The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-02-24
The Daily Short Story

just an OlQeT SISTER StTetCuluS =
hand in a crisis.
YES" came the sorrowful an
swer. And that's the trouble. /
left home to succeed, and now !
know that all my suspicious were
correct. The folks in this Office
took me for what l pretended to
be. They take me for a silly pow
der puff without any brains. II
breaks my heart to read the stories
in that prize competition in the
daily paper because I've tried SO
hard and my stories aren't even
considered. Everything l write is
returned. You see, l weighed my
self in the balance and was found
woefully wanting. I'm a failure. -
! The face opposite her, softened in
tender smiles, seemed transformed
Let US work together" said a
voice deepened and charged with a
great emotion. Il will tell you the
experience of my Sife for you to
weave into a story. Write of a
young ambitious girl, lover OF
youth and life, it is true, but an
adorer OF my own true knight.
trusted the world and my knight
and they both failed me. / was
robbed. Of my future husband by a
step-sfster's lies.
They said my ight-heartedness
was wilfulness and he believed me
false when he saw me in my young
uncle's arms. He thought l was
attracted by apother lover while ]
thought he deserted me. My pride
kept me silent. Write the story as
l tell it from the heart that has
suffered this bit Of human life.
Perhaps you can submit it for the
prize"
A few days later there was great
excitement in the office where
Powder Puff toiled for her daily
bread. The young college student
who worked in front of the care
free little typist suddenly rose and
stood beside her. From his great
height Of six foot three, he frown-
ed upon the tip-tilted\ marcelled
head uncertainty.
Say" he began laboriously
There was the best story of the
competition-the one that got first
prize in this mornings paper. 1t
was entered in your name-Dotty
WynnV1ust coincidence, of
course. 1t was deep stuff, but Just
the same ! seemed to hear you
speaking in the words, and the
words seemed to speak to me-"
In his earnestpess he failed to
discern the quick blush that man.
tied the cheeks Of the listener. Sud-
denly, to divert his attention, she
pointed to the door of the room.
See" she exclaimed, Miss Pau
line has a lover!"
Unaware of watching eyes, OBJ
vious Of the world, the twittering
little Miss Pauline was lost in the
embrace Of a kind-faced, middle
aged stranger. Gently releasing
her, the man drew from his breast
a newspaper to show to the happy
woman at his side. His face was
filled with questioning wonder.
by CAD, he's read that story,
too" said Billie helplessly. ut
caught him just rs it got me. Do
you know, Dotty, l seemed to hear
you speak In the words Of the hero
Inc, Every girl, like the birds OF
spring, wish to build a love nest
Careers and futures are lost, after
all, in the gold Of loves rainbow.
+ Il cart believe that you are as
frivolous as you seem, Dotty. !
love you because l know that deer
in your eyes are hidden wells OF
knowledge. l know you didny
yfite that story, to be sure. but il
whispered to me of you. love YOU
because you are silly: adore you
because ! know that you are not. u
Dotty looked desperately beyond
her eager lover to where the laugh
ing Miss Polly stood with ali the
dreams OF youth repainted upon the
fact upturned to her restored
knight Of old.
And then you say women are
inconsistent" pouted the silly Pow.
der Puff: while the steady Dotty
supplemented: You had better
not forget 1Ster Billie, that even