Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-02-14
DAILY SHORT STORY
THE ROAD AGENT.

six men OF Us had been held up by a
single robber and all of Us plundered.
When he had finished his work, he
nodded for the other five victims TO get
| into the vehicle, but for me TO remain
behind. When the stage had passed
On. he said to me:
Thompson. 1 am not a bad fellow
unless you kick against my game. Just
| knuckle to circumstances and We'll get
along all right. You take the guns. and
I'll carry the sack Turn in by that
rock and keep TO the west
What's your object in holding me
| prisoner" l asked as | picked up the
weapons
''Oh. I've got three or four objects.
In the first place. want about 5000
as a ransom. Going to play Greek
| brigand. you see In the next I'm con-
| founded lonesome up here and want
| some one to talk to Thirdly. l may
induce you TO go into partnership in
this holdup business, There's both fun
and profit in it
We made our way through the brush
for a mile or more and then came
| upon his camp. which was under the
| overhanging Of a great rock. There
were blankets and cooking utensils
scattered about. and as stood looking
around he turned to me with:
THAT was a lucky find You made
last fall. Mr.. Thompson"
You have referred to me as ThOmp-
son several times 1 replied, but that
Is a long way from being my name"
No? l beg to differ with you.
saw you at Diamond City three months
ago and am sure am not mistaken"
IF I'm Thompson. what am l worth
to you In dollars and cents?"
"All of $1,000 and would be only a
trifle TO you"
We'll, you've got left on the ThOmp-
son business. 1 may resemble him, but
he's in Boise City at this very date.
Look into my wallet and you'll find
cards and letters to prove what say"
He looked at me very steadily for a
minute and then went over to the mail
sack, into which he had dumped every
thing. When he got at my wallet he
found plenty Of proofs that l was some
one else besides Thompson. He was
put out for moment, and then he
turned to me and held out his hand
and said:
Beg pardon for my error, Mr.. Blank.
see that you are in the newspaper
business. No man has a greater re-
spect for the press than 1 have. II /
hadn't turned robber. l should probably
have become an editor l have made
mistake Tell me how l can square
myself"
by giving me back my money and
putting me on the road to Silver City"
Here is your money. but'the hour is
late and you will have to remain here
all night You shall be guided out to
the road as soon as We have had break
fast"
He had some good cigars, and as we
smoked we fell into a general CONVERSE
ton. and | found him weE educated
and entertaining man. 1t was easy to
see that he had been born in some 9th
err station. and | judged Ire was in the
business more for excitement than
profit When he finally asked me how
would like TO go pards with him in
the holdup profession, / answered:
Il can't say. that it strikes Inc favOra-
bly,. You are not only liable to be shot
down like a wild beast at any time,
but you can have no enjoyment of your
plumber. Nothing is more certain than
that you Will be killed or captured and
hung if you keep at it long enough"
Well don't decide offhand, but think
il over. There are some drawbacks, of
course but they don't count as against
the excitement of the life. After the
first adventure l think you'd like it.
It's time to turn in, and l wish you
good night"
II was long after midnight before l
dOzed off. and | was awake again at
the first signs of daylight. l had no
fear of the robber. and he none of me.
could have killed or captured him
with ease, but l don't believe he had
the least mistrust of me. He turned
ont soon after did. and while we were
eating the breakfast he had deity pre-
pared he said:
Il like the idea OF your going pards
with me. What do you say to it?''
I made the same argument as be-
fore but added that / was in business
in Legitimate way and should want
three months TO make a change. even
If favorably impressed. 1 could see
that he was disappointed, and in my
turn | asked:
Suppose we become pards the other
way? You give this business the
shake and take an interest in a mine
have at Bannock City,"
s.Irsc roo lara for ba
trying to laugh I'm a careless way. but
making poor work of It. LAS l have
sowed. so must l reap. Thanks for
your kind interest, however, and now
Wen be moving"
He returned me my revolver and
made me a present OF another. When
he had buckled on a pair we climbed
out OF the gulch. We walked over
wild. rough country for nearly an hour,
and then he finally stopped and said: