Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-10-27
yJyE-THIRTEEN.

NNE-lHlhlLh-''
~, wasn't freckled and snub
rnFr We 10 wasn't altogether tough,
aD1 orrr boys are both.
n'''.ue WING his heels and wait for
rst - Messenger station No. 90,
ID ~ !. M in quiet part of the
FnIcut : most of the calls are to
SD Vim Number 9l3 wasn't
BE lg' and nut in considerable leisure
f''fA sI,, M the things that went on in
by ysaoybood He knew which men
sssa y .",, tbe drug shop on the corner
''D' . 'a,I in the morning; he knew
times a day the pretty Irish
DaI! first house on the side street
% ~ bar.p mats at the big policeman
~ a He knew lot more things
T. grew that the pretty girl in the
~ lover. and that the mother
Ina irving to keep that fact, for
.,.,D from the father.
.Si-requ approved of love affairs on
,..,,.,'es. and he approved Of this
rarbi, heart. He approved, hearth
.tir. being concealed from the IA
-'ybecquse he had no liking for the
=. disg-eeabe looking old fellow,
..lr because it made things livelier
..a interesting for himself.
.ti-r-ep knew that the father was
=, n the love affair by the way in
,5i,.., were conducted. The old
lam went off to his Office each morn
Fl pfurned about half past in the
.,cp Just at luncheon time each
4. Young man would turn the corner
h and dash up the steps.
|-s,ines his trap would come up after
...or and the two young people and
-rbsr would 60 for a drive in the
Sometimes he came in his riding
and then she would come down
s.,s in a close, dark habit and silk
nd they would drive off together.
.Nteen was a little disappointed
asy didn't have the horses brought
.loor He wanted TO see Miss Mabel
/.
uvcnally they neither drove nor rode,
n went out for a little walk, and
ksmes they did none Of those things,
rin the house and talked.
fre,hirteen knew that she was the
|rt,er Of Horace Wright, the broker,
| ita, he was Frederic Brown Romayne,
bad a fine law Office down in the
[is5.e building. These statements
Il have meant more to the readers Of
|Scety columns in the newspapers than
| did to Nine-thirteen. However, he
CONSCIOUS Of a magnanimous and pa
b interest in the young people, and
Il have been glad TO be of more service
ben than merely carrying notes and
s and other things of slight impor-
be- in long while the old man didn't
iOEl town for the day, and Nine-thir-
never looked in vain on these days for
.nmOls from the house, whence he
IsG'e to carry telegraph blank on
Il vas written:
Ca-1ot see you today. Will write.
IN. W.
is sent to Frederic Brown-Romayne."
lsdtnese days had come. Nine-thir-
had answered the call and dispatched
rlsgram. A few minutes later Miss
< came down the steps and walked
II the avenue, with a stout, gray
=! lady, who looked like Mrs. Wright,
EhO wasn't Mrs. Wright.
but !. o'clock the door of District
RlgeF station, No. e., opened with a
.d dumb reverence to the impressive
% Of Mr.. Horace Wright, broker.
ae gold pen out Of his pocket he
e INTO the ink well, pulled a pad o.
Is toward him and began to write.
sieRraph operator was sitting at the
lnent with his back toward the
Here, Clark" he called to his as
~ take this message down."
AHl Wright, 81 East til street.
hAlns has happened. Must see you
+ Wire me where and when.
IF. r. B."
'"oFl' rang out loud and unmistaka-
-',i two persons to indiscreet and
Ia BEHAVIOR thereby. The stout old
stopped in the midst of a scratch as
'4.- LIS daughters name. AS the
, went on, be grew first purple, then
he stood motionless while Clark
WI Tue message. Then a large pres
-.'''el AZ Liark's side and a large
, va .@ll On the paper. II will take
/ ioI please, he said, and the opera
,.Aeu up saw Mr.. Horace Wright,
'Ltv' Tue telegram into an envelope.
.'., .Ie MESA &c came in, Nine-thirteen
Z '.g ,.. how much a pair of patent
80 axe those the operator was wear.
' ,1.. cost. When he heard the ad-
=, ~. vac message he jumped to his feet
!. ~, o.a'he tool' he whispered, under
go, linen he watched old Wright,
=. G,"ays called him. Nine-thirteen
49,, ~ uGWn to the Bowery theaters
~ lie knew the look meant
!, - hls head whirled for a minute
) ) mouth was dry. He didn't know
r vas pale, but he was. Nine-thir-
,, ,,'S ii4d been cast along In prosaic
I gs 'a now and this was a great trag-
in,1 o"' uoWn to think, and In a min
~ got clear. That blame foolp'
!, san under his breath, and yet up
.,o VT! hour the operator had been
a. va Wright means mischief.
:. sure and Nine-thirteen saw Miss
h! petty face wet with tears and
s,5i "ogus poured out before her and
y ~ nad got to be done, and he
Sin sne :, amt ketchin it this minute,
T5a. 'Iirteen to himself; she's away
No 1 ne fell into deep thought for
and suddenly he seized a sheet Of
M, ~ oSan to write. What he wrote
i, anG an envelope, stealthiIy di
T SLu slipped it into his breast
hsIf He sat down again, and
n tba " "Ssleep Tor a few minutes.