The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-29
The Daily Short Story.

interrupted subject of Lobelia.
Salome seemed bent on talking
of everything else, and when she
had brought the conversation
around to a discussion of Boston
prices with those of Fairville, Sc
lima rose in disgust.
Il must go, Salome," she inter-
rupted tartly. "And l must say.
you're the queerest woman I eyer
sect" Selina's pent-up tongue
could restrain itself no longer.
you amt mentioned Lobelia," re-
;; proachfully. Folks say you amt
never forgive her for cutting you
opt with John Bascomb." The
shame of baffled purpose made Se-5
/ lima reckless. well, / always
heard you was hard as iron, Sa-
lone Blake" she added, "but 1
amt never believed it before"
A moment later Salome was
alone. N
| So that was what they thought of
her. Fairville folks! =
For moment the spotless
kitchen swan in a mist of binding
tears, then with a stoicism born of
bitter years. SalOme resumed her
! jelly-making.
1t was late when she finished.
All day she had worked with
tireless energy, keeping her mind
upon her tasks by sheer force of
will.
But now the setting sun found
her little house in perfect order.
The hour she dreaded had come
when no longer could she hold at
bay, with work the bitterness in
her soul.
Restlessly she paused at win
dow facing Lobelia's. A feverish
desire possessed her to know what
was going on there. She could see
people moving hastily about, and
/ once the Whitehead figure OF a
woman.
"The nurse!" she scoffed.
They've got three doctors and a
nurse-and they can't save him!"
The thought thrilled her.
Harry Bascombe, his mothers
idol, would die, Salome knew it;
felt it. And all the while she
might save him! That. too.
she knew; felt.
But it was Lobelit's reckoning
day. Let her suffer now. as .she
had made her, Salome, suffer!
/ Mechanically Salome prepared
her toast and tea. But when it was
ready, she left it untouched upon
the table and went out to care for
I the hens. I
1 The cool night air refreshed her
hot cheeks.
4 She stood watching the lights
twinkling from neighboring win
dows. and Selina's words came
back:
! Il always heard you was hard
as IRON"
), well, maybe she was-maybe.
And Salome smiled bitterly.
4 AS she was about to lock the
. henhouse door, the crouching fig
|, ure Of an animal within, caught her
eye.
/ 1t, was Selma Hawkes. tom-cat.
Now long ago Salome had vowed
vengeance upon that cat for the
loss of many priced chicken from
her flocks!
i At sight of it now, q fierce, un.
reasonable anger filled her.
4 Dragging the luckless animal
from Its hiding place she determined
upon a speedy vengeance. She was
! In a mood to hurt-tO torture.
Gimme my tat"
! The baby voice, shrill with feal
halted Salome.
I Holding the cat tightly, she wait.
!, ed for the stumbling little feet d
Selina's baby to reach her.
Il Gimme my tat"
= Its my cat-nOw," answered Sa.
!, lone. grimly.
4 TAHITI" Indignantly. Its my
I rtat!'
What will you give ME for it,
icuriously.
q Swift understanding illumined 4th.
J .child's face.
"A tiss." promptly.
\ Speachless at the unexpected ans.
wer, Salome stared helplessly at The
smiling Bobby.
: For 20 years-20 empty years-ne
one had offered her kiss!
- lmpulsiyely she knelt beside II,