Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-05-14
DAILY STORY
KNOCKING OUT A RIVAL.

Tie SdILt lOOtDdll team fti4N
had our photographs taken standing
together in the costume we had worn
on the gridiron, / holding the pigskin
in the hollow of my arm. Edgecombe
married a rich woman and built d
splendid country place. He invited me
to visit him. there in the warm season
and in the party, among others, was
Miss Emma Keith, whom l desired to
win, and Winfield Larraway, who
looked upon Miss Keith with the same
languishing eyes.
Larraway and l each knew of the
others intentions and hated each other
accordingly. There are women who
would like nothing better than to put
two men at swords points on their nc
count, but Miss Keith was not one of
that kind. l and my rival both knew
that any word spoken against the other
by either of us would render the speak
er contemplate in her sight. We out
wardly treated each other with studied
politeneSs.
There was cottage on Edgecombe'S
premises that he had fitted up for
lounging. 1t was a luxurious summer
vans and other such appropriate furni-
ture. One morning l strolled down
there and, going into a room adorned
with Edgecombe's college trophies and
supplied with magazines, settled my
self in an easy chair to read. On the
wall hung the photograph of Edge
combe and myself in football costume.
Hearing footstep and rustic of
skirts, not wishing TO be interrupted in
my reading l moved into an anteroom
just as lady entered the one l had
'fpft. The door between the two rooms
was open. and l saw Miss Keith go to
the photograph, look at it long ana
steadily, give Il pleasurable sigh and
turn TO the table on which rested the
periodicals.
Encouraged by what / hard seen
went in and Joined her. We chatted,
and i ventured TO lead the way to Civ
ing her an inkling as to my feelings
when | heard Il mans quick footstep.
There was no improperly in our being
glance pass over Miss Keith's face and
on the impulse stepped into an ante
room, intending to pass out by II side
door. But l found there was no side
door. Before | could decide what TO
do Larraway entered and told Miss
Keith that he was going to the city for
the day and would be happy to execute
any commission she might have. Dur
ing his brief stay they chatted about
the trophies, and Larraway expressed
the most unbounded admiration for
my physical proportions, also giving
my mental and moral endowments I'M
Stinted praise.
knew perfectly we'll that he had
seen both me and Miss Keith enter the
summer house and that he had praised
me for Il purpose. When / rejoined
Miss Keith she was somewhat fuS-
tered, and | could see that she had
been very much prepoSsessed with Lar
raway's praise of his rival.
You are both fine fellows" she said.
''And Mr.. Larraway especially has had
an opportunity to show his nobility of
character"
81 am happy to be classed with him
i'll such high praise l replied and
changed the subject.
I.arraway had scored one on me, and
if l could not turn the tide l feared /
should lose the prize. \ few days lat
er | was knocking the balls about on
the tennis court when lac came out on to
the piazza. Miss Keith was sitting in
dishabille at window, the shutters of
which were closed, for the day was
very hot, thinking that she was invisi
bic from the court. i invited LARA
way, who had not seen her, to play
tennis, and, putting him in position
where he could not refuse without
seeming to be disobliging, he reluc-
family consented.
Now l had taken prizes at match
games of tennis and was then cham
pion. The first ball i served L landed
on the tip of Larraway's nose.
There is something painful in being
thus hit at any time, but to be struck
by a man one hates Is too much for
any mans equanimity. All the venom
that had been long accommodating in
breast burst its bonds and
was poured on my devoted head. This
is NOT u proper place to give his Ian
guage, which is not fit, especially for
q lady, to hear. / saw something white
moving behind the window blinds and
knew that Miss Keith had departed to
escape the unseemly vituperations that
were loaded upon me. 1 calmly apollo
gized to Larraway, even Offering
him my handkerchief to stop the red
flood that poured from his nose. He
turned on his heel and went to the
house, while 1 remained on the court.
and since 1 did not care to be seen
dancing myself 1 gave vent to my feel
ings by dancing the ball on my racket.
When next L met Miss Keith 1 ven
tured a remark praising my rival for
his rare patience, his kindly disposi-
ton, and was passing on to his other
adorable traits when she put her hands
to her ears. / asked in affected sur
prise If 1 had offended her, but I knew
she was trying TO shut out the remem-
brance of Larraway's language.
/ won Emma Keith and the day after
the wedding told her that / had land ]
ed that ball on Larraway's nose for