Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-10-28
DAILY SHORT STORY
MY NEWLY FOUND SISTER.


the platform. / woAld rather have
gone on and Oh, for l had nothing to
do and nowhere to ego in the town at
which had landed. 1 had been pros
pecting without any luck till | was ut
ebb tide for funds. Indeed, few loose
pieces of silver in my trousers pocket
were all my possessions except my
clothes. / had come TO L. simply 53
cause 1 had got SO heavily in debt at '.
Coming down the platform was Ii
girl. evidently looking for some one.
There was decision in her step and de-
cision in her countenance. Neverthe
less she was attractive in face. figure
and carriage.
Now. there was the biggest surprise
in store for me that had ever overtak-
en- me Striking Il million dollar mine
would have been nothing to what hap
peued. The moment the girl caught
sight OF me her face lighted with
smile. She ran up TO me and. throw
ing her arms around me. kissed me.
As soon as she let go l. looked at her
inquirinGly.
Why, you dear old Tom, l don't
believe you know me. Have you for
gotten your sister Sue
Naturally I'm as honest as any man
living. But here was Il temptation too
big To be mastered. The girl had evil
IDENTITY expected her brother by the
train had come on and had mistaken
me for him. / hadn't more than
enough money to buy dinner and no
where TO sleep. Here was an offer OF
comfort and the companionShip of an
attractive woman. Only one thing de-
TERED me-the real brother might turn
up at any moment. But what was this
chance to Il prospector who had braved
Indians. starvation and all the ills
prospectors are heir to? Taking both
her hands in mine. l stood Off and
looked at her critically. who would
have believed" l said. you would
have made such a splendid girl:"
Il knew you at once. If l haven't
seen you since you We're sixteen" she
replied. Come. let us get into the
wagon. by the bye. where's your
trunk: oh, 1 forgot that you are in
hard luck, | knew you would come,
though you said you wouldn't. I'll put
You on your feet again and make 6
rich man of YOU yet
l thought of my proud brother pros
pector and hoped that his pride would
keep him away till | could summon
resolution to tell the honest truth.
She drove me home to- Il nice cottage.
with flower garden in front and veg
ctable garden in rear, and put me in
Il room into which the genial sun shone
ana left me there to make toilet.
Toilet, How could | make Il toilet out
Of rags: The only thing l could do was
10 get the dirt off me and brush my
hair This | did, while delicious
smell of cooking came up TO me. and,
after taking time to make Il dozen such
toilets and waiting till l was nearly
famiShed, ] went downstairs. A serv-
ant was putting large pOrterhouse
steak on the table. with fried potatoes,
hot rolls ana other dellcacieS such as
had not seen since | left home. We
sat down. and l consumed seven
eiglIths of all there was.
Poor, dear boy said she. 1T does
me good to see your hunger satisfied.
was dreadfully afraid you wouldn't
come"
gradually found out that Sues
brother was Tom Remington. who had
run away from home when he was six
teen and had drifted into the mines.
After their parents death Sue had
managed what little means they left
so we'll that snug sum was realized;
then she went i'll search of her brother.
They had been separated so long and
knew 50 little of each other that | had
small pains To keep from giving myself
away. | spent week in this delightful
retreat with nothing but conscience TO
trouble me. Then when / was well fed
up l announced to my sister that I
must 20 and settle up my affairs. To
do this il was necessary for me TO ac-
cept Il loan, which pocketed and, tell
ing Sue that she should soon have her
brother for good, set out TO find the
real Tom Remington.
l found him in the same Impoverished
condition as myself and proud as Iu-
offer. i told him my story and deciar-
ed that | would never let up on him till
he made his sister happy by going 10
her and staying with her. He fought
me OFF for awhile. but my persistence
won at last, and we started for Miss
Remlngton's home. There was some
resemblance between me and Tom
Remington. which might have been
greater when we We're boys. Without
announcing our coming. we appeared
before our mutual sister much 10 her
establishment.
1T seemed TO me- said to her, that
the Kindness bestowed upon me deserv-
cd some return. You were mistaken In
thinking me 70 be your brother. This
is your brother. whose pride has kept
him from you till / found him and
brought him TO YOU. | crave your par
don for having permitted you 10 de-
ceive yourself. my only excuse being
that was starving"
Miss Remington stood for some me-
ments trying to collect her faculties, /
then. taking US both by the hand. said !
You shall both he my brothers.