Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-22
The Dailv
Short Story
BOBOLINK-A GIRL.
BY Grave Mercer Dunlan
TITS B0b0linkl"k

/ thicket there sounded for,b - -
( call There was a rustic -. Siia
dozen or more birds, twitteripg - -
responsive, few over his hes =
the direction Of the call r. :
again the mellow strain, an -
( a series Of trilIs that fiJIes = -
woodland stretch with the ms, = =
wildering melody
Yes. It's Bobolink," repAatss -.
little fellow, peering through -
maze Of greenery. Il was n -.
his ecstatic glance upon a vr.-,
girl Of about IS.
IF l could only whiytla ID.
that" muttered the lad. ara =
can MARBLE the Star Spangls5 e.
ner and all the tunes better'n =.
and sweeter nor a flute"
Eunice Darrell smiled down -.
her varied brood. Then as Il -
were in the midst of a viI4ro-s
practice lesson, she began al :,
ished difficult gem from the g,s,,
est of operas.
VIII you pardon me. but th.s !,
genius, pure, unadulateratei ~
marVelous,"
She whom half the town csH.s
"Bobolink" and the summer -
journers the "Whistling Girl dr.
back abashed. There steuusd r.,
view handsome, gallant Tnr-y
fellow in military costume, one an
in a sling. Because Bobolink 6oes5
on soldiers she became immesi.,elr
indulgent.
You mean the whistlfngs" s.
said, with an embarrassed smile =
came way out here where / thouFst
I could be alone, because Aurr
says it is ungirl-like."
"Oh, so?" softly observed ~
young man. Young lady. YOU has
a rare gift and | must tell yos "a
am Lieutenant Gordon Worth. II.
valided from active service AZ Ia
front" and he moved the banlassi
arm eXpressively. Down here Ga
a few days living the birds and all
nature, as l see you do. and enyy
you-you. who can call Them At
your own behest and talk to them
in their own sweet language"
He did not deem it bold or m
ceremonious to speak his Thoughts
nor Bobolink unmaidenly that she
should linger with a spirit harmon
ious. She was at once interested az
the conversation drifted into par.
ticulars of the war experience Of
her new acquaintance.
1T was a bit of a shell that TOOK
me above the elbow in trench
raid" Worth related. 81 shall no.
lose the use of my arm, but they
will not give me active work lam
starting a citizen alien recruiting
Office in the city next week"
And before long the ar5less two
that their homes were
near together in the. city. Bobolink
told how she was going home In a
few days and how ardently she had
wished to become a nurse in the
army. but her parents had discour-
aged herr
For three days they met and
pleasant, sensible companionshiD
resulted. The wonderful whistling
gift of Bobolink did not cease to
entrance Worth. The evening be-
fore the went away, he said: a
Miss Darrell, will you deem il
effrontery on my part if I ask my
sister to call upon you when you
return to the city,"
"Oh, l should be delighted" re-
piled the outspoken young lady.
You long to do some war work,
Worth. and my sister Il
in the midst of Red Cross activities.
Besides that have a grand idea OF
your cooperation in my especial line
of duty"
He did not tell Eunice what Il
was. Miss Alma Worth did, how
ever, week later, after she and
Eunice had become close friends.
There was vast animation and IN
Lerest on the part of the two fair
patriots. They visited numerous
bird and music stores. Bobolink
acquired new bird calls and musi-
cal airs, and then-a climax thsI
reused her up to positive enthas-
Iasm.
Lieutenant Worth had opened
headquarters for the enlistment
of foreign allies. De
mad secured speakers in all the.
The various groups g.
prospective volunteers were INVITED
% a specific entertainment upon =
lays. One of their Own oountfy-
men aroused them with an appesi
o their duty to both native aA4
country. And then: "Co8e'
lear the bird song OF your naIi's
and and its national hymns.
English. French, Belgian, ltallsA
md so through the entire list, t9s
song OF the skylark, OF the maEls'
he blue bird. the thrush, the nigat.
ngale. Bobolink, the gifted, the tIu1
-ocalist OF nature, made the ma
ing with fervor and appeal Msl
,heered, thrilled. even wept Ihe-
nner souls awoke and the harvest
vas great. -
What was that" inquired Worn
me evening, as, his sister az us
,ian. Bobolink was softly trllias
dreamy bird note -
Bobolink lifted her eyes 10 n's
ace and flushed, and Alma VIE
oguish smile explained; "A
The Love Bird 5 song, a.
Worth leaning over the futtsTiAs
3obolink, whispered softly;
Teach IL 10 me
-a,;r,,a1a ..Esorr,arlv italy eA-