Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-09-13
DAILY SHORT STORY
THE COWBOY AND THE DOCTOR
[Originai.l

wv I1ONaIu aAo -A%'@tSA
for he was a graduate OF the New
York College of Yachtsmen. stood al
the gangway waiting. The dinSey left
the dock, and when il drew alongside
| the YACHT q sunburned man in the SOM
brero of a cowboy came aboard and
was cordially welcomed by the host.
The newcomer cast chill over the
party. Nothing is SO exclusive us i So
@iety the entrance into which has been
paid for, and. with the exception of
this stranger, Tom Downing, SO
Thatcher called him. the circle was
complete. With him there was in it
a link of copper.
What did Thatcher want 10 spoil
the party by bringing that fellow
aboard fOr!" remarked one of the men.
1t doesn't matter" replied the lady
he was With; we can freeze him
ashore"
Good idea. Pass the word
When Downing had got ON Il suit of
ordinary clothes-he did not appear to
have a yachtsman's outht-he proved
To be u good looking young fellow, but
had he been an AdoniS or had Ii been
known that he sprang from d race of
scholars or statesmen il would have
made no difference to the people Oh the
Enid.
There was a young girl aboard who
received the same cold shoulder as
Downing Miss Mildred Sheffield
whose ancestors had been distinguish
ed i'll the councils of the government
h.,
prizes of her time at college.
Naturally she and Downing fell to-
gether. sitting by the hour on deck,
side by side. chatting. The guests
soon came 10 speak of her from her
degree Ph. D., as the doctor, while they
dubbed the man the cowboy.
The doctor and the cowboy are
spoons" remarked IL swell who had
made good progress at aping the Eng
liSh accent
Wonder how she contrives to hold
him with her booky talk Z" said lady
to whom he was speaking
is she bookyi" asked the swell
lanGuidly.
II suppose so. She is of high DEGREE"
''Vcwy good" replied the swell.
Those degwees are vewy common
nowadays"
At first the host seemed annoyed at
the treatment of his cowboy friend,
but he soon got used to it. or appeared
to be used TO 1t, and was secretly
pleased that Miss Sheffield had come
TO the rescue. He frequently Joined
the couple, and the three spent good
deal of time together discussing mat
tiers in which they seemed to take q
mutual interest. The party who were
disposed to freeze the cowboy ashore
made no Roadway, and in his own cir
Gle of three he appeared to be having
Il very pleasant time.
The course took i'll the principal
points along the north Atlantic coast
and finally the Enid rounded to at
Mount Desert. There the party were
entertained on shore, and Thatcher
gave a ball aboard While the others
We're ashore Downing remained on the
yacht and took advantage of their alb
Sence to bring out Il wooden pipe,
which he smoked till they returned.
But on the evening of the entertain
ment aboard he suddenly bloomed in
evening dress, and it make u great
change in his appearance. Miss Shelf
field. too. brought out a dress suitable
to the occasion, and her intellectual
beauty made the other women green
with envy.
While the affair was in full swing
n boat pulled alongside and a messen-
ger came aboard with Il telegram. The
host being at the time elsewhere, the
messenger went from guest to guest
asking for the Marquis of Coddington.
mo such person aboard" was the uni
versal reply. Finally Thatcher came
along and after looking at the add
dress ON the envelope asked, where's
DowningY' ION the forecastle, spoon
ing with Miss Sheffield" Thatcher took
the telegram and started forward.
Those who had noticed the episode be-
gan to prick up their ears. All looked
nervous, and some who had been most
pronounced In snubbing the cowboy
turned pale. Presently along came
Downing, attended by Thatcher, both
looking serious. They went below, and
when they came up Downing had his
hand baggage. Meanwhile Miss Shelf
field came forward and stood near the
gangway. As Downing passed he
stopped and spoke to her:
Il have been delighted to meet you,
and 1t grieves me to part from you. 1
have received news of the death of my
father and must go to England at once.
You have said you will be over In the
fall. and ! shall expect you to visit my
mother. L owe you more than / can
express"
After a pressure of hands they part
ed, the man to go ashore.
Great heavens! Thatcher" said one
of the guests who were looking on,
who's your friendY"
HE was the Marquis of Coddington.
He is now the Duke of Carnifex. one
of the richest men in England and of
one Of the oldest families"
Some of the men smiled, others
frowned, while the women all looked
daggers. The gentleman who was