Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-21
The Daily
Short Story
NEXT DOOR NEIGHBORS.
BY Alviah Jordan Garth.


Quite some business luck todavr
reported John Hardy, real estate
agent, to his wife.
How is that, dear?'
Il rented both OF the Albemar,o
bungalows. Just think Of it! yac.n,
for a year and both leased on the s.u.
day"
who are the new tenants."
Mrs. Lucia Morris, young widow
and Professor Albion White"
why, how romantic."
Not on the professors part. h l.
young man, but a most abstracts
being Why, when he took out HE
checkbook he had entirely forgotten
the amount agreed on. Valuable Az
straction, though, for they saw i.
writes a scientific book a year th,.
brings him in a royal fortune. When
he is at that work he is absolutely All.
sorbed. Mrs. Morris has a modest n.
come. She says if the place suits her
she may purchase it, provided she can
dispose of some property she owns.
The bungalows were exactly alike
hedge separated them and each vas
surrounded by a pretty garden. Into
his bungalow, with hired man and a
cook, Professor White moved. Later
with a maid, Mrs. Morris established
herself in her new domicile.
A week later the last snow Of sprine
covered the walks. The professor
hailed an opportunity for exercise
took broom and started in, his mind
drifting outside of his occupation, and
he kept on and on, his muscles moving
mechanically, his mind a thousand
miles away.
"Oh, Mrs. Norris" called out the
maid to her mistress. will you lust
look at our neighbor. He has cleaned
all of his own sidewalk and ours, and
he is keeping on, bent on sweeping the
whole street. His cook says he's Just
that way half of the time"
II declared" spoke the widow, half
pityingly, half admiringly, for the pro-
lessor had a face and manner that
caused woman to look twice at him
Its dreadfully bold of me. perhaps,
but l must really stop him."
She threw a scarf over her head
and came upon the diligent snow
sweeper, 20 feet cleared away on the
next block. She touched the profess
sor's arm.
Wont you forgive me?" said Mrs.
Morris, sweetly, but you can scarcely
! Ii DrI- Co..
street"
well! Well" observed the profess
sor. Il started out to clear our block
only. | am an absent-minded being.
Mrs. Morris, and thank you for check
ing my rash squirt of industry"
"They tell me you know everything
that is wise and beautiful, professor,
spoke the widow.
THAT'S quite an exaggeration."
Il think you could give me heaps and
heaps of splendid advice as to laying
out my garden"
"Oh, that's excellent said he bright
ening up marvelously. why, we might
combine flower scheme to cover both
places harmoniously."
The result Was that the professor
spent the pleasantest evening OF hi
life, becoming quite enraptured over
the mutual garden plan. Then his pub
fishers called him to the city, and
when he got back spring was well on
its way.
He was lingering near the hedge the
next morning when he caught the echo
of voices. Mrs. Morris was speaking:
!; ITS true you are my half-brother,'
,, she was saying, "but you received mort
than two-thirds of my fathers estate
have squandered it shamefully, dis.
graced the family and have ALREADY
cajoled me out of large sums on the
promise of reformation. l am now 50
!. closely driven for money that ! car
! barely pull through"
But l an promised a splendid posi-
ton If l can get two hundred dollars
to take me to Panama. Help me, 1us1
,, this once"
!. Il cannot trust you"
The professor went around to the
street? He approached the sinking
slouching man who left the NORTH
bungalow
; Young man." he said, II very much
respect the lady you have just LETT
!, and if you are in earnest as to turninl
over a new leaf | will personally risa
the investment of that two hundred
dollars" which he did. forgot 1t, tel
into one of his fits of abstraction, ono
at dusk returning )me made a natufa
mistake. The bungalows we're precise
ly alike. Unwittingly he turned ino'
that of his fair neighbor
1 Suddenly vivid scream, burst o.
! flame, and Mrs. Morris tottered inlt
! the hall, and he sprang forward anu
! caught her fainting form in his arms
> He bore her from the house, wnic'
was consumed within the hour. Mls
Morris and her maid found refuge
the White bungalow.
Il am suddenly called away on ousl
ness" he told the widow. later. .io'
= are to make this your home unrestrict
! eddy until l return
A week later he made further re-
mark: Would you consider propo
sition, dear lady, to have me purcnsss
I all the land here, remove the neds'
: and all OF us get along Win on'
e house?"
And six months after the weeeins
there came other goods news 10 ~
amazement of Mrs. White. the ns.s
, brother sent back the borrowed mons.
, to her generous husband and ssau.
Brazilian parrot, which the bride :,
: ticularly cherished, for it learned y