Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-11-19
TALES OF CITT
STREETS.

onesome on his trips away from home
occasionally he allows himself to be
,ressed into service to help out
drummer friend who has got a pair OF
i've ones on his hands to take out 10
Inner.
Jones was standing on a street cor
Ter talking with one of his customers
pretty and smartly attired young
woman passed. Johnson. Jones' Gus
omer. lifted his hat, and in return got
l smile that brought an envious glance
rom Jones
Who's your friend?- and Jones
ave Johnson a poke in the side.
Pretty trim bundle of calico. Ell.
;onesey?"
We'll. should remark. Seem to be
veil acquainted"
Well. there isn't anyone in these
Higgins that is even crowding me in
hat race. brother"
Lives in the city. / suppose"
Here all the time. Member of one
If the best families. Long on music.
md as an entertainer-why. she leaves
Ill the rest OF them so far behind that
Ou
class.
Lucky dog. Johnson" and Jones
iighed and took another pull at his
.igar
II hardly suppose that you could cut
l friend in on the line. OF course.
realize that a pretty and accomplish
d woman like she is has many admir-
RS: but. really. Johnson, | would like
o meet her
.'Tickled TO death TO have you. She
would be glad To know you
You're a bird. Johnson" and Jones
ave his customer a slap on the back
md thanked him.
Johnson proposed a meeting that ev-
ming. He said that he had invited
he lady TO the theatre. and he would
secure third seat for Jones. They
would spend the evening at the play
ogether. and would go TO luncheon af-
er the performance. That would give
Johnson abundant opportunity TO get
acquainted. and if he made a hit prob
Ibly he would be invited TO call on his
leXt trip to the city. The arrange
nent was for Jones TO be in the lobby
# the theatre at S o'clock. He was
here. dressed fit to kill. having don
led his evening clothes. Johnson
blew in with his business suit, and
tones noticed that he had even neg
'ected to get shaved. But the lady
showed better taste. She was GER
ainly queen. and Jones cracked his
ieels for joy when he saw her float
Trough the entrance followed by
Johnson. Johnson. Jones figured.
would not be a hard proposition TO
move onto the siding when he was in
own. II did not seem TO Jones that
he was very heavy. Johnson stopped
n the middle of the lobby and dug
Town after his tickets. while Jones
Toasted on his companion. Then he
-hoIght OF Jones. Jones began to
move toward the couple. When within
few feet he removed his hat and adj
dressed Johnson.
-Oh. yes. Jonesey: had almost for
gotten you. Meet my WIFE
II Jones had been subject to apo
Dlexy the chances are he would have
collapsed. But he did not betray the
slightest surprise or disappointment.
Or course. he was delighted to meet
The wife OF his friend and customer.
The play was enjoyed. and so was the
supper. and Jones was at Johnson's for
Inner on his next trip. when he
brought along the pictures OF his wife
and youngest child. In the meantime
he sent a box OF the best cigars that
he could procure in Chicago to John
son. on condition that he would not
mention the incident to Mrs. Johnson
Jr anyone else that knew Jones.
Bill loves his wife devotedly. and
they have the utmost confidence in
each other. but Bill is very careful to
post her in advance when he is going
to stay out late. He Is in business in
the city. and his family lives above the
store.
One night recently William-his in
Inmates call him Bil;-fell in with a
bunch of his friends while on an err
rand in Davenport. AS il happened.
his friends were all from Rock Island
They had been hitting the line. They
met Bill with his vest TO the mahog-
aay. getting outside OF his last high
bali. He was waiting for the midnight
car OF course. Bill was glad TO see
the boys. and they were pleased To see
him. Bill was sober. but the others
were not, although IL could not be said
they were intoxicated. They were just
medium. Each had arrived AT the
stage where he felt that he could put
Carnegie or Rockefeller 10 shame when
II came to writing ont checks. Having
so much of the soft. he felt that he
fought to let the poor saloonkeeper
have a piece OF il TO contribute to
wards his getting the Thanksgiving
turkey. II is hardly necessary TO re-
late that Bill did not catch the last
car.
AT in the morning a cabman was
plotting an even half dozen loads
across the bridge. Bill began To sober
as he neared home. The thought OF
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