Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-06-01

student of the game. His partner was
a wall eyed man without a smile. Mel
Their did Tom hear q word from the
one whose black hair and sullen Shout
ders were toward him, but opposite
whom. facing Tom, sat the visible life
and soul of the party.
This was a little elderly man With
gray tufts upon his bloodless cheeks
and horn spectacles pushed halfway up
singularly benevolent brow. He sat
tailorwise, like the rest, but played his
cards in way of his own. He had
only one hand for the job. His right
arm terminated in a polished hook
with cork at the end of it, but there
knelt at his side gigantic aboriginal,
who threw down each card as the
player touched it with the cork. Such
was the. party. At the first glance Tom
had looked anXiously for the blood
thirsty Italian brigand, but he soon for
got his existence in the presence of this
innocent group, who We're not even
playing for money.
Tom heard their horses champing
down as n party of drovers and step
ped fearlessly among them the instant
the rubber came to an end. The wall
eyed one Immediately drew a pistol,
while Slipper leaped to his long legs
with knife. But the man with the
spectaCles ordered them both to put
away their weapons and sit quiet, ana
they both obeyed
Il saw him some time ago" said he,
| lowering his glasses (as he had done
once before while Tom was looking
| on, land l am very much obliged to
| him. He didn't interrupt our rub, as
a more thoughtless person most GER
| tainly would have done. He Is a well
bred young man, and l like the looks Of
him. Do you hear, sir? like the looks
of you, but what on earth's the matter
with your MOUTH
Tom hung his head and told his
story. At its conclusion the little gray
man insisted Oh shaking left hands
with him.
You're the kind of young fellow
like to meet" said he. "a runaway
convict, of cOurseT'
The question was terribly abrupt, but
Tom told the truth.
"There, there. never mind"' cried the
little gray man. You're not so singu-
lar i'll that respect as your sensitive
imagination would appear TO suggest
In fact, you are not the only one i'll the
present circle, SO you see that you may
hold up your head again and even trust
US with further particulars. May l ask
from whose service you have fiedi"
Tom heSitated. If they should carry
him back!
You would rather not say"' exclaim
ed the little man. Very natural, very
natural; but what if | can guess
What If l said his name began with
S, and considered that of his home
stead hardly justified by the facts
save insomuch as every mans dwelling
is his CASTER"
Toms face convicted him. 1t was
TRANSPORTED with amaZement. The
travellers exchanged significant chances
and proceeded TO regard him with al
interest obviously redOubled.
How did you know" he cried.
81 knew nothing. l only guessed"
But howl
More convicts abscond from that
particular establishment than from any
other i'll the colony. Then | perceive
that you are suffering from fifty
lashes''-
"a hundredw
Indeed? And more convicts are
logged on that farm than on any 9th
er in the land. A nice place! l know
something about til intend knowing
more
Slipper laughed.
But you mustn't let hundred lash
es depress you" resumed the littl,
gray man in his smooth and soothing