The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-07-07
The Daily Short Story
and was going down the

Henderson and was going down the
elevator.
"Hill was certainly kidding mel"
he gibed to himself. "Honey-col-
ored hairi Huh! He meant mud
colored, and he forgot to say it was
stringy and straight. Green eyes,
all right! Slender and willowy.
Elephantine! Some men have pc
culiar sense of humor, I'll say. No
wonder Henderson didn't bother to
introduce me. Maybe the lady's
brainy. But she waddles. What no,
for Cuba and the malaria, or what
ever it is Brown hast"
This time Miss Nancy Bradlee
was not even accorded the honor of
a mental pigennhole. So that, a
month later, Terhune had to think
twice when he received friendly
little note signed Anne Bradlee,"
saying that, at Mr.. Henderson's
suggestion, she was sending a
batch of New York and Toledo
newspapers.
Terhune answered the note the
next day. Anne Bradlee must have
read between the lines of his jolly
descriptions of tropical life, and
discovered that he was homesick
and lonesome. because she wrote
again very soon.
Terhune's fifth letter began
Dear Mccoy" He waited anxious
ly for her reply-perhaps she
wouldn't write. to punish him for
his temerity. But the answer came
as usual, and it began, quite natur-
ally, Dear Dick" with no comment
on the more informal greeting.
When he had been in Cuba a year
and was beginning to long for a
taste Of the cooler northern elm
ate, Terhune received the welcome
news that he was to report to the
New York office in a month, and
that Brown would return to his old
job.
During the trip north, Terhune,
stretched out lazily in a steamer
chair on the shady side of the deck,
watching the schools of flying fish
dart in silver flashes over the sap
phire blue of southern seas, had
ample time to think Of Nancy. They
had become very friendly in their
letters fact, more than friendly.
With the barrier of hundreds of
miles between them he had almost
forgotten what she looked like; but
now that he would have to meet her
again, and probably be invited to
| no ha HAv rI = H.,
how awkward and unattractive she
was. The Nancy of the letters was
:ovable-but the real Nancy!
| When his boat locked in Brook
lyn, he went directly to the office.
Henderson was away, but Hill
!! greeted him cordially.
Mighty glad to see you back,
lTerhune.' Sorry have an-appoint-
,ment at IL, but Miss Bradlee will
explain everything to you, and I'll
be around tomorrow. You've never
met her, have you! He led Ter
hume to the adjoining office.
Nancy, here's Mr.. Terhune, from
Cuba. you know. Terhune, Miss
Bradlee. Explain things to him
Nancy, will you? And then send
him home to rest after his trip
See you tomorrow, Terhune."
! Terhune. smiling down at the girl
before him-the slender girl with
the honey-colored hair and the
blue-green eyes and the cherry red
lips, asked, please, first Of all
; Miss-er-Nancy, who was the youna
! lady l saw here a year ago-jusl
before I left for Cubaw
! The blue-green eyes sparkled
mischeviously.
Il remember you mentioned hav.
Ing met her in your letters. But
l was away at the time on my va.
cation and there was a substitute
stenographer taking my place"
That's fine-I mean-er-do yor
suppose it's too early to 90 to lunch
Nancy"
Perhaps not-this once-Dick.
Hill, lunching with a client at til,
same restaurant, watched Dick ant
Nancy In amaxcment. Both of then
were entirely unaware Of his pres
ence and apparently obliyious O
the food before them.
Il introduced them 10 minute:
) ago." he chuckfed, and you'd thinl
; they were sngagsd-or going t.
Tibet"