Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-06-12
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
A WALKING
PARTY.

MISS Chalmers was the most aItrac-
tive girl at the Mountain House that
summer, and before the season was
half over had resolved to win her If
1 could. She was with her mother,
her father being engaged in business
in the city. She talked. n great deal
OF her father, and it was plain that
they were devoted TO each other. l
wished could meet him and do SOME
thing To ingratiate myself into his IA
vor, for / knew he would have great
influence over his daughter when the
crisis came.
Miss Chalmers and | spent much
time ON the piazza looking at the beau
tiful view far belPw, the fields of rip
ening. corn and those from which the
grain had already been cut, the Whole
resembling patchwork in quilt. often
watching for the afternoon stage to
come numbering up the incline. bring
ing the days passengers from the sta
ton. Besides, we were both good
walkers and tramped over every posi-
BILE path within reach.
Father is Il great walker" she said
every time we started out. How /
do wish lie would come up and walk
with us!''
One afternoon Miss Chalmers was
indisposed. and l was obliged TO walk
alone. My thoughts dwelt continually
upon her. and wished l might have
an opportunity to do something heroic
that would commend me to her. l
walked down the winding road i'm the
direction of the station. passing the
4 \
passed two men who scrutInizel me
closely. then passed on. saying:
There's n desperate character hid
ing i'm these mountains. We're looking
for him. III he meets you, lie might
ask for Il loan. He's very hard up"
What is lie like?" / asked.
Reddish beard; sandy hair mixed
with gray; sturdy fellow; east in his
left eye
The first thing l did after the men
were out OF sight was to select stout
cudgel from the dead wood lying about
and resolved that If / encountered
the desperate | would see what ! could
do toward taking him in. 1t occurred
TO me that lie might be armed. but
thought how splendid L would feel 10
march him up To the piazza of the hotel
in view of the guests. especially Miss
Chalmers. and determined TO take any
risk.
Half an hour later saw n man com
ing up the road-'reddish beard; sandy
hair mixed with gray; sturdy fellow:
let me get look at his left eye"
stopped square in his front aud looked
at the eye in question. If the cast was
there. could not make it out.
where do you hail frOmT' l asked
in an authoritative tone.
"Why do you ask"
Never mind that. Answer my ques-
ton"
Not until you show your authority
for asking"
"I've been looking for you," / said in
the tone of an officer of the law, at the
same time putting my hand under my
coat at the hip where constables carry
their revolvcrs. pass on. I'll walk
behind
The man looked at me and in the
direction my hand had taken. then
said:
There's some mistake about this"
''All men who are wanted advance
that plea. Move on"
Without n word he turned and walk
ed on up the road. 1 was delighted
with my success. 1t looked as if he
would be easily landed. But l had
three miles to take him and must keep
n close watch. Indeed I was convinced
that his want of resistance meant a
ruse when an opportunity should pre-
sent itself. 1 was right. We had gone
perhaps mile and had closed up to
within two yards of him when he
turned and with the agility
OF a cat sprang upon me. He was as
strong as he was nimble, and in a
1 found myself on my back,
my cudgel knocked out of my hand.
He seized it and, holding it over me,
thrust his hand TO my right hip for my
revolver.
"Bluffr' he exclaimed contemptuous-
ly. Now. young man. get up and take
the lead yourself"
l was caught in my own trap. unarm-
ed, ut the mercy of u desperate man,
with club.
(Which way?" 1 asked.
up"
There is a moment in my life that
can never recall without supreme an
guish, modification. despair. A loved
and loving one has done all in her pow
er to cause me to forget it. but it is still
the sore spot of my existence. At this
crucial moment l was walking before
my captor up to the Mountain House.
At my left the setting sun was cover
ing the wide stretch OF fields below
with glory, but did not see il. l saw
ON the hotel piazza the guests assem-
bled before dinner. Each looked as tall
as specter in the Brocken. And
running down the path to meet us was
Miss Chalmersi
"Oh, papa, is it really you? How ike
you TO walk up instead of ridingr'
"Stand Off a moment. Ethel. I've got
q lunatic or something in tow. If 1
give him a chance. he'll turn on me-"
"a lunatic! Why, that's Mr.. Trot-
teri"