Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-05-24
CHAPTER I.
(Continued.)

My attentive ears and eyes began
to gather facts in the history of the
Dunkelbergs. Mr.. Dunkelberg had
throat trouble, and bought butter
and cheese and sent it to Boston,
and had busted his voice singing
tenor, and was very rich. ! knew
that he was rich because he had a
gold watch and chain, and clothes
as soft and clean as the butternut
trousers, and a silver ring on his
finger, and such a big round stom-
ach. That stomach was the most
convincing feature of all, and |
have since learned that the round
ed type of human architecture is
apt to be more expensive than the
angular.
As we sat there I heard the men
talking about the great Silas
Wright, who had just returned to
his home in Canton. He had not
entered my consciousness until
then.
While I sat listening 1 felt a
tweak Of my hair, and looking
around 1 saw the Dunkelberg girl
standing behind me with saucy
smile on her face.
won't you come and play with
me?" she asked.
1 took her out in the garden to
show her where my watermelon
had lain. At the moment | couldn't
think of anything else to show her
AS we walked along l observed that
her feet were in dainty shiny but
ton shoes. Suddenly l began to be
ashamed of my feet that they were
Drowned by the sunlight and
scratched by the briers. The absent
watermelon didn't seem to interest
her.
Lets play house in the grove"
said she, and showed me how to
build a house by laying rows of
stones with an opening for door.
Now you be my husband" said
she.
Oddly enough I had heard of hus-
bands but had only a shadowy no.
ton of what they were. l knew
that there was none in our house.
whats that?" I asked.
She laughed and answed: Some
body that a girl is married to-"
you mean a father?"
Eyes"
"Once I had a father" I boosted.
well, we'll play we're married
and that you have just got home
from a journey, You go out in the
woods and then you come home
and III meet you at the door"
I did as she babe me but I was
not glad enough to see her.
you must kiss me" she prompt
ed in a whisper.
| kissed her very swiftly and gin
gerly-like one picking up hot
coaI-and she caught me in her
arms and kissed me three times
while her soft hair threw its golden
veil over cur faces. r
ooh, I'm so glad to see you" she
said, as she drew away from me
and shook back her hair.
"Golly this is fun!P I said.
ask: How are the babies?
she whispered. How are the ba-
bies?" 1 asked, feeling rather silly.
They're fine. I'm just putting
them to bed
We sat on the grass and she had
q stick which she pretended to be
dressing and often, after she had
spanked the stick little, she made
a noise through closed lips like
that of child crying.
"Now go to sleep and I'll tell you
q story" she said.
Then she told pretty tales of
fairies and of grand ladies and no.
hIe gentlemen who wore gold coats
end swords and diamonds and silks, I
and said wonderful words in such a
way. I dare say it pros
pered all the better in my ears be-
cause of the mystery by which its
were partly hidden. I
had many questions to ask and she /
told me what were fairies and silks (
md diamonds and grand ladies and |
noble gentlemen.
We sat down to one of our ia /
miliar dinners Of salt pork and /
milk gravy and apple pie now en-
riched by sweet pickles and pre- /
serves and frosted cake.
a query had entered my mind (
and soon after we began eating I !
asked:
Aunt Deel. what is the differ