Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-12-24

ESI nj was old Michael who fished
tXh III the interpreter from his I'M
ESSTsSl welcome bath. Choking with
4ss4-I rage and spewing muddy wa
ter, Matthews was hauled into the
stern of ii pirogue. There, while the
pilot rowed slowly to the Brannon
shore, he stretched his sorry, bedrab-
bled fgure-a figure in striking con-
trast to that of an hour before His
handkerchief hung upon one ear, his
red shirt chung, his buckskin trousers,
dark and slick from their sousing. bel
lied with water let in at the band; his
bright topped boots spurted like pump
nozzles, his pale hair struggled ana
dripped into his eyes.
When the boat touched at the steam
er side, he raised himself TO look back.
Simon was leiSurely ascending the cut
and reaching to left and right for ten
der wisps of vine. Matthews gave his
hard laugh. III make meat of yOu,"
he promised savagely. Then he turned
TO Michael.
The Irishman was leaning back,
steadying his craft against the bank
with one hand, holding his stub pipe
out in the other His biowZy face was
blowZer than ever. Down it, from his
closed lids, ran the teardrOpS. chasing
one another into the black notched
cavern of his mouth.
Here was culprit handy to the mo-
ment's anger. Matthews arose in his
squashlng boots. You lop cared son of
gun, who you Iaughin' att" he de
manded.
The cavern widened till the face was
split 10 two. "W-w-w-ahr gasped the
pilot
maybe you think it was funny
said the Interpreter, with suave heat.
Cunning deviltry disturbed his fea-
lures, and, stepping forward in the
boat, he kicked Michael on u bunion.
Pain sobered the pilot With roar
of ''Howley smoker he swung his pad
die alOft.
The interpreter was too quick for
him. Like frightened muskrat he
sought the water, fioundered to solid
footing and waded out. You Will
monkey with a buzzSaw!' he tainted
Jus waitr''
Clinging to his injured foot old Mi
chael rocked himself and cursed, but
not for, long. He was soon rambling
toward the barracks, for" he argued
there's more "A wan way t. kill a cat
In frontier post news flies with the
dust In the air. Soon the story of Mat
thews and the bull had spread to every
soul ut Brannon. The line chatted i
from gallery to gallery. ClothespiI
row digeSted it in hilarious groups. \
barracks it set the men to swapping
yarns. II knowed 4 feller onct tina
was goin' past u bull pen" declared
one trooper land he had pail o
cherries and I'll be darned if Blu
say! Down home one time" put in
second, there was vaquero with
red sash that was stoopin' to Tx
flank girth, and why, that amt
two spot to what happened in Kansa
a year ago this summer. The purtieS
gal ever seen-you know them Kan
sas gals can be purty-she had wi
that d keep your hands warm in Jan
uary. WelP'-
When, however the surgeon recount
ed the story at the bachelors moo
mess mirth over it was noticeabl
lacking To the little circle of officer
there was nothing comical in the fac
that d man from the post had moles
ed the girls so recently orphaned. An
all save Fraser vowed Stormiy thf
Matthews would be called to accoun
The young lieutenant said nothing.
Before the meal ended the interpre
er came in. He had changed h
clothes and restored his hair to il
pristine smoothness. He gave IL
group his usual bob and smile.
Cold stares answered him-from a
but one, who fairly bounded from h
chair 1t was Fraser, face red, shou
ders working under the blue of h
uniform. lie planted himself befo
Matthews.
"You id blackguardv' he gaspe
The other looked highly amuse
whats got into your craw, sonny
he inquired.
"You id blackguard" repeatt
Fraser, and struck out.
An amazed and delighted mess roo
looked on, for Fraser, the tender heal
cd Fraser, the pink checked mamma
darling waa battering the interpret
hammer and .tongs.
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