Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-06-19
T~O~~~~~~~O~~O>O~1
! The Daily Short Story !
}WHAT HE WOULD DIE FOR
ny Charles Frederick Go...

Danvers was n harum scarum, rattle
headed young chap whom the casual
observer would think n fit subject for
either lunatlc asylum or the Jail.
One day in a lull of business his
| friend Sanders had been reading about
n pilot who had lost his life in an at
tempt 10 save the passengers on his
boat. Having laid his paper down
and reflected n moment. he said, Dan
vers, what would you die for?''
"Die for? You fool, l wouldn't die
for anything" he answered. n cold
chill running up his back and a stric-
ture gripping his heart. for the solemn
question had startled him.
after ALL" said Sanders. fixing his
clear hlue eyes on him, lit seems as il
fellow ought to be willing to die for
something or other. Lots of men have
to whom life was quite as sweet as to
you or me. Dick. I reckon now you
would die for Jenny. wouldn't you?"
Something came up in Danvers'
throat and ehoked him. for Jenny was
the only girl who had ever seemed
willing to take a chance on the young
scapegrace. She had seen something
or other in him that made her marry
him offhand and ever since their we'd
ding had seemed TO him more like an
angel than a woman.
And so when her sweet face rose up
before him he choked, his eyes swan,
his heart swelled.
'Die for her? BY Jove. Sanders, I'd
be torn TO pieces by jackals to save her |
n minutes suffering" he cried, spring |
ing TO his feet
And there Is little Dick. You prob |
ably wouldn't die for him?" asked |
Sanders quizzically.
Little Dick exclaimed Danvers. a /
flush OverspreadinS his face and then
vanishing, to leave 1t deadly pale. |
Sanders, I'd open vein in my arm
and bleed To death by inches To keep /
that boy from harm and see him grow
up a better man than his good for
nothing dad
How about your country" asked
Sanders. his eyes kindling as he re-
membered Dicks escapade i'm the Span
ish war, where the rascal had jumped
out from behind tree at San Juan
Hill. waved the flag and defied the
Spaniards TO shoot him.
'Oh, well, n man who wouldn't die
for his country would be n sneak, you
know" said Dick nonchalantIy.
How about your honor? Suppose
the old man Their employerl should
come 10 you some day and say. Dick.
| have been fixing the accounts in such
a way that if you will sign your name
TO this bill it will make me n million
lirc, and Ill give you n cool 100000,
but If you don't III put you In prison
Tor ten years on this false entry you
made by accident What would you
10, Dick?''
DO. I'd say TO him: You internal
Did scOundrcl, You may send me 10
prison or TO Jail or to the bad place, but
won't lie for you nor for Jenny nor
-or little Dick nor for my old mother
Tor for all of them put together. I'll
lie first"
Sanders just looked at him for mo-
nent and smiled. After that he said:
Dick, you're a good fellow. You're n
,etter fellow than you think you are.
You're wild, you're rough. You brIg ]
bout your vices. You blather about
,eing an atheist and a whole lot of .
tuff. But this is only skin deep. and {
is time you took account of stock.
quared yourself with God and settled I
own TO business"
SANDERS. Sanders" called a voice. I
Coming" he cried and went of. Q
,aving Danvers TO his meditations. G
They were long. they were deep. they l
Fere serious. He could not get the (
natter out of his mind. 1t followed | '
i'm home. He thought of it when he \
-as rocking little Dick to sleep. He | I
bought of it as he sat holding Jenny J
n his knee after the little fellow had S
cen laid lovingly in the crib. When C
L was ready for bed. he had a strange