Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-06-11
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
A SUCCESSFUL
DEVICE. x

Brandon Somers was in hard luck.
He was out of a job, with a wife and
two children. nothing to eat and liable
at any moment to be turned out of
doors. His troubles worked upon his
mind, turned mental wheel, and he
began to think of ending his sufferings
by suicide. When he once got to think
ing in this direction, there seemed to
be no hope for him. Instead of trying
to regain his grip ON the world lie oc-
cupied himself considering the best
means by which to get out of it. He
decided on using Il pistol; but, having
none and no money with which to buy
one. he went to his most intimate
friend. Noel Willard, and asked him
for Il small loan.
Willard saw that Somers was in the
slough of despond and endeavored to
argue him out OF it. He told the UNI
fortunate man to dig on Il railroad. fire
on n locomotive. split wood, anything
to earn dollar and relieve the strain
on his brain 10y working his muscles.
1t was all in vain. Somers was inca
pable of being stimulated I'm that way.
Willard suspected what lie wanted
money for. He resolved To satisfy his
demand.
Very WELL" he said; "the best thing
you can do is to blow out your brains.
This evening at o'clock 20 to the
wood just across the bridge on the
Mertonville turnpike. and at the foot
of the first telegraph pole you will find
a loaded revolver. Take it, go into the
wood and finish the job
n friHn sta Of
ready acceptance of an intention he
had not divulged. but the effect was
only instantaneous. lie left Willard
without Il word, merely casting
glance at him as he passed out of the
door. Willard had resumed his work
as If nothing unusual had happened.
At 8 o'clock the same evening the
would lie suicide walked down the Mer-
tOnville road, stood for moment on
the bridge looking mournfully back in
the direction of his home. then passed
on to the telegraph pole. found the re
volver and started for the wood. Reach
ing a secluded spot, he stepped. exam
ined the weapon. saw that the cham
bers were filed and stood looking at
vacancy, Il picture of despair.
Throw up your hands," cried u
rough voice from behind tree.
Now, Somers had come TO the wood
for the express purpose of taking his
life. Here was Il chance to save him.
self the trouble of doing so. He had
only to disObey the order and he would
be killed, or if this was not sufficient
he could raise his revolver and the
man who was holding him Up must
shoot him or be shot himself. Never
theless lie was so startled, so taken
aback, at the sudden danger that lie
dropped his pistol and his hands went
up with astonishing rapidity. \ masked
man, covering him with an enormous
revolver and an ugly looking knife in
his left hand, advanced from behind
tree.
"Shell outr'
Il haven't cent
There was disagreeable click in the
threatening weapon. ''NO foolin' or Ill
let daylight into you. Throw yer valy-
bles on the ground!'
81 have no valuables."
A bullet whistIed within few inches
of Somers' ear.
"For heavens sake, hold ON therer'
the ldSl NOId was Oul All
other ball was fired past the other ear.
Somers, who a few moments before
was on the eve of suicide, was trem-
bling like a leaf at the prospect of
death. His assailant raised his knife
and made step forward. then anoth-
er step and another. There is nothing
more dreadful looking than cold steel
coming TO be buried in ones vitals.
The muzzles OF guns are not nearly so
terrifying. Somers looked at the long
polished blade with abject terror.
Don't kill me!' he pleaded.
'I'll kill you as sure as death if you
don't throw down what you've got"
search me-"
"If found nothin', I'd kill you any
way. Turn yer back. You needn't
see this blade afore it bores you"
Too terrified to face death, Somers
turned his back. There were a few mo-
ments of silence, which seemed hours.
at the end of which the strain was too
great to be borne longer. and. turning.
he sank on his knees and begged pite-
ously for his life.
The robber pulled off his mask
"Noel Willardr'
Eyes. Noel Willard. saw that some
thing must be done TO wrest your mind
from the wise that held it and have
succeeded I'm doing Ii. Come. Tomor-
row morning you are to go to work as
porter in the warehouse of friend of
mine. AS soon as you have fully re-
covered your grip on yourself we will
find something better for YOU
I'm cured" said Somers.
81 trust you are, but to guard against
relapse l will advance your salary
Take this home to your wife"
Handing Somers a ten dollar bill
Willard led the way from the wood
and toward the town.
When the husband and father enter
ed his home and his wife saw that
something had occurred to lift the
cloud she had been so long dreading,
there was great relief. and when the
oldest boy was sent out to buy sup
per there was joy unutterable.