Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-07-10
DAILY SHORT STORY
A DOG IN A MANeER.
[OriginsL1

made the acquaintance OF one or The
villagers, with whom / used TO sit on
the dunes and chat. one afternoon
young fisherman came in from OF the
water, and as he passed up the beach,
seeing my companion. his face lighted
up with pleasure. and they exchanged
a few words cordially.
He seems to like you,' l remarked
after the young man had gone.
We'll. yes" responded my compan-
ion Il did him a favor once, but 1T
was nothing more than duty"
l pressed him for the story, and he
gave il.
My friend Cap'n Joe milford when
be died asked me to look after his lit
tie girl Molly. About the time Molly
grew TO be "a womaM che met with the
two greatest mlsforSdnes that can hap
pen TO a girl-she lost her mother and
she got mixed up in love affair with
a man that was no good-that is, he
was IN love with her, and she. not be
ing in love with any one else at the
time. listened TO him. Then along
comes John RuddOck, fisherman
from down the coast. and settles here,
looking for better fishing ground than
what he'd been trying. Johns son
Paul was then twenty-three years old
and as likely a young fellow as one
would find anywhere. AS soon as
Molly milford sees him she falls in
love in earnest. and that leaves the
other fellow. Rufe Scott, out in. the
cold.
Scott acted very ugly. He didn't
trouble Molly much, nor did he trou
bic Ruddock, for he daren't. He just
took II out in sulking whenever he met
either of them. II struck me that If
were Paul l wouldn't like TO meet him
out alone IN the dark unarmed. But
time went on. and Scott didn't do any
thing to show how he felt except by
his looks, which were plain enough.
zone day a sudden squall came up,
and a little while after it had blown
over Molly Milford come 10 me white
as a sheet and says:
"'Cncie Phir-she called me uncle,
though | was no relation-'Uncle Phil
she said, Paul Ruddock's boat has been
blown over by the squall and sunk!
II ran into the house. grabbed my
glass and, going to the beach, only a
few hundred yards away. brought the
glass to bear on the ocean. l could
make out a man nearly two miles out
swimming for his life. I watched him
for minute or two and made up my
mind that he WAS laborlng hard and
would never get 10 the shore unless
some one helped him. Tossing the
glass to Molly, l ran down TO the
shore, where a lifeboat was kept. The
only person met was Rufe Scott. l
told him of Paul Ruddock's fix and
aSke ed him to help me get the boat he
yond the breakers. He hesitated
moment. but couldn't stand the look I
gave him. and, taking hold Of the boat,
together we got her nose down into
the surf.
"'Get In | said. IN shove her out
This meant for him to go with me.
he was about TO make some ugly re-
ply, refusing tn do so. when he caught
sight of Molly coming. Then he got
into the bow and took up an oar
Watching my chance to run the boat
out when the waves came in lower,
jumped in at the stSn. seized my oar,
and together we pulled beyond the
foam into deep water.
"Rufe being for'a'd and aft. H
wasn't necessary for him to pull as
hard as /. But / noticed that he was
doing good work, which relieved my
mind, for / was afraid he would shlrk.
But soon found by looking ahead that
the scoundrel was pulling me around.
Indeed, Rufe having the port oar. !
could look over my left shoulder and
see Paul-that is, whenever ne rode the
crest of a wave. stopped rowing,
turned around, stood up and, raising
my oar, said:
"'You miserable dog, II you do that
again I'll brain you and throw your
overheard Then / sat down
and kept my eye on the stern of the
boat and Molly at the same time,
keeping the two In line. Then sudden
ly RUFF stopped rowing. / turned on
him again, and he had his oar up,
ready to fight.
81 haven't any call to help Paul
and won't. That is all there
Is about 1t
You won't, chr
II dropped my oar, caught his on my
arm, got at him. and before be could
get Il grip on me tumbIed him over
board
There | said. Swim back to the
girl you're trying to get even with
Heading the boat toward Paul.
look both oars and pulled ahead, max
ng big squirt. Having my face to-
ward Rufe, l saw him swim for a
point below Molly, and it was evident |
re didn't want to meet her She was |
90 intent to see whether l would sue
ICED or not 10 notice him. and, land |
ng a quarter of mile away from her. |
lie skunk up the beach and disappeared |
)ehind a dam. That's the last he |
vas ever seen in the town. He knew |
we'll enough that it would not be best |
o SHOW his face there after the story |
would tell.
II reached Paul when be was pretty |