The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-01
ELSIE LEARNS A LESSON.
By Marjorie Mawhinney.
Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler Syn
dictate, Inc.)

| Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler Syn
dictate, Inc.)
Away down deep inside Elsie
knew she had been careless, but
being Mcfarland she just
would MT admit it, 1t was quite
1 obvions, however, that her Uncle
Ned--aiso a MacFarland-ha taken
| the rings to teach her lesson, but
| Elsie was determined not to ASK
him for them, and first year hus-
bamis can be SO observing.
Luckily, though, Bob's duties
had kept him from home the greater
paII of the time. He had written
Elsie that he expected to be back
Wednesday, and today was Tues
day.
Two weeks previously she had at
tel4ded d pre-holiday whist at Sal
Bs1rretts home Arriving trlffe
early, she had helped Sal arrange
tie tables and put the final touch
on the decorations. Then she
skipped upstairs moment to wash
htE hands.
4 moment later Sal came running
IN, exclaiming breathiessly:
Your Uncle Ned is downstairs
l=nd he wants to see you as soon as
.Le can"
Elsie hurried down.
Hello, Uncle Ned she Sid.
Anything wrong"
"Of course not. child" he re-
piled, smiling. I'm simply going
away on a hunting trip and l Just
dropped IN to say goodbye. Your
maid said you were over here"
| I'm so glad you came" Elsie
Unanswered, and then laughingly add
/ ed, Il probably need watching vet
even though Bob tries his best"
We'll, not exactly" her uncle re-
piled. somewhat gravely, but, you
\ see, | Just can't forget I've looked
out for you ever since you were
knee high, and I've never quite for
gotten how. I dare say you still
need it," he added-dodging well
aimed sofa pillow.
Sal interrupted. IF you have
minute to spare, Mr.. MacFarland,
| wish you would come out and
tell NE what you think of my new
Scotch collie. Ny husband doesn't
care much for him"
Some husbands can be so jeal-
GUS said Mcfarland, with
twinkle in his eye.
"Oh, it isn't that" laughed Sal,
as they started for the kennel
When they had come back the
rings were gone. Elsie remembered
i she had removed them when she
washed her hands and she also
distinctly recalled having brought
them downstairs and leaving them
on the hall table, quite forgetting
to take them when she went out TO
see the collie. Elsie understood. 1t
simply bore out the statement that
she needed watching. This was her
uncle's method of teaching her the
lesson of carefulness. And he had
a most peculiar way of letting his
actions say so much more than
mere words.
Many, many times she had made
up her mind to ask for the rings,
and an equal number of times she
had decided not to. She missed
them, it was true, but she Just hated
to give in.
The day before Bob was due
home the postman brought Elsie
a letter, part of one paragraph of
which read: -. and today,
girl, l saw a ring that looked so
much like yours. A fine looking
chap was displaying it in the lobby
of the :"
a terrible fear gripped Elsie.
Suppose after ALI her uncle hadn't
taken the rings. On second thought
she recalled seeing young man
on the piazza of Sails home that
day 1t would have BEEN simply
the work of moment to step IN
and snatch them off the table.
She reached for the telephone, for |
now she must have the rings at all !;
costs-pride or no pride. By this |
time she wasn't even sure that her !
uncle was to blame-and Bob
would be certain to notice.
With nerves all a-tingling she /
called her uncle's number, only to