Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-28
SOME SHORT STORIES.

4: SOME SHORT STORIES. :
0.o.o.o.o.o.o.0.o.o.0.o.o
He has been in town up ward OF .
year. A man would naturally form
q1i,e an acquaintance after being in
= city the size Of Rock Island that
length OF time. but it Is safe to we'd.
ture the statement that the indivId.
ual in question is not on speaking
terms with . half dozen people in
this vicinity.
When he arrived he took board
ing and lodging with . family in .
quiet Deighborbood. He had not
the appearance OF sociability. bat
the people With whom he made his
home thought he would become more
congenial when he had been there
awhile. They we're disappointed in
this respect. He grew colder ia
stead. AID always preferred TO be
alone. He would arise at season
able hour. breakfast and leave. re
turning promptly TOR diunsr. He
would 20 again after the noondsv
meal, and would be on hand at 6
sharp He would 20 out for few
hours in the evening. He re- j. ed
early.
At meals he rarely spoke to any
one. He remained with the family
several months. Never eros. word
passed between him and the ,srd-
ing mistress. He always paid regu.
larry. His room was always neatly
kept. He had but little baggage.
One day he was asked what he was
doing
.'NotLiog." was the cold reply.
"Are you looking for work.
No sir"
The interview here ended. He
l fs his boarding place shortly after
ward and secured new quarters.
He ~ q man Of probably 40 years.
with d atk hair and nustachs. His
clothes are always neat His eyes
have far-awsy and frightened ap.
pearance. For hours at . time he
will seat himself in . remote spot
aud gaze At paesersby. II any one
notices him be will cast his eyes
right and left like as il he was pre-
pairing to make . dash for libsrty.
He becomes very restless when
watched. and - soon as he 10 alone
will move on.
He has GENE to b. known as the
my sterious man.
Professional ..pan-handlers." for
want Of = new story to sing. are ., ek-
ing sympathy aad assistance on the
strength Of representing themselves
to be striking coal miners
Several Of them have been operat-
ing about the city the past few days.
They stop people. and insist on the m
hearing their tale. a. d il one keepe
on Walking and refuses to listen, in
suits are heaped upon him.
One of them interrupted . party
of gentlemen in front Of hotel He
told the old. stereotyped. hard-lucs
story Of being broke" hung aud
with no plaoe to sleep lie was
given . somewhat cool reception. the
gentlemen keeping on with their
conversation. and pretending not to
Do cognizant Of his presence. Bnt
he was not 10 be turned down. He
had just enough liquor uoder his
vest to be nervy. So he kept on
talking. Finally one Of the parry
turned in his chair.
What do you want. anyway ?" the
stranger was asked.
"Friend." he began. "I'm a rail-
roader; been out Of WORE for Fix
months; haven'e An acquaintance in
the town; NO money, and. an EN- pty
bread basket. just give me enough
to buy s-cup of coffee; now do. gen
tlemen. please do"
"Oh. that's . pretty cheap story. :"
said one. and the conversation was
resumed. The beggar heaved Q Sigh,
aud after sizing up his audience q
few seconds resumed his story. His
voice trem bled. and all he lacked
was m onion to produce tears. He
became tired eventually. however,
aad started away. giving - . fare
we'll: +4
"Oh. you're . pretty cheap gang
Of stiffs. anyway" This vas .ccom-
panied by . string Of oaths. He ouIy
went half block when he stopped .
man.
Friend" he began. Il have been
out Of work since the coal strike be.
gun. have . wife and i've children
who have nothing 10 live on. No~
al l ask you 10 to give me . small
piece Of money to asep me alive. ~
! must try and get work and earn
money 10 support my family"
"A striking miner. eh?" answered
the man. Who became little inter.
ested in the fellow. '.Lst's1ee. when
was the strike inaugurakd?"
'.Oh. that's been quite awhile. ron
know. Say. friend. Tn"
Il say when"
my home IL down at Msssiliop,
Ohio. Say. jack -"
''Geod night. sir; yonr work 10 .