Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-01-09
DAILY SHORT STORY
Under the Car of Juggernaut.


brown sparrow perched on the rail
viewed the work critically for several
moments and then futtered noisily
away As her eyes followed its flight
TO 4 neighboring cherry tree she heard
the front gate bang and. turning. be
held coming UP the path Mr.. James
Dent. better known 10 the summer colo
ny. from the most staid natron To the
smallest urchin. as Jimmy.
He came up 10 the veranda. stretched
himself comfortably i'll Il steamer chair
and mopped Il perspirins brow.
''Sorter warm like, isn't it," lie said
cheerfully.
Dorothy nodded.
What variety OF vegetable are you
making now he inquired amiably.
bending over her work. strawberry:
l thought il was u tomato"
Dorothy made feint at him with her
needle, which he discreetly lodged.
There's polo game at the club to-
morrow" he went on. Want to Gomez"
Indeed do. if you'll take me-" she
said
I'm yours to command. as usual he
answered.
He lighted a cigarette and smoked for
several moments in silence, his brOws
puckered in thought. Presently he
Strengthened himself i'll his chair.
Dorothy. lie said gravcly. what
have you been doing to young Ash
ford:"
SO after all il was partly curiosity
that brought you here today" she said.
But despite the nonchalance of her
words she colored slightly. What have
I been doing to young Ashford: Why,
I've been acting my prettiest for him.
of course"
"Cm-m." Dent unused. so | feared
he said laconically. Doll. it's too bad.
Ashford is really Il mighty nice kid.
and he's taken it very much to heart
too
Dorothy laid down her work rather
abruptly.
Jimmy Dent" she exclaimed. what
is il young Ashford has taken so to
heart and. for heavens sake. why is it
too bad
My Lady Innocence" he said. Il
have seen all this many times before.
History repeats itself. us it were. When
| see a young man mOnopOliZing the
society of the most charming girl i'll
Cedarvillp and when suddenly said
young man quits her society. puts on Il
face like Il craven image. stays much
1T the bar of the Country club and acts
generally as if he wished the world
would cave in on him. its Il pretty
good indication that said young man
has been proposing TO said most charm
ing girl and that she has-has trun
him down"
II can't marry every man who
proposes to me" she protested.
"Of course not. he admitted. but
YOU might shut them off trfie sooner.
IL seems To me Il girl with your intui-
ton should he quick To discover matri-
monial intention in its incipient stage
and nip il in the bud. It's only when
the disease il advanced that il is trOu-
bleSome Now. there's Ashford. poor
chap. As | say. he's really nice kid.
He's running away with the idea that
the light of his soul is gone out forever
and all that sort of thing. Doll, its too
bad.
1t doesn't seem TO me you're called
upon TO fight his battles" she said.
"Oh. I'm not fighting his battle. He
did that himself and lost" he chuckled.
I'm merely urging Il little clemency on
the part of his captor. I'm really sorry
for Ashford-and the rest. for that
matter"
The rest" she inquired.
Yes. The field. we might call II,
suppose. he said. There was-let's
see-Stanley. He went to Cuba"
And married a Spanish girl she
And Crayton.' he went on. What
became of him.
He married an actress" she said
| shortly
And numerous Others" he said. It's
a regular juggernaut every season.
Doll The roadway is strewn with
dead and dying when the car has
| passed"
IF they throw themselves beneath
the wheels can't help it, she said.
MY dear young woman" he expos
| tulated. not that. They try to climb
aboard the car and slip off. Perhaps if
| the goddess were not so smiling and
| inviting many of the casualties might
be averted.''
Indeed" she said mockingiy. This
grows quite serious
Il could give you quite Il list of those
who have fallen beneath the wheels
and Yet whose dolcful GrCans you have
| never heard.
! He sat twirlin- his cigarette thought
| fully for a moment.
| suppose" he continued slowly. that
/ should tell you even have been
/ more or less damaged
! Il should say il was the choicest
piece Of fiction published this summer,
she laughed.
Its gospel truth" he said So!emnly.
1T will he my turn next TO wear a
mask nf sorrow and drink too much
ut the Country club bar"
Jimmy. she said gently. Il couldn't
bear To- see you going about with a
! long face Ii would he awful
1t would" he agreed.