The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-28
FOUND FLOATING.
Sheltered by Friendly Umbrella on
Argus Reporter Brings an Interest
ing Item In out Of the Wet.

Last evening was wet and disagreeable.
The rain came down in a steady shower,
and the air was close and oppressive.
Up at the union depot the people who
had become weary of the closeness of the
waiting room were huddled together be-
meath the friendly awning shelter of the
depot building roof. They were all wait
ing for the cannon ball train. Among
those who were standing around was
reporter for the ARGUS. About ON time
the train arrived and there was the usual
hustle and excitement incident to the ar
rival of a train. Among the arrivals were
little boy and girl who ran nimbly to
shelter from the rain beneath the broad
caves of the depot. A brakeman follow
ed and said TO hackman, take care of
these children, please, and send them out
on the st. Louis train this evening They
have money to pay their way, but don't
take advantage of their helplessness. ;"
Contrary to the characteristics of his fra
ternity the noble cabby promised to act
reasonably for once. AS the hackman
was not ready to start, the little couple
rushed into the depot to escape the
splashes of the heavily falling rain from
the depot ROOT, and the ARGUS reporter ven
tured to follow. The little girl, who was
the older of the TWO, was found demurely
sitting in seat, and the reporter care :
lessly took seat beside her.
In moment pair of suspicious dark
eyes regarded him with fixed interroga-
ton point
Il beg your pardon, exclaimed the scribe.
but gained an idea from an overheard
remark that you and your brother were
making a rather long trip alone for such
young couple, and l thought l would
ask you about it, as | am newspaper
man The dark eyes of the little maid
en- at once frightened and she smiled as
she remarked: 'Well, you newspaper men
beat the world This is the second time
have been, oh-what is it now?-oh
yes, interviewed, since left my dear old
home" As the word home escaped hel
lips, her eye lids dropped and tear stole
into them. The reporter said nothing
soon the little maiden recovered anG
turning her eyes full upon him said, %
suppose you want to know something
about Eddie and myself?" Come here
Eddie" she continued, and the little boy
who had been at the further end of thu
room came forward. We'll, me anC
Eddie" began the little girl, started from
Newark. New Jersey, for St. Louis, Mon
day morning. Our name is Courtney AMI
my name is Emma. | am eleven year
old and Eddie is eight. A month ago.
and once more the tears filled her eyes
"our ma died of cholera morbus. She
passed away very suddenly and lief
Eddie and l all alone in the world.
Our father died three years ago. HI
was carpenter, and fell off house on,
wet day, something like this, and received
injuries from which he died three week
| Iax in
ark until ma died, as told you"
well when ma had been placed ava!
beneath the ground. friends in st. Louis
on Corondelet avenue, sent for US Al
of our mothers folks live there, and W,
started We got friend in Newark t.
get US on the right train and We hav,
had no trouble since. The conductor
have been very kind. We are rattle
young to travel know, and you don
know how badly l feel to leave tn
neighborhood in which ma and pa ar
buried One more nights ride and W,
shall be in St. Louis, our future home
Gan aboard for down town." yelled t
hackman, and the little girl grasped he
brother by the rist and together the twail
entered the hack and came down to thu
heart of the city. At $50 last night the.
left for st. Louis, and ere this they art
safe with friends in the Mound city. The!
were the brightest little folks who eve
travelled alone and protected from TIL
east to the south.