Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-21

nile ldrtneE up the TOau.
Dear me-" said the young man rue
fully. He was n spick and span, in
telligent looking man, with less of the
dandy about him than the air of
man who had never worn anything
but clothes Of the proper trim and
become quite used TO it. Nevertheless
the sweat stood out In drops on his
forehead, for Fairfeld's front "street"
savored of less moral region than it
really was on a broiling summer day.
The young man sighed frankly and
wiped his head. Well that's too
bad" he said. I'm stranger here
could you kindly tell me where /
could get some dinner?"
What's the matter with that?" ip-
quired Red, pointing to the roast,
which still preserved an air of fallen
greatness. He had liked the look Of
the other instantly.
The stranger looked first at Red and
then at the roast. The only thing
can see the matter with that" he an
swered, lis that it is a slice too thick"
''Keno!' cried Red. You get it.
Matte, another plate and weapons to
fit. Sit down, sir, and rest your fe-
vered feet. If you don't like walking
any better than l do, you've probably
strewn fragments of one of the CON-
mandments all the way from where
the stage dropped you to this apple
tree"
at seems to me that l did make
some remarks that I never learned at
my mothers knee" returned the other,
laughing. and I'm exceedingly
obliged for the invitation, as there
doesn't seem to be a hotel here, and
/ am but a degree south of staFva-
ton"
Red or black?" asked the host, with
quick glance at his guest.
The other caught the allusion. 81
haven't followed the DEAL" he replied,
but I'll chance it on the red"
Somehow he felt instantly at home
and at ease; it was a quality that Red
Saunders dispersed wherever he went.
There you are, sir" said Red, for
warding a plate full of juicy meat.
'The ladies will supply the decora-
tons"
do you like rice as a vegetable,
sir?" inquired Miss Matte.
mo, he doesn't" interrupted Red.
"He likes it as an animal. Never saw
| any one who looked less like a veg
etable than our friend" The young
mans laugh rang out above the 9TH
ers.
Poor Miss Matte was confused. "Its
too bad of you, VIII, to put such a
| meaning on my words" she said.
"The strange part of it is spoke
the young man, seeing an opportunity
for a joke and to deal courteously with
his entertainers at the same time-''the
peculiar fact is that my name is Let
it's"
"Lettuce?' cried Red. Matte, l
apologize-he is a vegetable"
at which they all laughed again.
land now" said Red, I'm Red
Saunders, late of the Chauta Seechee
ranch, territory of Dakota-state of
North Dakota, mean. Can't get used
| to the state business. There's Bill and
| q Dick on this side of me and two Johns
and a Sammy on the other. Foot of
the table is Miss Matte Saunders, next
to her-just as they run-Miss Pauline
DOolittle and Miss Mary Ann Demilt,
who may be kin to the gentleman
you're seeking"
"Mr. Thomas F. Demilt?" asked the
stranger.
| Hes my sister, responded Miss
Mary Ann. Whereat the youths buried
their faces in the plates, as Mr.. Thorn
tiles. bore a pathetic resemblance to
the title.
Il mean," continued the lady hur-
riedly, that I'm his brother"
"By Jimmy, ma'am." exclaimed Red
"but yours is a strange family"
"What Miss Demilt wishes to say
cut in Miss Doolittle. with some as
perity. lis that Mr. Thomas Faulken
stone Demilt is her brother" She die
not add, as extreme candOr would have
urged, "And have some hope-re
mote, alas, but thereof becoming sis
ter to Miss Demilt myself"
THANK your said Lettis. "Shall
be able to see him this afternoon
ooh, mercy, yesw said Miss Mary
Ann. tom is home all day."
i 81 can thank the kind fates fol
that" said Lettis. 81 had begun tc
think he was q myth" and he fell il
upon the tender meat with vigorous
|. appetite of youth and good diges
ton.
+ Nathaniel Lettis was by no means 6
fool, and he had experience in bust
ness, but the handspring of the youns
, fellow was frankness, and in the
course of the dinner he told his errand
II Mr. Demilt had written to his firm ex
planning the advantages of starting {
strawboard factory in Fairfield.
/ was too small thing for the firm t.
, be interested in, but Lettis had a small
/ capital which he wished to invest il
an enterprise of his own handling, ant
it had struck him that there might b.
| a chance for Independence; therefor
he had come to find out the lay of tn
| land
j Red Saunders first glance liking o
the stranger deepened as he told o
[ his business. The cowman did sno
al blame Deople who took obvious way