Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-11

I'VE warned you two or three times
now, and Fin through"
Talk about being quiet" said Whit.
"You have clacked necessarily, like
sitting hen, ever since threw my first
line. No wonder we don't get bite"
Whit Miller turned around to look at
his friend Jack Barnes, lighting his
pipe meanwhile.
.All right, you clumsy old thing. 1
know what I'm talking about" grinned
Jack. you move about in this little
rowboat as if it was an ocean going
steamer. Look to your line thereT'
Whit turned suddenly at the mention
of the long awaited bite. Clumsy he
might be, but Jack loved his chum just
because he was clumsy and always
needed his help. The turn was fatal
Whit lost his balance, his foot slipped
on the wet bottom of the boat, and
backward he went for a cold and I'M
expected dip. Fortunately the water
was only five feet deep, and Nints
head appeared above the water III a
second, pipe in mouth and the fire still
going.
Curses on you, Jack Barnes! You
did that purposely, and you'll pay for
this" growled Whit as he tried to
climb aboard.
Jacks commissions of laughter did
not help matters much, and when he
did stop for n moment it was only to
heap Goals of fire upon Wint's wet
head.
MY fault! Well, 1 like that. you
old landlubber l told you to keep
quiet, but you knew it all. Now our
days fishing is spoiled, and l can stay
home and nurse you. Climb aboard
| and let's get home before you develop
| the measles or whooping cough"
1t was a very sullen pair that I'M
hour later Whit was shivering. and
Jack was muttering under his breath
| They hunted in vain for dry clothes, as
| they had come down only for a day or
| two to rough it. Jack turned to his
| friend with a helpless expression.
| "Wint, there's only one thing to do
| Well have to pack up and go over to
Uncle Wills and see if they will take
you in. You're sneezing your head of
now, and by morl1ing you'll probably
have 4 fine case of pneumonia. l hate
to do it. for Aunt Fanny doesn't ap
\ prove of me or my friends either fol
that matter" added Jack.
Again the pair started off and walk
ed through the woods to a pretty little
cottage set in among the pines. Aunt
Fanny Beal met them at the porch
She was a woman who held her head
high at all times, but just now il
seemed to be straighter than ever.
$50 it's you. is it?' she said as Jacl
/ extended his hand. who is this per
son with you?" she added as she
glanced at the figure of Whit, covered
with red mud and hatless.
ooh, 1 say. Aunt Fanny, be easy
We've had an accident. This is IN!
best friend. Mr.. Winthrop Miller. He
fell overheard, and we've come ovel
to see if you won't take us in for the
night until his clothes get dry
Where's Uncle Will? He'll under
stand"
Your uncle is in town, and Bell
and l are alone. Blood is blood, anC
you cannot deny your own. I'll talk
you in for your mothers sake" whinet
Aunt Fanny as she opened the door ii
anything but q welcome manner.
Never mind about me, Aunt Fan
n.y." cheerily answered Jack as he say
the door open for them. But Win
must get dry. He's caught dreadful
cold, fear"
"He doesn't look exactly frail," sug
gested Mrs. Bcai as she glanced a
Wint's somewhat ample proportions
However. come in and go up to you
uncle's room. / suppose you will leav
: this evening. You know we have n
spare room,' she added lest the.
should avail themselves of a night
, lodging.
: Whit did not leave that evening no
for many. many evenings thereafter
, At ) o'clock that afternoon the docto
was sent for. He looked at the flush
ed checks and the parched tongue
He listened to the wheeling breath a
it came so hard and shook his head.
Eve must have nurse at once
Mrs. Beal. The man is very sick. H
must have care or he will die. ! vi
send a nurse and will call again later
Good afternoon" and the doctor wa
gone.
l For weeks Whit lowered betwee
: life and the great beyond. No one Ell
" tered the room but the nurse, the doc
tor and Isabelle Beal, Jacks cousin
e She relieved the nurse. and sometime
even the doctor would call her in
e give a few directions. Jack cam
down every day or two, but never wa
allowed to see his chum. Slowly th
e big man made his fight. slowly b
e eyes lost the CLASSY look. and final
S the day came when the nurse was n
:. longer needed. Isabelle could manag
|. with Jacks help at night.
l.! 81 say, nurse" said Whit one day
Isabelle sat reading to him, 'Pm gla
that other nurse beat it / like 20
i better"
J. "But you know I'm not really
IL