Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-06-14
IT MADE HIM A HERO.
AN ACT THAT BROUGHT A LAWYER
~ FAME AND FORTUNE.

1 Va Ills NeursiBhtcuheSs.
"a person who enjoys good eye
sight" said man who most decidedly
does not would be greatly astonisheC
TO know how little is seen by those who
are nearsighted even in moderate de
gree. The average shortsighted man
of whom there are hundreds in every
large city. sees nothing distinctly more
than a foot away from his nose. Be
| yond that distance the outline Of oh
| jects becomes haZy and indistinct
| growing rapidly more and more so I'M
til everything is finally merged into
one general blur. The faces of people
| across the street are mere pink blotch-
| es, their figures are destitute of de-
tail, signs are indecipherable 80 feet
| away, and the whole movement of traf-
| fic and passing show of the thorough
| fare is misty panorama, in which
nothing much smaller than Il cab can
be definitely distinguished.
"Of course a nearsighted person can
see as well as anybody through prop
| erly fitted glasses, but great many
| folks regard them as such Il disfigurc-
ment that they prefer to do without
| their aid. That kind of pride is GER
| tainly very foolish because il causes
one To miss at least nine-tenths of
what is going on. TO say nothing of be-
| ing an open invitation TO accident.
Yet, oddly enough, l know of n case in
| which ii actually saved a mans life
and laid the foundation of a fortune.
The hero OF the episode was Il law
yer in city in Ohio where l spent my
boyhood. He was beyond middle age
at the time, but was straight as an ar
row and decidedly handsome. soldier
ly looking parsonage. These good looks
OF his were hi, weak point, and al
though he was extremely nearsighted
he was vain enough TO deny himself
glasses and kept the fact of his in
trinity a secret. The consequence OF
this folly was Il wide reputation for
haughtiness, as he rarely recognized
anybody on the street, and il undoubt-
eddy damaged him in his practice. At
any rate, he had never made anything
more than very modest living when
the curious incident have in mind oc-
Cured.
The city government had been for n
long time under ring rule" continued
the story teller, "and it finally became
md organized reform movement. The
good looking lawyer-call him Colonel
tones for convenience-was one of the
reformers. and, among other things, he
made himself active in securing in
lictments against n number of gam
bling house keepers.
The boss ringstcr of the place was a
typical bully and ward politician nam
ii Harding. who was financially inter
asted in several of the games and nat
urally furious at any interference. He
was giant physically. he would fight
IT the drop of a hat, and the personal
fear lie inspired was really the secret
IF his influence. After the gambling
indictments were found he proceeded
20 use his pull to have them pigeon
holcd. and. learning what was going
IN, Colonel Jones was rash enough TO
write a newspaper card in which he
scored the authorities for allowing such
l rutiian to defeat the ends of justice.
The colonel looked like n soldier. but
he was really Il very bland and peace
Ible gentleman. and he never dreamed
that his little effusion would get him
INTO personal difficulty. On the morn
ing the card appeared he was walking
:almly to his office when Harding rush
ed out of bar across the street. called
him by name and at the same time lev
aled n six shooter at his head. At that
distance all coons looked alike to the
uearsighted lawyer, and, turning in the
direction of the voice, he made out the
vague figure of n man with outstretch-
ed arm apparently reckoning him to
come over.
"a little surprised, but still perfectly
placid, he started to cross the street.
Harding glared Mt him in amazcmeut
md once or twice was on the point of |
pulling the trigger, but the spectacle
Of that serene and dignified figure
calmly advancing straight on the muz-
zle of the gun was too much for his
nerves, and before the colonel travers- |
ed half the distance he dropped the |
weapon and ANONYMOUSLY fed.
Needless to say, the episode made n |
sensation, and Jones, who |
had sense enough to hold his tongue,
was the popular hero of the hour. |
Harding, ON the contrary. was ruined. |
for his prestige had disappeared like n |
flash of lightning. and. unable to stand 1
the disgrace of the affair. he quietly |
sold out his belongings and left the |
.ity. That broke the back of the ring. |
the reformers went into control and |
he colonel was elected mayor by ire
mendous majority. He served two
terms. built up one of the biggest law
practices in that part of the state and /
lied worth nearly a quarter of a mil
ion dollars.
I'm explanation of my inside knowl-
sdge of the case 1 don't mind saying
hat he was n distant relative of mine.
md I'm the family circle, where his
was well known, he
,wned up to the facts as a good joke.
lie said he had a vague idea when he
started across the street that Harding
vas farmer client who had promised