Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-06

PROWESS
IOriginaL.l


newspaper reporters-Dykeman was
one of us-was constantly treated by
him to some fanciful exploit in which
he had been engaged, though he mod
estly left all the credit to some one else.
At one time he had come upon a man
overpowered by fOotpads just in time,
with the assistance of others, to drive
the rascals off. At another he had res
cued a child from the fourth story of
burning building, mentioning, by the
way, that a woman had been rescued
from the fifth story by some one else
under far more difficult circumstances.
Then there were constant encounters
with men in the dives" where Dyke
man considered it necessary to go in
the pursuance of some of his assign
ments for criminal news. Occasionally
some one not acquainted with him
would hear him recount these episodes
and sneer, but those of us who be-
longed to the gang" as we disre-
spectfully referred to ourselves, be-
Ieved that Dykeman was simply suf-
fering from having got into the wrong
sphere of life and his Stories of adven-
ture were hissings of steam from his
safety valve.
LOU were ldSl ulSAls Dy NJ
man." 1 would say to him at dinner,
when we We're assembled at the little
restaurant in the alley where we all
dined together. Where do you spend
your evenings when off dutyT'
Last night-let me see All, re-
memberi Last night 1 was walking
on - street when a woman threw up
window in a house L was passing
and cried for help. 1 went in and
found a thief, who had got into the
second floor of the house while the
family were at dinner. just climbing
down latticework from rear porch.
1 reached over and Selling his coat
collar, drew him up. Just then a po-
liceman entered, and 1 turned him
over"
Ibid any one else come in for any of
the credit?' asked one of the gang"
Eyes; it was all due to the woman
who called for help. She had induced
the man to enter a closet by assuring
him that he would find the silver there,
and when she got him in she slammed
the door and turned the key. How
ever, the door was frail, and he broke
it down 1 tell you she was plucky,
that woman"
But where were you the night be-
fore and the night before that? You
are never with US any more. Do you
rescue some one every night?"
"A panied expression came over his
face, and 1 fastened to add:
''Never mind, dear boy. You shall
spend your evenings where you please"
Nevertheless curiosity got the better
of US, and many We're our discussions
as to how Dykeman occupied his lei
sure hours. One said that he was Sc
cretly taking boxing lessons, another
that he had joined the militia and was
giving all his spare time in drill Dyke
man himself when twitted with the
subject gave out that he had a job to
shadow a multimillionaire.
Time gave no explanation. so at last
we concluded to hunt up one for our
selves. Choosing an evening when
we were all off duty together, we made
our arrangements to follow Dykeman.
''Will you go to the theater this even
ing?" 1 asked him. 1--WE are all off
tonight and can take in any show you
? like
Thanks. I would like to be with
you, but you see
81 don't see.''
w ell. lHGEe Is Il Ddlh
(which is to be robbed tonight"
How did you know that?'
''Never mind. Go on
''They need some man who is quick
on the trigger, who has plenty of
muscle
THAT will do; business before pleas
ure. You can go to the theater with
US some other evening"
of sour wine and sailed forth, osten-
sibly to the theater, really to places
of concealment, from which we
watched till he came out, then followed
him. He soon stopped at a candy
store, from which he emerged with a
paper of sweets.
us he going to head off the bank
robbers by peppering them with bon
bonsf' remarked one of the 'gang."
A second stop was at fruit stand,
where he purchased some luscious
peaches and yellow bananas.
81 see," said another. Hes going
to scatter the skins ON the floor in
front of the vault, and the robbers
will find their feet in the air and
themselves on their backs
There were no more stops till Dyke
man entered little frame trap on the
outskirts of the city. He went in at
the door, and we took position at the
window. A dim light shone within,
and there was half an inch of space
between the window shade and sill
through which we peered from the
outside. A little girl of some seven
or eight years was lying on a couch.
Her cheeks were thin, her eyes were
large and lustrous with disease, and
their expression as they fared upon the
great muscular figure of Dykeman was
that of one who had waited hungrily
for him all through the long day. She
threw her thin arms about him as he
bnnt over her and Dafted his broad