Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-04-28
DAILY SHORT STORY
[OriginaI I
THE SUN IMAGE,



OF the stats. Now. though the spaces
were not round. we noticed that a
round spot Of light from each crack fell
on the wall opposite the window. had
often seen the phenomenon before and
called Adams attention TO it. sin
gular expression came over his face as
he looked at them.
Can you explain the circular formf Z"
asked.
"Only that the spots OF light are mi
mute images of the sun" he replied
But ii isn't this that interests me. /
can never look at one OF those little sun
Images without being profoundly
moved"
''Out with it, said, for knew there
was a story behind his emotion.
when I was married. he said. ito
the best woman In the world drew
a matrimonial prize among hundreds Of
blanks-I was doing we'll in business
and was able 10 provide for the three
little kids thst came along during the
first five years of my married life. My
looked out for the nickels very care
fully. Nevertheless, no matter how
careful ii woman may Toe In this respect,
she is "A natural plunger. and l found
out my Daisy was one OF that kind.
"OBe evening in midsummer when
my family was out OF town | was per
sUaded to go into gambling house. l
never dream OF betting when / enter
ed. but / soon caught the fever and
when l left the place had won some
thing like $50. | was so well pleased
with my venture that I tried IL again
the next night | won steadily for a
week; then | began to lose. To make
long story short. by the time my wife
came home / was ruined. ! sold out
my business TO pay my debts and had
$3.50 over with which to begin the
world again. My wife was plucky
about it all and refrained from what
nineteen in twenty women would have
done under the circumstances. She new
er spoke a word OF blame.
Il received my $3.50 one morning and
to recover my losses, telling Daisy
was going 10 take a walk. | won over
81 200. but lost il the same night, win
ming and losing alternately. My wife
knew as well as / what l was doing.
but never said a word, pretending ig
norance. When / had lost all my win
nings and $500 besides she began to
look anxious. Not that / said a word.
| didn't need to. She could tell by my
face how l stood. and when she want
ed TO know exactly she would examine
my pocketbook after | was asleep
One afternoon l went to the den
with but $40 in my pocket, and l must
have looked pretty miserable, for my
wife kissed me before l left the house
and said. BE sure to be home for din
ner. just as if she didn't know that
If ! got absorbed i wouldn't pay any
attention 10 dinner or any other meal.
! played very close seldom risking
much at one time, for my capital was a
bagatelle. Despite my caution my pile
grew lower and lower, and at last l
had but one white chip left. The deal
er wasn't paying much attention to me
and was yawning necessarily, having
been at his work all the night before.
l was SO absorbed that 1 didn't notice
young fellow who came and leaned
over me, watching my game. l put
my last chip on the ten and lost |
was broke.
The dealer. ignorant that had moth
ing to bet with, went on with the game.
And now I'm getting to the point OF my
story. Through crack in the window
one OF these little suns came In and
lighted on the jack. The dealer blink
ed at 1t and didn't seem sure whether
it was white chip or a silver dollar.
The young man behind me- said,
Deal THIS decided the sleepy man.
and he dealt. The jack won. and he
tossed me q white check. The young
man behind me, without asking per
mission. pushed the chip over between
the king and queen. and IL won. | sat
stupidity looking on, the young man
making my bets for me and winning
every time.
The dealer began to wake up and
take an interest My bet placer was
taking awful chances and | wanted TO
stop him. but | remembered that all
my winnings had been on an image OF
the sun and didU't dare say a word for
fear he'd fare up and give IL away.
The piles before me grew and grew,
and suddenly was startled by hearing
the dealer cry. 'BustedF The first
thing ! did after that was TO turn to
look at the man behind me to see if
the devil had done il all to get my soul
with the winnings. Great heavens,
whom do you suppose I saw? Under a
sombrero drawn down over the face
gllttered a pair of eyes, and those eyes
belonged to Daisy. She turned like a
fash and left the place. leaving me to
pick up nay winnings ! stuffed all my
pockets full and went home. When
went upstairs Daisy was in bed. She
asked me the usual question-had
put out the lights. ! replied, as usual.
49,