Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-01-14
BY CHARLES /. pELLAMY.
CHAPTER |.
A IIcTURE AND TIA CRITICS.

Let's take squint Inv
IL is on the sidewalk in front Of the fine
residence Of Ezekiel Breton Surely every
body within the length ana breadth Of hum
dred miles must have head thu name Of tho
wealthy mill owner, whose energy and
: shrewdness have passed into Ia 1yword. Tho
house is brilliantly lighted, and the windows
wide open as if to invite the attention and
admiration Of the humble passcrs by
Three men, laborers, if coarse, soiled clothes
and dull, heavy tread mean anything, have
come down the street and now stand leaning
against the tall iron fence,
"Why shouldn't VIC $40 the show, hoysF
continued the long whskerei mHn with an
unpleasant laugh "It's our wort. that's pay
in for it, guess How long do you think it
would take you, Jack. 10 scrinp enough to-
gether to buy one OF them cauGllsylclisl
Hullo--there's the boss himself aud he
thrust his hand inside the mon pieiets to
point out a portly gentleman whose bald
head was fringed with silver white hair.
Mr. Breton had pauaci moment before the
window.
'Come, let's go on urged the man with
clay pipe, edging OH a little into the shadow;
"he'll see us and be inad.n
'Whats the odds if no does" and the
speaker frowned at the rich man from be-
tween the pickets. ale cant get help no
cheaper than US, can hel That's one good
pint of hein' way down, you can't tumble
mite. But just look at him, boys; big watch
chain and gold bowed specs G-dongfn' See
the thumbs Of his white hands stuck in his
vest pocket and him as smiln' as if he never
did nobody wrong in his whole blessed life.
There now is somethin' purifier, thought
The old gentleman moved uususpcctingly
aside and revealed q young girl, large and
fair, with great calm blue eyes. She wore "A
pale blue silk, with delicate rulilcs at her
half barred elbow and at her neck, kissing the
warm white skin.
"Well, suppose my girl Jane might look
just as good in such clothes as them But She
wouldn't no more speak to Jane than as if
the girl wasn't human. And as for "A poor
man, he might pour his life out for her purity
face and she wouldn't give him Il look. a
few dollars and suit Of clothes makes the
odds"
whats she laughin att" said the tall man,
taking his clay pipe from his mouth.
Cant you see. There's the boy standin'
jist beyond her. Broton's young hopeful
Nothin' less than the biggest kind of game
for her, cal'late."
~ never seen him before" remarked the
third man, reverentially 81 s'pose he'll be
our boss some day.
Hes been to college polishin' up his wits.
faint goin' to be SO easy as it WINS to grind
the poor. The old man now didn't need no
extra schoolin'.n
~ amt so sure now,' said the tall man,
blowing out wreath of smoke. "The boy
looks more kind about his mouth and eyes.
See him look at tile girl | calate she don't
think he's very bad
wait till he gets his heel on the necks OF
a thousand of us. as lis father has Wait
till he finds we amt got a penny ahead, nor
q spot of Gods earth Tor our own, but lie at
his mercy. See how kind he'll be then.
Taint the nature of the beast, Bin Rogers
Bill Rogers took a long look ut the slight
form of the mill owners son--at his fresh,
young face and small pleasant black eyes.
~ wish the lad had chance. | believe I'd
trust him, Graves. Hadn't we better be
startin's The meetin will begin purity SOON"
''What's the hurry2 Curran is always late
himself. Well, come along, then"
Just now Mr.. Breton is leaning lightly on
the mantel near one of his pet heirloons-
the silver candeabra. Near him stands Il tall,
elegantly formed gentleman, only trite
past middle age, whose clear chiseled mouth
has the merest hint of smile on it, as if lie
had just said something bright. 1t was smile
he always wore when he had spoEen--a smile
with an edge to it. But Mr.. Ellingsworth
had to make that smile do good service, for
he never laughed The funniest jokes had
been told hin-the most ridiculous situations
described to him-but he only smiled.
>>"What am l going to do with the boy2'
Mr.. Bretons voice was always loud and
sharp as if making itself heard above the
roaring of his mills. "Why marry him to
your daughter the first thing. Ehl PHILIPPE