Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-09-18
Q 90. O.O.O.O.O.oeo.o.O.o
. SOME SHORT STORIES. .

Eiwsrd ". Ebey 10 . railway
postal clerk. He runs into Rock ISL
and or the St. Louis division Of the
bis home being at Win
chester, I'll. He is an ardent repu B.
licau and has succeeded in bringing
the other members of his household
around to thinking - he does politi-
cally.
Mr.. Ebey devoted much time last
fall in explaining to his little son
that William J. Bryan WAS not the
right kind of man to occupy the presi- |
Dental chair. The little fellow be. |
came an enthusiastic I'D mirer of Nc |
Kinley, and scoffed at the mention
of Bryan's name.
Mr.. Lbey recently took vacation.
When he reached homo. during the
course of . conversation with his
wife. she asked:
Who did you get to take your
placer
Bryan" he answered.
why, papa" spoke up the young
er Ebey, .'you ought to be ashamed
of yourself. Why didn't you get .
Nick nley MANI"
The Bryan referred to is Charles
E. Bryan. OF this city.
Now it has been suggested that
MIR. Ebey take few days off and ex-
plain the situation to his little son.
-
/ He had an honest looking face, was
clean and neat. and when he ap-
preached q young man on Second
avenue and asked for enough money
to buy his breakfast it was hard to
refuse him.
IL know the story is an old one
to you." he said, land there are
many interruptions fellows who bore
you by trying to beg money from
you; but upon my honor. friend. l
am nearly starved. and would not
think of asking for assistance il l
were not compelled to. I'm no bum.
God knows. I'm an honest man.
willing to work at any honest voca
tion.'
The young man was impressed by
the strangers story. ard handed him
q quarter. The man was proiuse in
his thanks and said that some day
he hoped he would be in position to
return the favor. Then he started
up the avenue. He was watched by
his benefactor, who determined to
satisfy himself as to the sincerity OF
the fellow. He took the other side
of the street. The stranger passed
two restaurants and went into drug
store, where it was found he bought
q quarters worth of cigars. He
lighted one. pocketed the rest, and
boarded car for Davenport.
-
Several bootblacks were gathered
on the sidewalk behind q large boz
on one of the side streets shooting
craps.
1t was a nickle q pass. Among
the shooters WAS q little arab. who
had only been carrying box about
q week. He was not fully convers
ant with the ways of his companions.
Ha was little green yet; hut he wa.
learning fast. He said he had never
rolled the bones before, and it wal
only after much cosxing that he wat
induced to come into the game.
| The first pass he made he won.
"Naw, that stiff never rolled 'en
BEFORE" sarcastically remarked on.
of she push.
HE wins again" shouted the lit
tie fellow with the freckled face
Say, that Indian is in clover. Looky
tn way be handles EN- old boys
Why, I'll bet he's been trowin' 'em .
censhury. He'll have Us all skinned
II his luck stays with him. Com,
sixw A seven came instead. 1t wa
followed by an oath.
"You pluggers better Gloss yel
! traps or the copper will get next.
dye hear?" This warning cam,
from the oldest head in the gang
He had gone broke.
After the game had continue,
about an hour, all but the movie,
and the long haired boy who wanted
to be known as ''real tough fellow,
: had withdrawn minus their small
change.
:. A few more passes and the tougl
boy began 10 get mad. He was get
| ttHS uO"u W MS ldSt money. u
had Is cents left.
"Say. you seem to be quite a sport
Iguy. What dye say we makes tn
next pass for two bits" 1t wa
agreed. The novice had the bones
, His point was three. And he WOE
One OF the dice rolled over towar
the other player and he tipped
over. but not before the little fellow
and others gathered about the ring
saw that the point had been fairi
:. made.
The little fellow reached for tn
money in the pot, but was preveute
i, from taking it by the tough boy
"Why, you didn't come three tina
time. boy. I should say not, 20
don't trow tn bull con into me- tina
easy"
Yer just what I thought yo
3 was." replied the little fellow
you're q big baby. But be square
5 Hand over the coin; i'll give you
chance to win it back"