Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-04-04
The Daily
Short Story
HER STRATEGY.
BY Mildred White.

! friendly greetings came TO him fr Jm
every side. Though he had but
lately come TO fill the place OF
! former classmate gone to war,
Bruce Macdonald had quickly gain
ed the confidence of the community.
But in one manner he disappoint-
ed, positively he persisted in re-
fusing all social invitations.
His life was to be one OF duty,
not pleasure, he announced And
/ interested maidens lamented
There we're few desirable men
/ left in the suburban town, and they
! had counted much upon the diver
/ sion OF his brilliant mpanionship.
| The record of ''brilliancy" preceded
. him. Had not his pictured face ap-
peared in city papers in connection
with worthy activities? But all IN
I needing, the new doctor passed in
differently upon his way, that ~
until his foot stumbled against
some object lying directly in his
path on Main street. Curiously, he
! stopped to pick it up; the crumpled
I object was woman's rubber.
| Small, high-heeled and new 1t was,
some one had evidently dropped It,
perhaps entering an auto, and had
not noticed it's loss. DR.. Macdonald
turned the rubber over in his hand;
! there upon the white lining were
| linked initials and an address. j. I.
( he deciphered, "a Main street, west.
/ "a must be-why, it was just oppo-
| site II would delay him but mo
ment to run up the steps and leave
I the shoe at the door
| A maid opened the door, but
when he would have delivered the
rubber into her care, she Withdrew,
/ leaving the young doctor standing
| in a sunny reception hall. But he
! had not long to wait; down the
! stairway came swift feet; girl
| stood before him. Absorbed, as was
! his custom, in thought OF profes-
sional duties, he might have neg
! lected to observe this young wo-
mans many and evident charms;
/ she had not delayed him by pro-
/ Tossing doubt as to the rubber's
ownership.
This address is plainly written
upon the inside" he told her. But
! in that moment of delay. her eyes
Z twinkling with some hidden merri-
ment, caught and held his own be
wiIderingly
80 kind Of you to trouble" she
murmured.
! NO trouble at ALL" the doctor
returned, and still fingered in the
/ hall.
Confusedly he picked up the
morning paper lying upon the yes
Thule floor and handed it to her.
The girl gave little cry of dis
/ tress. oh, do you see the head
ing?" she asked More of our boys
/ leaving for the front. Isn't it all
dreadful?" Her sympathetic face
questioned him. And you" she
said, ARE yOu-?"
The doctor shook his head. al am
a little beyond the age limit" he
answered, land / am taking DR.
Smiths place here during his alb
fsence"
Yes. I know" the girl replied;
she smiled, we soon learn all about
strangers" Impulsively she put
I forth her hand Il am glad TO meet
you," she went on frankly cordial,
you see your fame has travelled
before you. We have been counting
greatly upon your help in the Red
! Cross lectures, and all that"
DR.. Macdonald was EN- barrassed
it was such public affairs to which
he had been Obliged to give resolute
refusal. My regular work takes
every moment Of my time he muir
INJURED.
The owner of the little rubber
was plainly disappointed, also she
was determined to be cheerful in
her disappointment.
oh, we shall no doubt find some
one else" she said. Her bright gaze
fell upon him. Though of course
we would have preferred our own
resident physician"
The doctor hesitated with his
hand upon the door knob, the
charming girl hesitated, looking
down upon her recovered shoe.
IF you had not found this" she
remarked, II might have been
obliged to remain home from to-
nights Red Cross meeting. Good
morning, doctor, and thank you"
Suddenly the door opened from
outside and a tall youth burst into
the room.
Great ScottN' he exclaimed.
Billy" cried the girl; she gave
him little shake. DR. MacDon
aid" she introduced this is my
brother"
The doctors face expressed
amused establishment at the boys
continued perplexing stare. But
when he had gone, that youth drop
ped in mock helplessness into the
nearest chair.
"You are a wonder. Josie" he
said. How did you do it? Here
it was only last night that I bet
YOU a five-pound box of chocolates
YOU couldn't get acquainted with
DR.. Macdonald. You came right
back, that you would bet he'd call
at the house in a day or two. and
here he is, first thing this morn
ing. Course. now he has met YOU,
we know the rest OF the story The
chocolates are yours; but. by
George! how in the world did you
do it?"
Billy" reproved his sister. the
dancing light of her eyes had given
way to an unusual softness. IL do
not want your candy. He-he IS
far too nice TO bet about"
And a few moments later. Or =.
Macdonald, with like softness In
his own keen eyes, was at the tele-
phone.
LAS to that Red Cross meeting
this evening, Mrs. Benson" he WAS