Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-12-21


The other directed his gaze upon the |
sharpening blade do you happen t
know Portugee?" he asked humbly
Zone of the boys is loony on gal at
Bismarck that he amt writ to for "a
year She's Portugee"-
Matthews gave a dismissing wave
of the hand. Il savvy English and
most Injun,'' he said; none of them
fancy languages, though. / been to
school only a week in my hull life.
That was down in Omyha, and one
week was plenty" At the remem-
brance he shook with silent laughter.
THAT week, as / say, was 'nough for
! me. The teacher-she was a lady,
mind y'-tries to tell me that it's the
same blamed sun we see comm up ev-
cry mornin'. Look a-here, now,' l
says: Don't we git new moon onct
| In a while? Then, what's the matter
with havin' a change of sum- Well,
| that plumb stUmped her She shut up"
The barber was now ready for oper-
ations, so Matthews adjusted his Shout
| ders. closed his pink lidded eyes and
| followed the suit of his nonplused
| teacher.
Bill felt there was something in
the wind and longed to question Mat
thewS, yet dared not. The interpreter,
| formerly so feared and even disliked,
by the enlisted men, was now regarded
in B troop as generally misunderstood
and maligned individual-this in con
sequence of the Lancaster inquiry;
hence he was playing the role of in
| jured innocence and seriously taking
| himself for popular hero. He was
more cocksure and conceited than ever
before and more prone to brag and
bully. Scraping diligently away the
barber shuddered at the thought of
even letting the razor slip.
/ Kippis was less respectful He en-
tered when Matthews was rising, all
redolent of bay rum, and surveyed the
latter in mock amaze. My, no, myr'
he cried. "Hain't we bloomin' fine,''
Matthews wriggled those faint lines
upon his glistening forehead that served
for eyebrows. You go soak your
head" he retorted.
And no gun hon is 'ip," went on
the sergeant. But wy, no, wy does
e wear red shirts?'
The interpreter spraddled out his
legs. Folks git rich mindin' their
own business" he said meaningly.
= Kippis could not forego a last gibe
Person d halmost think you's goin
/. sparkin'," he declared.
| Matthews gave a start, and his keen
eyes shot a searching glance at the
sergeant's smiling countenance. Wha,
he read there treasured him. The 9th
er was bantering without notion that
{ he approached the truth. The inter
2 prefer shrugged and stalked out. With
in the hour he was on his way to the
: Lancasters..
t He did not go to the shack, however
: From the cottonwoods he spied Dallas
at work in the corn, so he directed his
!. steps thither. She did not see him
g Her back was toward the river an,
S the sun was glinting on her swinging
s hoe. Beyond her, on a picket rope
: was Simon, the bull. He was travel
q ing in a restless circle and SENDING
lonesome blasts across the deserted
/. prairie. He alone saw the interprete
) and eyes bullying inquiringly.
n Dallas weeded on, unconscious of
visitor. The corn was shoulder higl
l. now and bearded. Its long leave
h swayed and whispered, covering tn
o sound of Matthews approach. Blu
S when he was yet some rods off a f1ocl
n of ground sparrows rose before hin
with startled twitters. At that sh
e looked back. The next instant sh
IS had caught up the Sharps.
Ell Matthews halted and lifted his hat
g displaying hair pasted down to a silk
n smoothness. II amt got no gum" b
n said quietly. 81 JUS come for to hav
talk
4, She made no answer.
d The interpreter shifted from foot t
l. foot and mopped his forehead. II allu
been sorry for what 1 done las wiz
If ter" he went on. 81 was a blame foo
d to come scarin' you gals-ought t
lie knowed better. But, you see, when
N started nobody told me there wa
'd women folks over here"
Dallas took deep breath.
u II wanted to tell you," continue
0! Matthews. "And-and 1 wanted I
IL say l feel sorry about you losin' yor
IS pa. Now he's dead, l wouldn't tax
!! this here land if you come to me an
" says, Nick, it's yourn.' That's jul
the way 1 feel-yes, ma'am. saw
how to treat lady, Miss Lancaste
gentlemanly and honorable"
u You talk NICE" commented the gil
" His looks faltered from hers. Il
III gave his hard laugh You're a lit
out of temper" he said soothingl
~ That's natural, though. You had
e. lot of trouble"
"My troubles all owing to you,'' 81
81 90 answered passionately, land I'll than
you to gO-right now"
i He pnt out hand IN expostulatio
~ Jus a minute" he begged. "Yo
= done me wrong, but I don't hold
=, agln you. JUS believe / didn't hu
- your pa And l admire you and yol
-, sister, sure 1 do. By golly! YOU
blamed Sandyv'