Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-01-11
DAILY SHORT STORY
HE GOT EVEN WITH HER.


ing their cigars after dinner, that for
monumental folly and recklessness
there are women who can make any
fool man appear wise and prudent by
contrast"
ITO what particular woman do you
refer?" asked Millburn.
lone whose cussedness nearly cost
me my life
did you fall in love with herr"
What makes you ask that?'
"Well, I've noticed that cussedness
in woman is often a great match
maker. The fool man tumbles to it
quicker than to any other trait"
Look at that" said Yarnell. turn
ing up the palm of his hand and expos
ing an ugly scar, land that rolling
up his sleeve. II could show you a
lot more Of them all over my body. A
fool girl did that
YES; | know. Give me an account
Of it, and. mind. don't forget your own
folly. l doubt if the girl couldn't make
you out the bigger fool of the two
lit was this way: There were two
sets among the younger people, and
club, the one called The Heelers,' the
other The Tiptoe Whirlers.' 1 belong
ed to the 'Whirers. There was no
end of rivalry between the two clubs,
each regarding the other as its inferior.
Just before Lent came on we deter
mined to get up combination mask
ball. uniting the two clubs in one bril-
liant affair.
''Of course there was great rivalry as
to costumes. Each club aimed to Guido
the other In variety. magnificence and
originality. Neither side would tell
the other what its principal dresses
were to be. though a good deal leaked
out through the girls. | had sense
enough to keep my secret. not letting
any one living know what my rig was
to be. The fact is, had conceived an
entirely original scheme involving
bit of innocent pleasantly on the other
club. and ] wanted surprise.
1.-The ball came off in Masonic hall.
1t was a big show, tell you. Many
of the costumes were highly original,
and all were magnificent. l fattered
myself that mine was the most unique
of the lot, and | went late in order
TO enter in the last act as Il sort of
climax At II 80 walked in. and you
bet | was surprise. | represented
the quick or the dead My; costume
was made of rcd and black tissue pa
per. the body part red. the lower part
black. On the upper Slrt was pasted
big black letters. 'Whirlers.' and on the
lower part white letters. 'Heelers.'
Cute idea. wasn't If?
There was one girl Gmong the Heel
ers' who was acknowledged to be the
worst scapesrace in the town. She
was a devil and no mistake. Pretty?
Well l should say so, Did you ever
see a female devil that wasn't? Her
name was Kate Lytle. All girl scape-
graces are named either Kate or Belle.
one or the other. and half the fellows in
both clubs were head and cars In love
with her. Well. for a time | had fine
joke OH the 'Hcclers' in my quick or
the dead costume representing our
club alive as re;l blood and the other
club as dead as funeral black. See? /
was sailing through the crowd, who
opened Il path for me. some of 'eH
laughing. some of the girls sticking up
their noses as | passed. l didn't care
for their disapproval. liked it. And
the members of my own club We're
laughing TO split. l tell you was feel
ing fine Pretty soon along came girl
figure dressed in black and red cos
tune. with q red feather i'll conical
cap. 1t was BETTING costume for
that little fiend Kate Lyle, and it was
Kate Lyle. though she was masked
and / didn't know it at the time. and
what do you suppose she did? When
she got near me she scratched a match
and before 1 could stop her had set
fire to the paper representing the
Heelers.'
Did you ever hear of such crazy
performance in your life, such con-
idiocy?"
Not excepting your own part in it?'
I'm a few seconds / was all aflame.
Fortunately one of our fellows took in
the situation and. throwing off his Sir
Walter Raleigh cloak. threw it around
me in a twinkling. This alone saved
me from q frightful death. OF course
wa&Sadly burned. and after 1 was
put out a young doctor present said |
must be taken home Immediately. The
first thing / saw when the fright was
over was Kate Lyle, unmasked. as |
most of the others crowding round me |
we're, and she was as white as sheet. |
The impulsive little fool hadn't real |
zed what she was doing
"Of course that broke up the bail. |
The 'Whirlers' all went away in high |
iudgeon, and Notwithstanding the Sc |
'ious aspect of the affair, the 'Heelers' |
;nickered and after our people had all |
zone continued the dance and ate up |
the supper. Pretty mean business, |
wasn't it?''
Served you right
Served me right? What are you
giving me?'
You had no business to lampoon the l
'ther club. But. doubtless, the girl /
made amends for her prank, which,
'erious as it was, was induced by i'm