mr.. SummerwalI after leaving, show
ac- cred attentions upon her and at la:
led prevailed upon her TO eat all futuT
Tor Thanksgiving dinners in his compau.
or which in commemoration Of meetin
his wife, he invariably did in his shir
ee- sleeves.
ar