Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-26
The Daily
Short Story
TNDER FALSE cnLnps

terested by the fact that the oI5
Worden place. which had lain nsg
lected and untenanted for AZ.
years, found an occupant. ouist,,
and at night great car arrived
delivered its load Of furniture an
the turreted mansion with ia IN
acres Of garden awoke 10 signs NJ
life.
Old Lem Watts. who received .
fair stipend for airing the bouss
once In while, pruning the frplt
trees and keeping the place nrs.
sentable in case a tenant or pur-
chaser appeared, could not satisfv
the inquisitiyeness OF the villaesrs
to any appreciate degree. The uav
tenant, he said. was an old mar
Mr.. Dale. Besides himself thsrs
was John and Betsy Wade. aupar-
emily old family servants. secretivs
and uncommunicative Their mastar
never showed himself and thsrs
was no inkling as to where thsv
came from, nor as to how long thew
intended to stay.
That he was generous kind
hearted individual was soon ev,.
denced. Every fall It had baar
the custom OF the mischief loving
lads Of the village 10 surrentj
tiously visit the fruit orchard ana
melon patch of the Worden place
Juvenile Fordham was astare Al
one morning they found the hirb
barrel gate wide open. bearing he
glaring announcement: BOYS IN.
vited. Take all you want, but DOM
break the trees or waste the fruit
Miss Inez Lewis, teacher OF the
district school, heard OF this and
was naturally interested. When the
annual visit of the selectmen to the
school came around, she was deeply
grateful when Wade appeared with
a great basket Of flowers.
MIR. Dale sent them to decorate
the school ROOM" he told Miss
Lewis.
He is very kind and thoughtful
said Inez. please thank him for
all of US"
We just dote on the old hermit"
one of the scholars told her.
With the first deep snow OF the
winter there came another DEM
of the good will Of The
as the stranger was
called. Inez found the walks cleared
of. snow up TO the school house
door and learned that Mr.. Dale had
been seen behind a horse and
scEaper before daylight.
There was a spell of bright warm
weather in late November-"squRw
the country folks Dubbed
it. One evening Inez discovered
that she had left at the school
house some written exercises that
must be corrected by morning She
went alone to the isolated school
house. secured the papers, and, re-
turning, made short cut by Cross
ing the open space lining the old
mansion. One room was lighted.
AS she passed opposite to it hnez
paused involuntarily.
Within the room was the man she
lad never seen before save at dis
ance. To the amazement OF Inez
he hermit was removing false
white heard. Amazed, spellbound,
Lnez witnessed the transformation
If a seeming octegenarian into a
handsome, pleasant faced young
nan. Where had she seen that face
)r its counterpart presentment be-
ore? Oh. she remembered. Her
ather was sheriff of the county. A
month previous, added TO his col
ection of Reward Offered" and
Arrest on Sigfft," she had been at
.racted by the photograph. She
low recalled the picture-it was
hat of the disguised Mr.. Dale. The
circular promised a liberal reward
or information that would lead TO
he locating of Walter Blair,
wanted"
Il cannot believe it," reflected
-nez, land OH it would grieve me
o have him discovered, for he must
lave some great kindly impulse IN
lis nature, and the boys think the
world of him, and then that face
Oh, no. he cannot be a criminal
Poor, tender hearted IneZ! She
over the situation all
hight. Suppose her father hsould
discover this hidden identity and,
Is duty bound, should drag this
Ioer of kindly deeds to prison! lnez
made a staunch resolution. On her
way to school next morning she
topped at the old mansion and
ang the door bell To her sur
rise. denuded of all disguise, MI.
bale answered the summons.
Come in, Miss Lewis, won
our he invited. Il feel that
now you. for have seen you pass
ach day"
"Oh!" spoke Inez, trembling and
Il have some-tns1
$ there is a notice from the CITY
my father. as sheriff, got one
bout-about-"
zone Walter Blair" intipatsd
er host. with quick smile. Dear
title lady. / assume you have come
o warn me?"
Il haven't any right to- hutterea
nez. but you have been so good
0 kind"
Let me relieve your mlna,
poke the young man pleasantIy'
| have been in hiding, disguised
or many months 10 eyade being
fitness in a case that would mean
uin to a close friend YESTERDAY
received word that the case wa
ettled, so l can resume my rlsn'
anne and personality once uiOls
nd your kind impulse to aid me
$ you thought shall never ioi'
ct IT."
Nor Inez. either, her wilson's
ace. her gentle sympathy, ne couls
ave told her. and how q sight q
er daily hadcheered his eniorCe1
olitude Walter Blair left thar un,
4 better acquainted. he announce
is love and asked lnez to oecone
fS uuifa