Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-18

uaun hail hin EyHSn, anu dEtcf7 uo
rocked in the cradlesof the deep until
he got beached at Placerville. j
"'Come along. friend says Scotty
to the Teller. You and me are going
to have a. little drink on this, IL 1t is
the last act And reckon probably
they made it two. for when Scotty got
back again he was in a condition that
made everybody believe that he'd only
guessed at the story he told. But they
found out afterward 1t was a solemn
fact. Matte, give us some more cof
fee
Thus abruptly recalled to Fairfield,
| Miss Matte started up.
"Well, VIII. it does seem as if that
| was a dangerous country to live in."
| said she.
"Oh, not so awful" said Red. Just
as many people die here as they do
| there. This worlds dangerous place
! to live in wherever you strike 1t, Mat
| tie
THAT'S so," said she thoughtfully.
And now said Red, pushing back
his chair, Its time 1 got to work and
left you to do the Homework undis-
| turbed.'
| What are you going to do, WHIP"
First place. there's fences and
things to be tinkered UP. l see. I
| suppose millionaire like me ought to
hire those things done, but I'd have
measles of the mind If 1 sat around
doing nothing"
ST have been wanting to get the
place in good order for some time"
said Miss Matte, but what with the
money I had to spend for this and
that, and not being able to get Mr..
Joyce to come in for a days work
when | wanted him. it's gone on until
there is a good deal of wrack to It,"
We'll wrack 1t t'other way round in
no time. Got any tools hereT'
"Out in the barn is what's left of
fathers tools. People have borrowed
'em and forge. TO return 'em. and
they've rusted or been lost until I'm
afraid there amt many of 'em left
We'll. I'll get along today somehow.
and later on We'll stock up. Want any
help around the house?"
Thank you, no, WILL"
Then I'm Off"
1t was almost with; feeling Of ter
ror that Miss Matte beheld him root
up the fence. Her idea of repairing
was to put in picket here and there
where it was most needed. Reds was
to knock it all fiat first and set it ur
In Al condition afterward. So in two
hours time he Strengthened up and
mapped the sweat from his brow. be-
holding the slain pickets prone on the
! grass with thorough satisfaction. Yet
he felt tired, for the day was already
hot with a moist and soaking seacoast
heat. to which the; plainsman was I'M
| accustomed. A three-quarter grown
boy passed by. lounging on the seat
of n farm wagon.
Hey" hailed Red. The boy stopped
!, and turned slowly around
, Eyes, SIR he answered courteously
/ enough. al,
Want job?" said Red.
"Well, l dunno replied the boy
, | He was much astonished at the ap
: pearance of his interrogation, and he
, was cautious New England boy K
{ boot.
5 You don't know?' retorted Red
WELL" with some sarcasm, dye sup
pose l could find out at the postofficef Z
D The boy looked at Red, with twin
. kle in his eye and comical drawing
of his long mouth.
1 81 calclate If you cud fin out any
w'eres 'tvould be there" said he.
3 Red laughed He had noticed th'
busy postmistress rushing out of he
l store to waylay any one-likely to hav,
: Information on any subject a stream
i of questions proceeding from he
through the door.
s Say. you got anything particular
4 to dog
NO, sir; leastways th'ain't no hurr!
Il about it,
f "Can 1 buy stuff to make a fenc
with around here?"
). Yes, sir; Mr.. Pettigrew's got al
/ kinds of buildin' material at his stor
e two mile over yonder," pointing wit
b the whip.
r You drive over there for me an,
e get some-just like this here-pieket
b and posts and whatever you call then
long pieces, and I'll make it right wit
!! you"
Yes, sir. How much will get?'
g ooh, tell him to fill the wagon u
r with it, and I'll send back what
d don't want. Hustle. now, like a goo
d boy; I want to get shut of this jot
! 1 liked it better before begun
When his Mercury had speeded o
/ the journey at faster gait than Re
would have given him credit for til
architect strobe down to the blacl
smiths shop. There was large
4 crowd than usual around the forg'
4 as the advent of the stranger had &C
! into the wind, and the, village Vulca
| was a person who not only looked th
! whole world in the face. but no on
| of the maiden ladies of Fairfield coul
| have excelled his interest in lookin
i the whole world as much in the insid
pocket as possible. The blacksmit
4 was emphatically. man of gossip, 8
well as hardworking, God fearin
man.
/ Say. there he comes now, Mr.. Tu