Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-09-12

| The porter let MIN sleep. lnueeu, MT.
| Quivey, mistaking the hour. lay in his
berth, trying TO get another nap. till 10
| o'clock Then the porter stuck his head
| between the curtains and in an agi-
| tated voice said:
| It's time to raise, sah.'
what o'clock is it,"
| Fen, sab"
| Good gracious"' And Mr.. Quivey
| sprang out.
"Somepen's happened, sah." said the
porter
| "What?' Mr.. Quivey looked up in
| terror. He was i'll state of mind to
| consider even the loss of his gloves Il
| calamity.
The young man opposite tux. yo'
Shoes sah.'
Heavens. It's the only pair 1 have
with me-"
He got out an hou' ago and lef' not
ten but par o won out shoes too
| little TO anybody but IL boy"
Porter. you must get me pair
| from some of the passengers"
"All de passengers lef' de sleeper,
| sab, 'cept Il few"
Quivey turned pale. How about the
| other cars?" he asked.
Way passengers don't have eXtry
| par Shoes
Mr. Quivey looked at his watch. 1t
| was 1915. Are we on time?" he
| asked hoping they were not.
Yes, Sah.'
We are accustomed to consider high
| way robbery Il very wicked thing. But
there are temptations that are irresist-
ible and even Il gentleman of respect
ability under distressing circum-
stances may he tempted beyond his
sense of honesty or fear of the law.
One passenger still lay in his berth.
pair of we'll shined shoes waiting for
him beside it, about the size Mr.. Qui-
vey required They were such respect
able looking shoes that he despaired of
getting them honestly for money. The
only way was to steal them, and once
on his feet Mr.. Quivey felt capable,
under the circumstances, of tying them
OH by strings of lies. If lies would not
avail. was not possession ninetenths
of the law?
Mr.. Quivey stealthily approached the
shoes, which every moment looked
more precious, and was about to grasp
them when the car lurched and his
hand went under the pillow of the
sleeping owner. Suddenly he thought
there must have been a collision, for
he saw innumerable stars. There had
been collision. The fist of the pas
senger had come in contact with his
left eye. and rainbow eye, not so
brilliant, it is true, as his stockings,
was sure to be the result. The passen-
ger at the same time cried Justify:
Thief! Hey. Porter, Conductor"
The shouting awakened the remain
ing passengers, who stuck their heads
out between the curtains while the
man who owned the shoes called on
the porter to go for the conductor OF the
train and request him to telegraph the
police to be ready to arrest Mr.. Quivey
on arrival, averring that the robbers
hand was under his pillow and about
to grasp his watch when he saved 1t
by well directed blow. The conduct
or came and, seeing that Mr.. Quiyey
was q gentleman and in a miserable
plight, declined to interfere. But I'M
fortunately the train was obliged to
stop at way station for water, and the
owner Of the shoes, who was an ugly
fellow, sent the telegram himself.
AS the train approached the terminal
Mr.. Quivey, ignorant of the fact that
he was to be arrested on arrival, be-
moaned his fate at having to meet the
wedding party in striped socks. He
would have welcomed an arrest IL 1t
would have solved the difficulty. 1t
happened that the police We're looking
for a notorious criminal, and they were
quite sure the telegram indicated that
they would find him on the train. In
order that Mr. Quivey might not escape
they Jumped on as the train was roll
ing into the station aud proceeded to
take the unfortunate Quivey into Gus
tody.
The wedding party stood on the plat
form, the men in light trousers, silk
hats and frock coats, each wearing a
big boutonniere in the buttonhole. The |
bride and her attendant ladies were in |
day costume. Lining up before the |
sleeper, they waited the grooms COM
ing. The men prepared to dof their |
hats, the women to shake their tiny9
lace handkerchiefs. Presently out1
came Mr.. Quivey between two police
men, his left eye yellow and blue, both |
feet all colors
There was hush, then a laugh In
which all but the bride Joined. She,
poor thing. wept.
Mr.. Quivey's accuser, taking in the |
situation. withdrew his charge. the
police were satisfied, and Mr.. Quivey
was hustled into a carriage.
The wedding was twenty minutes /
late T. EUGENE DRAPER l