Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-30
The Daily
Short Story
on TINE.
By AlYah jordan Carr


Dallas represented a large Law -
negotiating for factory Ste -.
in John Wade, the owBs, a.a
Meadowbrook, he, found an ~
client. avs
You see, / have only nv ds..s
ter" the old man told Dallas -,
the place is too large for us . 7-s ~
soon came To terms. Dallas srrss.s
ed TO bring a contract and AZ -
tial payment to bind the BARGE. ~.
/ 5 O'Clock the next morning. h -
8 when he awoke and hurrias =
his clothes and did not ever ~. 4
for breakfast. ssR
Il owe your father q tbou,.-s
apologies he told Ethel We
when she came to the door -s
! Papa is very strict rega,a,u-
business rules she said to fba ~
itor. "Punctuality has been n.
guiding principle in his Hte 49,
he waited till the clock strucs
and then drove over TO LoeEne-.
He will not be home until 3 o'clort y
( Dallas felt embarrassed. He bss
counted on getting back to me rl,-
/ by noon, and at that end his dalss
might cause notice.
! You must sit down in the sbs5.
Of the porch until / get you a epe
/ full of coffee" she insisted. ana IA
minutes later reappeared with :
tray holding coffee that Dallas AZ.
nominated as nectar, some preserT.
ed peaches with cream and hons.
made rolls, dispatched to the Ia,
crumb, a high compliment 10 fbs
cookery Of his fair young hostess
Three pretty girls wearing cover.
all aprons came shyly up the war
an hour later. Ethel introduced bar
friends, who it developed had come
to help her pick Strawberries for
preserving.
Perhaps I might put in the idle
time I must pass at the hotel, helm.
ing you" suggested Dallas, and
soon they were a polly, happy uuin.
tet. Dallas smeared his. fingers
picking the berries, and was pro-
vided with an apron, like the 9TH
ers. There was a delicious lunch
at noontime and the berries all
picked at o'clock, after the most
delightful experience in the life Of
Richard Dallas.
At promptly 8 o'clock stern, pre-
else old Mr.. Wade appeared. He
did not allude TO the broken engage
ment, but he said as Dallas depart
ed:
"One week from today, then, you
will be here to close up the dealt
We will make it at noon, Mr.. Dal-
las"
II won't be late this time" pledg-
ed Dallas, and Ethel went down the
road a bit with him to show him a
shortcut pasture path TO the town.
and he departed cherishing the an
ticipation of their next meeting.
Upon the day appointed, on his
way TO MeadowbrOok Mr.. Dallas
found himself blocked from cover
ing the last miles of his journey
1t had rained almost continuously
for a week, a clOudburst had swept
away a dam and the river was q
raging torrent. Those south Of the
main junction were practically ma
rooned so far as rail or road prog
ress was concerned.
"You cannot make It till the wa
ter subsidies" an oldest inhabi-
tant" told Dallas, but the latter was
headstrong. He located an old yaWl,
beaten, but sound, and
recklessly trusted himself to tls
raging waters.
That was a thrilling hour for the
determined adyenturer. The oars
we're of little use save to keep the
boat from whirling in swirls and
eddies. Twice great floating masses
of wreckage and debris were en-
countered, and he was nearly up
set in midstream.
Il shall make it" he soliloquized,
with a glow of masterful triumph
On his face, "and I shall be in time.
And welcome, too" he added, for
coming in sight Of the Wade place,
ne was startled to discover It sur
rounded by water Nearly all Of
the lower story was submerged.
From an upper window a sheet
signal of distress, was being waved
It required skill and strength %
lirect the yawl up to the side OF me
house.
Catch the rope" ordered Dallas,
Is he reached the window and saw
Ir. Wade. pale and perturbed, ana
ethel, anxious and trembling, pc
-ond it. ION time, on this occa-
ion!"
ooh, hurry, hurry" voiced Ethel
Don't wait for any
hing. papa" she pleaded.
The old man. bearing a satcneL
obtaining what he could gather up
4 his more valuable belonglnss
vas induced 10 get into the boat
DALLAS climbed through the WINDOW
0 assist Ethel. hen, all sale,l
board. they had not gone 20 yafas
shen with a great sway the strue-
ure they had left sank to one sioe'
i ruins. -
Everything gone" groaned ~.
Wade. "Of course you want yoa,
orfeit money back and the asA
Is.
"Oh, no" said Dallas, cheerhs,
The contract holds The house w
hould have torn away, anyNS.
nd the food can't sweep away 'Is
and, you know"
EVERYTHING lost, papa, indeed
IT. Dallas had not arrived just
mel" murmured Ethel, with
look at Dallas. 80.
''You have taught me foreios
,sson In promptness," observe
le latter. "a
"An excellent rule" eommeuss
IT. Wade, and as a result be g.
4 a son-in-law before the year N"'N