Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-12-06
The Daily
Short Story
~THEIR CHILDREN"
BY Walter Delaney.

from his own lonely but palatial
home, Barton Lee slowed his steps
his glance lingering on the neat
trim figure of lady about his own
age.
He had taken sufficient interest
in the lady to ask something about
her from his sole servant, John
Ward. The latter impaired the in
telligence that she was a widow,
Mrs. Althea Warren, that her hus-
band, a worthless adventurer, had
deserted her and died and that his
family had given his widow the lit
tie cottage and a small yearly sti-
pend.
Lee had lifted his hat whenever
he caught her eye, but was not the
man to intrude his attention upon
her, and, while she responded to
the courtesy, she acknowledged it
only as the casual interest of a
man pleasant and friendly with all
his neighbors, rich or poor.
She was pleased at the neighbor-
ly recognition of a man whom ey-
erybody respected, and whom she
secretly admired. She grew to have
a certain reverence for him when
she learned of his deeds of charity
and helpfulness for the obscure and
unfortunate He became her ideal
and she often wondered how he
was content to live alone in the
great corner mansion. His man
Ward was wont to greet Mrs. War
rem ciyilly and one morning he
seemed particularly anxious to talk.
New arrivals at our house yes
terday," he announced. Il suppose
you've heard about it?''
why, no, l hadn't" she answer
ed.
Mr.. Lee has had some strange
impulses at times, but this freak
beats 'em all. He was in the city
last week and got interested in a
lot of Belgian children brought to
this country to find homes for.
Bless me, if he didn't take three.
Just as if they were war stamps or
Liberty bonds to file away and no
more trouble than that. They're at
the house now, a girl of and two
lads 6 and A. Say, they're cute,
lively and interesting, but think of
thin a confirmed old bachelor"
But not very DID," demurred
Mrs. Warren.
We'll, in his habits and system
and ways. Him bothering with
three little ones just at the age to
keep up a racket in our quiet old
home!'
But who is going to take care
of Them" inquired the widow.
That's tine, of course. He's
that inexperienced he thinks they
can be packed away like dolls. Yes,
I'm to see that they thrive and be
happy. A fine responsibility for a
man of my age, isn't it, now?"
Mr.. Lee is a grand, good man to
adopt those poor homeless waits, q"
declared Mrs. Warren in a tone fer
vent with genuine emotion, and
when Ward was gone her womauly
heart went out longingly towards
the little group.
We'll, we've got a sort of system
with the little ones" Ward report
romp around the house when it
rains and play in the garden all
day when it's fair. I'm growing to
like them, and Mr. Lee, who is in
the city, writes every day anxious
ly inquiring about them as if they
were his own kith and kin"
His manner was troubled and dis
NAL when next Mrs. Warren met
him. Bad news" he mourned
Mr.. Lee had an automobile acci7
dent in the city and is laid up in 4
hospital there" And two days
later: "All three of the little ones
have got the measles"
'Oh, let me nurse them" impul-
sively exclaimed the widow There
is plenty of room for them here.
You have your hands full and L
my heart goes out to the little tots!"
And before nightfall she was how
ering over her patients like some
fond mother
1t appeared as though i'll fortune
was pursuing Barton Lee. Two
nights later the big mansion at the
corner burned to the ground Ward
barely escaped with his life, and
Mrs. Warren now had to give him
shelter
Not that it matters much, the
old house going" he told her, for
Mr.. Lee was going to move soon.
You see, the place is under fore
closure" and Althea's tApder soul
became pitiful, as from this she
that in addition to his
other troubles Mr. Lee had lost his
fortune.
1t was two weeks later when for
the first time, supported by a
crutch, Barton Lee, convaIescent,
the little home to see his
Mr.. Lee" Ward had told his en-
Dloyer, I've known fine women,
but Mrs. Warren beats them all.
She's been a mother to those little
)nes and she thinks you're just the
5Tandest man in the world for
adopting them. She's got an idea, |
because l happened to speak of the
on the old home to clear
title, that you've lost all you've got. |
She's housed the tots, she's made !
ne a welcome guest, and she's so |
ull of pity for your loss of fortune |
hat / suppose she's just longing TO |
axe you in until you get on your
Get"
You rascal You haven't let her
hink l really am poor, have you ?''
And so delicately, yet sincerely, did !
Althea Warren reveal her respect |
md helpfulness for a man she be !
ieved unfortunate and poor, that /
Barton Lee cherished the womanly
reasure he had found, and when he
'pened his new home she was its
MISTRESS and a mother TO their