The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-09-27
The Daily Short Story

| ing fashion. Her. cheeks were the
| most beautiful color there ever was
he decided, a beautiful rose pink
And her lips, red, turning up at the
/ corners, the dangerous dimple il
her determined little chin-al
these things were noted by his art
lists eye while he talked politely
about the weather, the beauty OF
MISUNDERSTANDING but who he
was and what he was doing there.
He had entirely forgotten about
his thirsty" engine and was racking
his brains for an excuse to finger
when there came a dull, ominous
crash, followed by a cry from
above.
Peggy started.
"Oh, my goodness, what's that
she exclaimed entirely forsaking
her attitude of calm dignity.
She ran to the hallway and Kent
following, came upon a scene that
made him sit down and laugh until
he could laugh no more.
Seated on the bottom stair and
gazing tearfully upon a heartless
world sat Bobbie, aged 6. Woe sat
upon his countenance and reminis-
cences of jam upon his features.
His hair literally stood on end, his
face was a mixture of dirt, jam and
tears, with q hollow cavity from
which came time and again sounds
of distress.
Peggy sat cQrled up next to him,
rocking back and forth in uncon-
trollable laughter. Finally she man
aged to sit up and comfort Bobbie
"Oh, Bobs," she gasped, tell US
how it happened"
In spite of his condition Kent
heard and liked the sound of that
"us."
Well" said Bobbie, still sobbing,
I'll went to the pantry n II got
some jam-just a teeny, weeny bit.
Peggy, honest, n then /"
You what, Bobbie"
Il heard you coming n 1 was
afraid you'd think jam isn't good
for little boys" said Bobbie, very
innocently.
Peggy tried to look severe.
''Well?"
1t developed that Bobbie had
taken a small glass of jam upstairs
in preparation for a lonely feast,
had dropped it over the banisters
and, in panic, had taken the quick
est way downstairs, which was not
by way of his feet.
Satisfied that he was not hurt,
Peggy took him into the kitchen,
washed his face, kissed the bruise
on his arm to make it call well"
and sent him out to play.
Kent, now recovered, suddenly
remembered the errand which had
brought him to Milwood, and maeh
against his inclination, took his
leave.
He left his card, together with a
crisp dollar bill with Bobbie, I'm
aware that in the chubby little fell
low he had made a friend who
would serve him forever, and who
promptly lost the card, thereby
serving him in the best way pos
sible.
Peggy watched him out of sight
and smiled wisely to herself as she
thought: Water for the engine
but l wonder why he didn't give his
name. But then, he doesn't know
mine, either"
In which she was mistaken.
The day of the festival came at
last. Peggy, in her dainty, crisp
and wide-brimmed hat,
looked, so Bobbie declared, sweet
er n raspberry JAM" when she
gave him parting hug and started
out for Betty's home.
AS she drew near, she caught
sight of a familiar roadster at the
to the Milwood grounds,
but convincing herself that it didn't
disturb her in the least, she entered
and was at once carried OF by ga
group of friends to one of the tables
where refreshments were being
served.
Suddenly. the chatter Of the girls