Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-01
DAILY SHORT STORY
Queer Mr.. Binders.
LOriginal.l

you wear"
"Glad you like it," said Binders,
lighting up. 81 don't value it very |
highly myself"
"What IL you take for it?"
'Take for it? Why, what could 1t
benefit any one but me?"
THAT isn't the question. You say |
you don't value it. 1 would like to
buy it,
when would you want itT'
Buyer thirty-which being inter
preted, means any time within thirty
days"
what IL you give?"
"a hundred dollars"
by Jove, that's good sum- And
Binders began to think what he could
do with a hundred dollars.
ooh, l see your game"' he said pres
emily. You'll call for it by sections.
That would leave me in n beautiful
fix, wouldn't it?'
TN call for It all at once"
After rummaging his brain to find a
catch somewhere Binders gave me a
bill of sale for his beard-to be called
for anywhere within thirty days or
forfeit double the price
Now there was u reason for allNthis
which Binders did not understand. He
was the wealthiest bachelor in the
town as we'll as-the stingiest. One,d
Il number of ladies came to me and
asked me if l could suggest n plan by
which they could get donation out of
him for Il benevolent enterprise. 1 told
them would think 1t over.
Binders was a pushing fellow not
only in business, but socially. He was
self made man, which was to his
credit, but he didn't know what the
word modesty meant. His assurance
in making his way into society was
only equaled by his embarrassment
whenever he Numbered into IA breach
of etiquette. He was in constant ter
ror lest he should appear in esome I'M
fortunate position.
The ladies were getting up aAball for
the benefit of their charity andahad APP
pointed me one of the floor managers.
1 wrote requesting that my Ixsme be
dropped and Binders put on in it's
stead. This was done. and Binders
was so delighted that he at once sent
the ladies a check for so.
You are very bright" said the,pres-
ident of the society to me. "It' is a
wonder that we didn't think of that
ourselves"
Possibly Mr. Binders donation may
be far more worthy of his social ele-
vation," 1 replied. than a nigGardly
SO. Let US wait"
On the night of the ball Binders was
on hand resplendent in evening dress,
wearing the lowest cut white waist
| coat straw cOlOred gloves and a pale
green necktie that some wag had told
him was the very latest thingifor balls.
No Indian chief decorated with stove
pipe hat and soldier coat had ever
| borne himself more proudly L 'watcli4
ed him till his self satisfaction had
reached its height; then. putting on
my hat and coat, l went out. Ten min
utes later an attendant handed him a
note from me written from Il neigh
boring barber shop demanding his
| beard.
There was IL look of eXtreme'anXiety
on his face as he came in; but. at
tempting to master ii, he came up TO
me with a laugh and. slapping me ia
miliarly on the back. said confidently
Its very cute of you, old fellow, aw-
1 y
your property now. You want bottle
of champagne, and you shall have it
besides a good supper after the ball
And now l must hurry back. The
| president has done me the honor to say
she can't get on without me"
1T won't take long. Sit down in the
chair"
you really don't mean that you are
in earnest? Think how 1 would look
going back clean shaved"
You don't need to lose your beard
There is the forfeit, you know"
Good gracious, man, the forfeit is
$2OOv'
1T only rests with you, Binders"
said resolutely. "to give me your beard
or pay the forfeit"
He looked into my eye and saw thai
| 1 was not to be cajoled or browbeateT
or in any way deprived of my advan
tage. The alternative flashed through
his mind, and his love of money for G
time prevailed. He determined to re
main away from the fball for the RES
of the evening.
"All right 1 said. What excuse
| will you giveY
Suddenly taken ilK'
/ smiled.
Il suppose you'llNknock down thai
story and
1.-The whole thingtwill be all over the
ballroom in ten minutes."
He turned pale.
what II yout take to settle" ht
| asked.
'Will Binders, l don't want YOU
beard or your money. Write a checl
payable to the president of the society
for 5000, and I'll call it square. You cal
then finish the evening in position
for which you are so we'll fitted with
out so sudden a transition, and you
liberality will be sounded by every one
AS for me, I'll keep the affair num-"
/ 81 haven't check with me-"
Il have" And 1 pulled n blanl
check from my pocketbook.
Binders and 1 returned to the (ball
room arm in ARMAND made straightfo