The Rock Island Argus and daily union., 1922-12-13
Split MILK.
By Martha Prouty.
Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler Syn
dicate. Incl

BY Martha Prouty.
Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler Syn
dicate, Inc.)
met Chubby this morning and
I hardly knew him, SO thoroughly
had he outgrown the chrysalis state.
It was in the same old place, at
the same old time, Just in front Of
the postoffice. They were ripping
up the street, and ripping it into
the poor wayfarers in great shape.
Chubby, immaculate in the latest
thing in topcoats, trousers pressed
to the keenest edge, derby brushed
precisely the right way, with one
glove off and one glove on-Chub-
by, l say, had carelessly brushed
against a pile of paving stones and
was stopping to demonstrate with
the men who had put them there.
The men were all grinning and ex-
changing chaff with Chubby, and he
evidently was living two lives in
one It is the way Of Chubby to
demonstrate in friendly fashion
that makes. the victim feel that
Chubby would be justified in reg
lstering kick against Providence.
II I were to mention the Office
building in which Chubby spends
the major portion of his valuable
time, and should tell you Just what
line of business he presides over so
successfully, you would know too
much. You would be sure to spot
Chubby the next time you went
through Postoffice square at pre-
cisely 9:15 in the morning. But,
know you'd be none the worse for
having met him, and l am real sure
that he'd be delighted to have met
you.
Chubby really blossomed into the
business world-no budding for
him. He appeared on my horizon
and the consciousness of a much
larger world one fine morning
when the first crisp was to be no.
ticed in the air and most people
were looking a little pinched and
blue. Chubby sailed into the square
at precisely 9:15, clad in messen-
gers uniform, standing about as
high as an ordinary mans waist
line, counting cap and all, and hcld-
ing securely between his lips a
cigaret that looked too big to have
come out Of a box. l was suddenly
and delightfully."- convinced that
Chubby had Manufactured that
cigaret with profound and ex-
press purpose of creating an in
preston. 1 liked him, and 1 re-
spected him. l smiled at him, to
assuage if l could the burden that
he carried at the moment.
Having spilled the contents of
one perfectly good bottle OF milk
that he had been bent on delivering
to an ill-advised toiler, he had
shifted the burden of sandwich and
buns to better vantage, and was
about to return to the peddler of
milk to make good the deficiency
caused by paving stones. He caught
my smile and something fine leaped
from Chubby's eyes to mine. He
nodded with perfect self-possession.
'as though the encounter fitted fn
with his plans. I had Just bowed to
the treasurer Of the World Assur-
ance company, Of which corp0rn-
tion was counsel.
His face was round-Chubby's II
mean, Of course-and full as the
fattest baby ever saw, his eyes
were big and brightest blue, and
he looked as if he might have been
taken from his cradle by a mis-
chievous fay and dressed up to fool
mortals.
In less than a moment he stood
close at my side. III you see an
opportunity size It mp and seize It.
was evidently one Of Chubby's MOT
toes. He had many other useful
and happy ones. Is I later found
out.
"Say. know anyone in the Worls !
Assurance company! he asked IN |
conversational manner.
"Ch, yes, bo," I responded. I
know the president, Mr.. Blank, and
the vice president. l have just ex-
changed q good-morning with the
treasurer. as you may have noticed.
Oh, know the whole bunch"
"Joshjngr demanded Chubby.
standing on tiptoe. the better to