Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-27
8he Hrgus Daily Short Story
The Standard Svndicate."-By Annie Hinrichsen.
Literary

4
med felt hat and Il white lawn tie and |;
dresses almost rs we'll us if he had |
good tailor. He wears his hair Il IL |
Samson before he met Delilah. With /
cut it he couldn't make Il speech. In
solemn pauses he sweeps it of his no
bic se,W'. IN frenZied moments he
clutches it wildly. and fiery eioqCence
results. Tie distinguished young south
ern congressman has struck Il happy
medium between Il sophomore and Il
Fourth of july orator. He has the pro
fundity the all Use. know ii all of the
college student ana the cheap wit. stale
stories. i-WoG-E -tu-pieaSe-t he paI3li> man
ner of The Independence day speaker"
Mr. Harringford read he article sew
eral times. He was accustomed 10
reat.ing about himself but in this
sketch WAS Il personal ri!i@uie which
1T once amused AID Stt:ag him. II had
been cut from Il provincial paper hysa
clipping bureau. It was not signed. but
uEter Tie heading News From WASH
ington" Wee the words Copyright by
the Standard Syndicate"
That night Mr. Harringford visited a
barrier and was properly Shorn. 4 fa-
cetious young man intimated that
Samson had met Deliiah. and Il battle
followed. The facetious young man
was badly beaten and the hot tempered
congressman somewhat dis1iglred
hn la.,. eli, N.
from the Standard syndicate's news.
Washington
"Mr Harringford refuses to discuss
his black eSe, but Il story is being told
concerning the cause of It, There are
several, aspirants for NJ. HarrinSford's
seat in congress, and he is making
strenuous efforts to strengthen himself
with the leaders of his party in his
district. many of whom are old Con-
federate soldiers. At the Army and
Navy club Il few days ago Mr.. Har-
| ringford contids;l to an eX Confederate
colonel his intention of Introducing n
| bill pensioning the soldiers who fought
under jefferson Davis. The ey-Con-
| federate colonel resented Mr.. Harrng-
| ford's proposed legislation rs an Insult
to the south and proceeded to avenge
the honor Of his lost cause. Mr.. Har-
riagford's friends regret that in his
eagerness to make Il grand stand play
| he has shown so little political shrcwd-
| ness"
| The congressman swore picturesque
| ly and called his secretary
| "Smith," he Numbered. wire the ed
itor of that paper for the address of
the Standard Syndicate and the name
| of the person who writes the News
From Washington
The editors reply came: standard
Syndicate, Washington. u. c.. III. W.
Carleton. president Don't know who
| writes News From Washington
The city directory did not contain the
name of the Standard syndicate nor of
II. w. Carleton, and at the postoffice
the clerks did not know the address.
The mail for the syndicate was placed
In lock box The clerks did not know
who called for It,
One morning the congressman read
in the "News From Washington:" Mr..
Harringford is most chivalrous gen
tleman. 1t is said that he has promised
his fair constituents to introduce and
secure the passage of bill providing
for the free distribution of hairpips
and violet perfume. Will such a meas
ure tend to curtail our supply of free
government seeds? If so. we should
give the matter serious consideration.
A new issue may confront us and re-
suit in the formation of two new par
ties-the hairpin-perfume party and the
seed party. We calf the attention of
statesmen and thinkers to this pro.
posed bill of Mr.. Harringford's."
As the wrathful congressman finish
ed the article his secretary entered the
room
'Tve found the Standard syndicate.'
he announced triumphantly Tracked
them down at last
Mr.. Harringford picked up q riding
whip.
where are they?'
"In the Cairo"
"Who are they?"
II don't know. A girl-a sumner
came out of the postofiice as l wal
passing and walked I'D the street ahea,