Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-08-21
DAILY SHORT STORY.
! SERVING A SUMMONS.
IOriginal1

deed when she was eighteen she was
engaged to Edgar Adams, a recent
graduate from the United States Mill
tary academy. But her father was
very much opposed 10 the match.
Adams was beloved by every one, but
he was 4 good deal of 4 scapegracc.
Franklin Swift, the son Of wealthy
man, having manifested a desire 10
marry Bernice. Colonel church per-
suaded her TO break with Adams and
accept Swift.
When Adams received notice of the
fact he simply remarked: That makes
me a bachelor for life. Let's have n
| bottle of wine" The only change no
ticed in his demeanor was that he
fought harder than before. -
Ten years passed Adams, now u
captain, secured a years leave of alb
sence for the purpose of studying cav
| airy improvements abroad, and on his
| way called upon his old flame. He
! found her in great trouble. Her hus-
| band was ia a lnire of debt. one of her
| children was very i'll, she was herself
| in bad health, and. 10 cap the climax,
| her husbands father was at the point
! cl utalli- Inc NOnulLlOl VI AAdllS It
| Huirel that the husband get away in
! order 10 escape service for awhile from
| his creditors. Upon the death of his
| father he would inherit fortune that
| would enable him 10 extricate himself.
| But to leave under the circumstances
was next 10 impossible. The result Of
| all this was that Captain Adams. with
| the help of an ingenious lawyer, as
Sumed tie debt and went into hiding
! The case could not go on without
| Adams being summoned.
For a month Adams. who was an eX-
| pert at Indian strata gems, found it
easy to elude the bailffS. Then they
| became as foxy as he. Having tracked
| him TO the country place of one of his
| friends they set their wits 10 work 10
| get him where they could read the sum
mons 10 him. One evening just before
| dark Adams heard n furious firing in
the grounds, and. true TO Il soldiers in
! stincts rushed ont with a revolver;
| but. seeing man coming for him with
| Il paper in his hands, the captain fired
! several bullets over his head. checked
| his career and retreated 10 the house.
! Soon after this attempt to serve him
! Adams was standing one morning ut
| window when a company of the state
| militia marched down the road not far
! from the house. Their commander in
trying 10 have them countermarch got
! them into confusion. Adams threw up
| the sash and called the proper direc-
tions. While he was shouting the or
| ders n man emerged from behind a
| tree. At the same time fumbling in his
| side coat pocket. Adams caught sight
| Of him just as he drew paper and
| closed the sash.
| This escape made him more cautious
for Il time, but confinement was ink
| some to him, and he made an occasion
al sally in disguise One evening at a
restaurant Il man at a neighboring Ia
| bic made offensive remarks TO him, and
| Adams. going over To where he sat,
| slapped his face. The man did not Mt
| the time seem disposed to follow up
| the affair. but the next day Adams re-
| ceiyed Il challenge from one Tucker.
| Adams naturally inferred that the
man was the one he had had the quar-
| rel with, but wondered how the fellow
| knew who he was. However, he was
! too much Of a fighter 10 avoid any en-
| counter and accepted promptly. He at
once sent for brother officer. ana the
| affair was arranged to come off at
! dawn in order to avoid the bailiffS
| Before leaving the house the grounds
| were searched, and the coast being
| clear the party drove away in a closed
| carriage Finding the others already
at the appointed place. the ground was
| paced off and the principals placed in
| l,.B oh,
| boring trees number of men stepped
| forth ana surrounded the combatants.
| Then Mr.. Tucker, throwing down his
| weapon, pulled a summons. Adams,
| disgusted at the turn the affair had
| taken. raised his pistol, aimed at the
| paper and put a hole through it, at
| The same time sending il floating on
| the morning breeze. He then knocked
down three of the men surrounding
him. but the paper was recovered and
read 10 him before he could get away.
| The doughty captain returned To the
house he had been hiding in. much
diSgruntled at having been the victim
| Of 50 we'll laid Il trick. The truth is
tie man who had iusultcd him in the
! restaurant was one of the detectives
| watching for him. suspected his iden-
| ;ity and had insulted him purposely
| The captain had been Swallowed on his
| way home and the challenge sent to
| trap him. but on his return he found
| a telegram that Mr.. Swift. senior. was
dead and there was no further neces-
| Sity for his hiding.
Thus II was that Captain Adams
| saved the fortune of the man who had
| taken the girl be loved from him, and
| by doing 50 kept the family from ruin.
As soon 4 his services could be dis
| pensed with he proceeded on his trip.
| followed by the blessings Of those he
had served. ON his return he hunted
| mp the man who had fred a summons
| at him instead OF q bullet and induced
him 10 enter the secret service depart
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