Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-15
The Dailv
Short Story
A YOUTHFUL ROEsrs.
BY Alma Blanche Warner

esteem you ds goOd friend. bu,
cannot consider your proposal
Irene Ainslee spoke with daH,a.
ness, but her lips qufvered w.
Barker sighed ana bowed his bssa
AT least we must remain friends =
he said as steadily as he col,fd =,
shall not offend again, dear la,
but my LIES service is yours
1t was we'll that just then Jren..-
little brother called to her ar 80
would have broken down u,,s,is
She had never admired a man ..
she had this sterling, open-hesrtss
young fellow
1t was the next day thai mis- ale
ter Blanche came to where he was
swinging idly in a hammock
"Neal, dear" she spoke gAn6r
81 have fancy that you have bsen
falling in love with our pretty neYt-
door neighbor
1T Is more than fancy" repl,ss
Neal-''it. is a fact. Did Miss Aims,
lee indicate it 10 youg"
oh, not at ALL" Blanche has
tened 10 say, but it has not heen
difficult for me to surmise that v6n
were attracted by her. Then. Ia.
day she let drop few vague words
that told me of the situation. she
has declined to marry you, NeaI?
Yes. sister"
But she loves you"
Meals bace became a glow NJ
sudden joyfulness. "Oh, YOU canno,
know that" he. cried, but hope
fully.
THE knowledge should not en-
courage you TO press your attep-
tons" spoke Blanche. grayely. a
can read the heart Of Irene. as well
as your own. You know that she is
proud of her independence and
ability TO care for the two children
left TO hereharge when her wild
owed stepmother died The little
home was left to Irene by her faith
er, who had married twice. When
his second wife died there was Net.
tie, who is now 16, and Teddy, your
little favorite. Like the loyal, true
hearted being that she is, Irene
III OIlil5Eti tltl ElCDHtOLItl 10 EdEs
for these helpless orphans.
"In year Nettie will graduats
and be able to support herself as
teacher. Until the last five hundred
dollars is paid that carries her
through with her education, Irene
says she must allow nothing to d.
vert her from that purpose"
How gladly would I furnish the
money" began Neal.
Irene is too proud to accept II"
reminded Blanche.
Neal next day made little Teddy q
toy wagon he had promised him.
He acted without constraint with
Irene and made no reference to his
Teddy essayed a trip with his
wagon He was two squares away
from home when an active. sleek
looking young man came around
the corner in great hurry. He
down over the wagon,
thrust a package out of view in the
sand It carried, and Teddy kept on
his way, all unconscious of the fact
that his load had suddenly become
very precious.
The young man lowered his pace
and looked surprised when twomen
on the run came up with him and
seized him by the arms.
whats this?" he inquired, in a
seemingly bewildered way.
"You were in the bank few min
utes since?" demanded one Of the
men
why. yes, I changed a ten-dollar
bill there
And Immediately after you left
a ten-thousand-dOllar money pack
age was found missing from the
teller's desk"
THE mischief" calculated the
young man. Who took TT
That's what weNwant TO find outN
If you are an honest man you VIII
have no objection to our searching
you"
Not the least in the world
They found no ten-thousand-doi-
lar package on him and hurried
back to look up others who had
been in the bank. The young man
started TO get a trace of the boy
with the wagon, who had disappear
ed.
Just about dusk Irene, coming
into the sitting room with Ieddy'
found the young man in question
Just climbing in through the open
window.
Don't get scared, he spoke.
accidentally dropped a package lntu
the wagon of your little fellow mere
Did you fird it,
Il did" answered Irene truth-
fully
Well. ! want it,"
You must prove your oWnersh.g
first. said Irene. Il opened Il an
found It to contain a large amouh'
Of money" ,-...-
Young lady" said her visitor
producing a revolver and placing =
on the window sill, you gel ina l.,i
package within two minutes, OF u
make you"
Just at that moment Neal barn
ar passed the window. The ln'luu
err reached out to get the weapon
II had disappeared. for Neal - -
secured IT. As the amazed yisilol
leaned out to see what had OeSo o.,,
Of II. Neal seized him by the snol..
iers and pulled him into the ope'
air .,sd
The thief is in jail repo -
Neal two hours later 70 Irene. ~
bank will send you reward 10 -
morning of thousand doii .h.,
Irene. dear, just think OF IN. me
gives Won the money to pay lot 'h'
rest OF Nettie's education -
And nice surplus for mySei'
said Irene ..o,s-
Enough to buy q Wedding
seau?" suggested Neal soltiy -.