Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-01-08
The Daily
Short Story
ONLY OLD JUNK
By Ottiiia r. Pfeiffer.

the well-tO-dO were anarchists IN
the making. His scheme of life for
the lowly embraced a sort of Mo-
norchial authority.
But Smiling Simon is not a va
grant, Mr.. Hurst" demurred pretty,
warm-hearted Ina Bortell. Nor is
he idle. Everybody likes him, he is
absolutely sober and reliable and l
have started him in business and
am glad of it."
Hem. Hal Just so. Well, 1
hope you do not rue the expert
ment."
Ina Bortell was the sweetest,
most lovable girl in the village. and
Simon Price, Smiling Simon"
stroller and ne'er-do-well, had been
taken i'll with fever, had been cared
for in the hospital ward of the To-
cal Jail and had been discharged
unkempt, pale and thin. to shift
for himself He had started from
the village but grew faint, and had
crept through the hedge of the Bor-
tell garden to rest on the grass
when Ina discovered him.
Il had to rest" he spoke with
difficulty. I'll get on as soon as
l pull myself together. Just out
of the hospital, but I'll be all right
in day or so,'' and he smiled up
into the face of his interested hos
tess, ingenious and confidingly as
a schoolboy. That sunny smile
was his sole capital and somehow
it went to the heart of the little
lady.
There's a hammock over near
the lilac bushes" she told him. Let
me help you that, far"
"Oh! Miss"
Indeed you must and you look
as if you needed food"
She guided the faltering steps to
the hammock and settled a soft
pillow under Smiling Simon's head.
The glass OF ice cold cream she
brought was as nectar to Simon's
parched lips. 1t was followed by
chicken broth. Ina listened sym
pathizingly to the simple story OF
his life until the tired eyelids closed
and with the accustomed smile up
on his face he was immersed in
blissful rest.
Thus it was that Simon Price
found an oasis in life. There was
an abandoned barn on the Bortell
lot and in it's loft he utilized an old
cot. There was no objection to his
demonstrating himself and as he
grew stronger many and helpful
were the functions he performed
about the place.
There was the poor wreck of a
wagon in the barn which Simon
mended up. Somewhere he ar
ranged for the rent of a horse. He
became the junk man of the district,
gathering up rags, iron, glass, rub
Der and the like, storing 1t in his
warehouse" until there was a car
load, when he shipped the aggre-
CATION to the city.
There was a shy, retiring young
man in the village named Dale
Warren. and to him Simon became
likewise attached. The shrewd dis
corning eyes of the humble junk
gatherer had noted the budding of
mutual love between Ina and War
rem. 1t was enough for Simon to
know that the goddess of his soul
favored the young man, to look up
on Warren as a worthy friend. He
decided that Warren, with all his
retiring ways, must be good and
brave to win the attention of Ina,
and one night Warren indeed show
ed that inherent within him was
true manliness and courage.
Simon had FASTENED down town
attracted by a great glare. The
town hotel was on fire, and just as
Simon reached the scene he saw
Warren scale a high ladder reach
4 If Ia al
He disappeared through a window
space to emerge amid clouds OF
binding smoke, bearing a little
child in his arms. A fireman ran
up the ladder and received the child
in his arms and bore it to the
ground. Then a great cry went up
from the crowd at the sight of
Warren, overcome by smoke and
flame, lying senseless across the
window sill aloft.
Simon sprang up the ladder, at
once place breasting fierceSflames
pouring from window. Just as
he reached Warren the ladder bent,
swayed, snapped in twain and,
pushing Warren into the room, he
disappeared after him.
Ten minutes later, miraculously |
escaping through the fire-filled
halls of the building, Simon stag
gered into view bearing across his |
shoulders the limp form Of the
insensible Warren, covered with a |
blanket blazing in places. Then
the hero rescuer fell PROSTATE. An |
hour later it was known that he |
had inhaled the flames and had |
sustained burns that must prove
fatal. He was removed to the Bor-
tell home at the direction of lna's
father, who had appeared on the
scene. When he weakly came back
to consciousness Warren was at his
side and Ina was bending over him.
Over the fact of the suffered there
spread an expression of intimate
"Im done for. and I'm glad 1t
was in trying to be of use to your
friends" he whispered feebly to
Ina miss Bortell it will soon be
no secret-Mr. Warren loves you.
and you will be happy, and poor
Simon is glad!"
She bent over him. her tears
falling like rain. Then she pressed
her lips to his brow. Only old junk!
but his face became irradiated and,
smiling still. Smiling Simon" pas
sed away!