Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-03
The Daily
Short Story
MS FOOL WIFE.
BY Elinor Marsh.

l AW'' "n@cio' oAiu IHo boCIetAIy, Il
wish you to 70 to London with an i'm.
portanf dispatch. You are aware that
Ne are surrounded by spys in the EN-.
ploy Of the central powers. I do not
doubt that we have them right here
empliyed in this department. We
can't use the cable, even with the best
OF plans. Indeed, what I wish to COM
municate to our allies abroad must
be carried by some person we can
trust"
The secretary handed Mr.. Winters a
dozen pages of manuscript containing
information as to how many troops
THE United States could send 10
France by given date and many
other matters Of equal importance. 1t
was written IN the secretary's own
hand-he would trust no ons-and
placed in an Official envelope Of the
state department-but unsealed.
Il recommend you continued the
secretary, ito refrain from using the
official envelope till you reach your
destination. As to how You will carry
the dispatch, that I leave to you"
John Winters went home and after
telling his wife Of the important trust
that had been committed to him and
what a successful transmission would
bring him and her, directed to pack
a suit case. the only baggage he In
tended to take with him. The dis
patch he gave her to place In the suit
case. When he was ready to depart
he examined the case
| NUyhvy hn late A.
lily, "YOu have placed 1t in the ofilcial
envelope He took 1t up to remove
it and found that she had sealed the
envelope. He was about to tear 1t
open when she stopped him.
Il am sorry, dear, but what Is done
is done. There isn't time now, but
when you get aboard the ship, steam
the envelope and open 1t without de-
stroying it. Then you can use It as In
structed."
IF there is any mag in the world"
said Winters with much irritation "as
stupid as woman I'd like to meet
him. But / can't stop to do the Job
now"
That night he boarded the ship At
a late hour, went to his stateroom,
locked himself in and turned into his
berth first taking look at the pack
age and when tie ship sailed at mid
night, he was fast asleep.
On awakening in the morning his
first thought was OF the dispatch He
got out of bed dreading lest some one
had entered his state room in the
night and carried it off, Leaving his
berth he opened the suit case to as
sure himself that the dispatch was
still there. \ 1t was where it had been
placed addressed, and bearing on the
left hand corner the imprint of the
4 state department of the United States
He got back into his berth and ringing
for the room steward called for hot
water. The steward, who spoke with
a foreign accent, brought the water,
catching a glimpse, as he handed it in,
of the package in the open suit case.
As soon as he had gone Winters arose
and held the package over the hot
water.
II believe the cussed thing Is
glued" he growled, after steaming the
package till the water grew cold.
well, I'll dress and go to breakfast
and after breakfast I'll try 1t again"
Winters after having dressed and
breakfasted, tipped the head waiter to
furnish him with an alcohol lamp by
which he could heat water in his
room. Returning with this he placed
it on table, and opened his suit case.
His heart jumped up into his throat.
Thespackage was gone.
He wasted no time in lamentation.
He went to the captain, told his story
and every man on board was searched,
as well as every Granny OF the ship.
The missing package was found in an
old boot belonging to the steward who
had brought the hat water to Win
ter's stateroom. The man was put in
the ships brig and Winters joyfully
the package to his room. Then he
hastily tore off the envelope to assure
himself that the document had not
been tempered with.
Again he was doomed to q horrible
discovery. The envelope contained
nothing but blank paper. The thief,
or rather spy who had followed him
from Washington and shipped as a
steward was threatened with death if
he did not disclose what he had done
with the dispatch. He chung to his
statement that he had not opened the
envelope that had contained 1t.
Winters was so utterly Frustrated
by his loss that his voyage was a
long and dreary one. Just before
reaching port he pulled himself to-
gether, and taking off flannel shirt
put on a white one. Taking up a
package which he supposed contained
cuffs he opened it and instead Of cuffs
took out the dispatch,
Winters was so overjoyed that he
gave way to antics that called in the
occupant of the adjoining stateroom
to learn il he had a lunatic for
neighbor. Whereupon Winters quieted
down. But he said nothing about the
dispatch.
| When the ship reached port the spy
was turned over to the authorities
and Winters proceeded to London
where he delivered his dispatch.
Mrs. Winters on her husbands re-
turn confessed that she had wrapped
the manuscript as cuffs, filled the Of
fetal envelope with blank paper. and
sealed it for specinl purpose. VIM
tiers doesn't think her such a fool as
he did when he left on his mission.
At any rate she received large sum
from the government for her stupidity.
considerations were made because the
| 6st ix,,ara tatan in violation of state