davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07
8he Hrgus Daily Short Story
The Week of Probation. BY Martha C. Sanford
Copyrighted. Associated Literary

Dorothy's love affairs had come to a
crisis. Three proposals i'll as many
weeks put literally Il stop to her CO.
quetry. a decision had to be made~
So she composed form letter brief
and noncommittal. and mailed Il copy
to each of the three anxious aspirants
Ii read as follows:
My Dear Mir -: Please do not come
To see me again for 4 week or until give
you permission. | am thinking things
over Very cordially yours.
DOROTHY BRETT
Not that Dorothy seriously meant 40
do any tall amount of thinking. The
week of probation would save her all
that trouble The test would he simple
enough OF the one whose absence
should make her heart grow fonder-
of that one Dorothy would feel sure
She wondered dreamily why all girls
did not resort TO a solution so com
mendably automatic 1t was so silly
to allow oneself To he consumed for
a prolonged period with nerve racking
doubts and feveriSh fantasies All one
had To do was TO assume passive
frame of midland wait.
When Reginald Warren received
Dorothy's lacOnic instructions he laugh
ed long and confidently
$50 Dorothy actually believes its
necessary to think ii over" he com
mented. Bless her heart. she shall be
allowed that privilege if she wants it,
AS if there could he the least doubt
Right here Reginald broke off his
soliloquy and whistled, for in sorting,
over his mail he had come upon an
other envelope IN Dorothy's handwrit-
ing. 1t bore the name of Mr.. Robert
Butler but was addressed by accident
to Reginald's street and number
Reginald balanced the letter tenta-
lively in his hand. How many more.
wonder:" he asked himself. "ShaIl
forward 1t to Butler or return it To
Dorothy?" In a misguided moment he
decided upon the latter alternative.
Dorothy was furious when the letter
came back to her. She recognized Reg
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07
Inquiry Into Relative Prices of
Meat and Live Stock Welcomed

In Washington yesterday Congress.
man Hitchcock of Nebraska intro
duced resolution in the lower house
asking that the. secretary of commerce
and labor be directed to compile COM
parative tables of the wholesale and
retail prices of meat for fhe past two
years, TO show the relationship be-.
tween the prices paid by the great
packing companies for live stock and
the prices charged by them for the
meat products. 1t was referred to the
committee on interstate and foreign
commerce.
Consumers in Rock Island. as well
as all over the country. will welcome
an inquiry into this subject There
is something so strange about the sud-
den rise in meat prices in the las
two or three weeks that they may be
|pardoned for having suspicious Last
fall when panicky times came on
prices of live stock went down to the
lowest point in years. High corn and
an uncertain outlook led men with
marketable hogs and cattle TO rush
them TO market in spite of the saeri-
flee cntailcd With prices way down
most of the hogs and cattle passed
into the hands of the packers. When
this process was about completed and
the time for making contracts for de
livery of dressed meats and meat
products arrived the price of live stock
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07
How Would This Program Strike
Xoup

Suppose that the democrats should
nominate Bryan for president, John
johnson of Minnesota for vice presi-
dent. and John Mitchell of Streator
for governor of Illinois?
Suppose the democrats should make
such nominations. don't you think our
republican friends would sit up and
take notice?
This is the program that a lot of
good democrats in Illinois are going to
work for, and if it can be carried out,
the republicans OF this, nation and of
this state will have the fight of their
lives this year
The best informed democrats in this
state believe that John Mitchell can
be elected governor this year. The
laboring men are pushing Mitchel's
claims, and the democrats of the state
take mighty kindly to him.
Bryan, Johnson and Mitchell would
set the prailies on fire in this state of
| Illinois.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07

maids handwriting and Immediately
consigned him TO the oblivion he de-
served. How did he dare treat her
slip of the pen humorousiy, for that
was what he had done. of course. She
could tell it from the roilicking style
of the penmanship. Had he been a
gentleman he would have forwarded it
TO Robert and spared her the humiIia-
ton of knowing what a telltale blupder
she had made.
Robert Butler of course profted by
his rivals hasty faux pas-temporarily,
that is-for. receiving no warning to
the contrary. he continued To call upon
Dorothy and found her SO engagingly
gracious that his emotions scared once
more TO the point of Il proposal. Stimuli
taneously Dorotliy's hospitality fell to
the freezing point. and the following
morning she mailed Robert his delayed
ultimatum.
The week of probation went by with
no word or sign from the third handle
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07
The Week I'm Politics.

The political activity of the present
+ the republicans. State conventions of
that party for the selection of dele
gates to the national convention are
to be held in New York, Massachus-
etts, South Dakota and Virginia.
The insurgents" led by Governor
Crawford will control the convention
in South Dakota, and it is expected the
eight delegates chosen will be for Taft
Virginia also is looked upon as favor
able to the Taft movement.
The New York convention will. of
course, endorse Governor Hughes for
the presidential nomination and will
bind its delegates to vote for him.
Governor Hughes will be permitted to
make his own, selection of the four
delegates at large, and it is expected
that General Stewart L. Woodford
State Chairman Woodruff. President
Schuman of Cornell university, and
Ex-Governor Frank s. Black will make
up the big four"
There will be a heated contest in the
Massachusetts republican convention,
which will meet in Boston Friday The
Taft men will fight FOR instructions,
the opposition will oppose them. and
there may be compromise under
which Secretary Taft may be mention
ed in a merely complimentary way
Or 1t is regarded as possible there may
be no mention made at ALL In that
event it may be regarded as some,
thing of setback for the Taft boom
More than ordinary Importance is at
tached to the action of the Massa-
chusetts convention because of its
probable influence on the conventions
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07

SHE WAITED IMPATIENrLY FOR CENTRAL
TO GET THE NUMBER.
of Dorothy-s oyerfull loving cup. TT
objectionable negligence piqued her
not little.
Ned might at least have taken the
trouble TO find out il really meant it,
she argued. with proverbially feminine
logic. Its positive proof that he's in
different Well, he'll find out that |
can be Indifferent too. Eli write to-
I'll write TO Reginald Warren this very
night and tell HIM
She, took up her pen with an air of
determination. One beginning after
another was dashed boldly off, read
over with inisgivings and finally dis
carded
Reginald himself interrupted these
spasmodic outbursts.
"Oh, l was Just writing to you, Mr..
Warren was Dorothy's more or less
futtering welcome
Dorothy my own! Reginald ex.
claimed jubilantly.
She saw the CLEAN Of happiness that
lighted his eyes and quickly drew heI
hand away from his ardent clasp.
"How did you dare to come before
had written to tell your she asked de
fensively.
Reginald laughed easily.
Because / knew what you would
write. dearest, and the week Of my en-
forced absence is up tonight. 20,
know"
The amazing assurance of this love
struck Dorothy dumb for the moment
1t was as though the mans real char
acter had revealed itself in fash. H
had taken her answer Cor granted
Dorothy's vacillating little heart gre,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07

Abe Ruef, the San Francisco 60
between, who. after being convicted
technicalities. is now sending out
throughout the country, with the hope
that they. will be published, circulars
seeking to vindicate him in his con-
duct. This is usually the practice of
the rogue who imagines that a purely
technical court ruling will blot out of
the public mind the misdemeanors OF
which he is known to be guilty.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07
Hunor ana Philosophy
By DUNCAN NJ SMITH
A CHEAP BLUFF.


Although your salary is small
And your expenses great
And men who sell YOU goods on tmo
Must for their money wait.
: Don't let that hold you down or your
Imagination tame.
Go buy an auto In your mind
To prove that you are game.
Brush up your coat and call around
To where the cars are sold
And as the salesman bows and smiles
Preserve a manner cold,
Object 10 everything he shows.
Will comments on the side,
And he'll back out his choicest car
And take you for a ride.
From dealer on TO dealer fit.
Look rich and thus cut ice.
Object to this thing and TO that.
But never 10 the price.
Thus heaps OF riding you can get
AS each machine you test.
A nice vacation ii viii be,
A pleasant summers rest.
No one is more susceptible
To an artistic bluff
Than gentlemen who sell the cars.
1t means To them the "stuT."
Go round and see them once week.
Just as a glad surprise.
And they will take you for spin.
They need the exercise.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07

began to creep up till now the few
FARMERS who have animals left to sell
are being offered fancy figures. Quo
tations on dressed meats are made
TO correspond with the present prices
of live stock, of course. So it is read
ilys seen thatsthe farmer has been re-
lieved of his chief product at "a loss
and at the same time the consumer
is paying the highest prices known
for meat. II is not hard to guess who
is pocketingy the difference.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07

: Between 100000 and 100000 "of-
ficial' baseballs are used yearly on the
American diamonds. The declared adj
vance of % cents on each ball this
year means, therefore, more than
s1,250,0c0 increase to the handlers.
The first baseball factory was started
in 1858. 1t may be then that the
manufacturers intend the fresh profit
as slight golden-jubilee token to
themselves.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07

Speaker Cannon's resolution asking
the attorney general for information
as to what steps have been taken to
investigate the paper trust is a char
acteristic piece of stand-patism As
the New York World says, instead of
permitting congress to remove the du-
~ on wood pup and white paper the
speaker tries to draw herring over
the trail by shifting the issue over 10
the attorney general
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07
c othes for Easter.
Get Them Now-Pay as You Wear
No. Money Down.

right now'? Why wait until the last
minute? Menter, & Rosenbloom com
pany. With a store located at 1I5k-
fldlk West Second street. upstairs. over
the Independent . and 10 Cent store
Davenport, Iowa. have a wonderfully
line stock of clothing. hats and shoes
FOR men ard women boys and girls,
brought here especially for their large
Easter trade.
You don't need moneyeto buy Easter
clothes at Merter & Rosenbloom COM
pany's. Your promfscnto pay is all
THEY ask. and 81 Il week will buy you
a complete outfit at cash store prices.
Dpn't buy till you see their stylish
clothes. but buA early: so that If alter
i,tioEs are neccSsary they can be made
in time AlterEions are free at Men
ter K Rosenbldpm company's. 115%-
= liz West Secohd street. upstairs. over
the independent and 10 Cent store.
Davenport. IowaA
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07

The high price of meat is not hard
ship, but blessing at this season. ac-
cording to DR.. Bosley. health commits
sioner of Baltimore. Dr. Bosley is of
the opinion that in the spring and
summer, when the body does not re-
quire so much heat. meat can be dis
pensed with the greater part of the
time The doctor thinks that with
meat at its present prices people will
eat more vegetables and be the better
for the CHANGE
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07

Washington dispatches announce
that the public is to be invited TO get
enthusiastic over the proposal TO CO
cree Venezuela into settling the claims
of the asphalt trust and other exploit
ers of that country's resources. The
public, however, doesn't seem to be
warming up very rapidly-possibly be-
cause it hasn't forgotten the details of
the asphalt deal, which is the chief
case at issue
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07
Disprovino a Saw.

Before the days when ready made
clothing was sold regularly below cost,
with IA discount from that price on
for cash, some one who presumably
knew declared with some feeling that
it took nine tailors To make a man.
Even III these days three times three
tailors 10y putting their heads together
might he able to make one of those
nice men who come in so handy as
part of the decoration scheme to match
the parlor furniture, but not so many
tailors as that are needed TO make n
presidential candidate.
1t is handed tO!us by wise man as
serious reason why we should elect
one of the candidates that his coat is
always wrinkied5
Evidently 4 secondhand clothing
man could come nearerimaking presi-
dental candidate iwhe was looking for
popular votes than ccnld score of
safllStlc ~12lloFS., - 80 --,s.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07

The Official Gazette of Toxic points
to Japan's $1O6,0O0,000 imports from
the United States last year and $685.
100000 exports to the United States
as an assurance of peace. In the finan-
ciai and industrial conditions now pre-
vailing in both countries, neither Jap
an nor the United States feels any
need of such luxury as a war.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07
Whoopina COUCH.

have used Chamberlain's Cough
Remedy in my family in cases OF
whooping cough, and want to tell you
that it is the best medicine have ever
used-W. F. CASTOR. Posco. Ga. This
remedy is safe and sure. For sale by
all druggists.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07
PERT PARAGRAPHS.

When we do the best we can we
think the world ought to sit around
and applaud aud be thankful that 1t
escaped our worst.
Many a hard path could be made
easier by the use Of little common
sense.
1t is a fine thing that the good time
Is always coming. for if 1t were past
we would have dismal time of In
deed.
The trouble with most Of us is that
we can't see why people can't see our
tallow candle as far as they can see
our neighbours electrolier.
A hard days work with nothing TO
eat at the end of it is recommended
as an excellent remedy for both dys-
pepsia and egotism.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07

It's up to you, whatever your atti,
tude on the prohibition issue, to help
make Rock Island a greater and bet
ter city.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07
THE. ARGUS.

Published Daily and Weekly at 1924
Second avenue. Rock Island. ILL., lEn-
tered at the postofice as second-class
matter.l
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07
OLDEST MIssIoNARYINWoRlD
Rev. Samuel Currie Ewing, Presbyter-
ian Worker, Dies at Cairo, Egypt.

Pittsburg; April Word has been
received by the United Presbyterian
hoard of foreign missions of the death
in Cairo. Egypt. of Rev. Samuel Currie
Ewing, said te, be the oldest mission
airy in the world both in age and point
of service
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07

Alderman Lawler from the. ordin-
ance committee submitted an ordin-
ance directing the city collector to re-
port to the county collector on unpaid
taxes on special assessments, and
moved its immediate consideration.
Carried.
Alderman Lawler moved the adop
ton of the ordinance as read Adopted
by unanimous vote.
Adjourned on motion of Alderman
Benson. NJ T. RUDGREN,
City Clerk
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07
Only Way.

Il suppose your wife has the las
word
Not puch.'
"Yours is IN exceptional case"
81 say it under my breath"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07

BY THE }. w. POTTER CO.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07
MUNICIPAL MATTERS.

! CONTINUED From Page rhree.)
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07
Smart Girl.

Smart Girl.
az am locking SIR eleud-'.
"What for, you pessimistic thingf"
81 am having new opera cloak
made" sNb>
..You don't wnnt7cloudy weather for
that. do you:" Y
,"Well, thought 1 would like sill
very lining for it."
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07
Tuesday, April 7, 1908.

Whatever happens, let all pull to-
gether for a Greater Rock Island.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07
Ihaw's Finish.

No longer then will Evelyn
Have Harry for boarder.
Congra tulations. We should think,
To both would be in order.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-07

Clever at IL.
"He likes 10 brag."
eyes, of course"
"Why of courseT''
eft is the only thing that he does
we'll"
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-07-22
NO DECISION IN
SALARY BOOST
SUPREME COURTS DECISION NOT
ON MARTiNDALE CASE AS
WAS THOUGHT.

Superintendent OF Schools Wales
c. Martindale Will not get that salary
boost from $4,000 to $4,000 per year for
while yet incidentally the supreme
court has just been found to have de-
clared the city's eight-hour-day ordi-
nance invalid and Controller Doremus
is in contempt of court more or less
Ali these facts came to light sud-
denly Tuesday afternoon when Her.
bert L. Reeves, OF the board of edu-
cation, brought In a voucher for 81 1000
as back pay due Supt. Martindale for
the 10 months prior to July l. 1t had
been announced that the supreme
court had on that day decided that
the increase Is legal.
Inquiry In the corporation counsel's
Office developed. however, that 1t is
really the eight-hour case, which af-
fects thee ity's printing contracts
principally, that was decided.
Controller Doremus then found that
he was In contempt in having given
the city work since the first OF the
month &c the Winfield company
which made It's bid under the eight.
hour ordinance. while a competitor
bid without any time restrictions. Civ.
ing a lower price
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-07-22
SUNDAY BASE BALL
OPPOSED BY JUST
TWO ALDERMEN
RESOLUTION GOES THROUGH
FLYING, WITH GRINDLEY AND
HARPER VOTING NAY-wEL.
COME SIGN NOT RESTORED.

Two aldermen alone stood out
against Sunday baseball at Belle Isle
when the matter came up for vote
Tuesday evening. John Grindley and
John HARPER OF the Eighth ward
were the two stalwarts who voted 10
down the resolution allowing Park
Commissioners Breitmeyer 10 issue per-
mits for Sunday games.
Il was not brought up that way"
explained Aid. Grindley. Il do not
think public park Is the place TO
day. There are plenty OF quieter
amusements."
This matter ought not to be
brought before the council" asserted
HARPER. IF Breitmeyer wants TO al
low Sunday ball. let him issue the
permits and preserve order"
Aid. link. who started the move to
allow Sunday games. smiled happily
from the chair.
This Sunday ball matter was the
most important incident OF the meet
ing. The next largest event. was the
kidnapping Of Aid. Owens dog by Aid.
Goeschel. The bull pup sat in Aid.
Heineman's seat and had voted on
every proposition until the meeting
ran down 10 resolutions--a short bark
meaning nay and a longer one aye
as interpreted by the obliging messen-
ger of the council.
Suddenly he was gone. Aid. owen
was visibly perturbed but took his
medicine and waited until after the
council 10 search for his pet. al
though various persons had come In
during the meeting with disquieting
rumors that the dog had been carried
away and was on its way to the Wind
sor race track
The most exciting thing did not
happen. Everybody had expected re-
port from the board of examiners IN
their final selection for boiler inspec'
tor but no report appeared.
Because the fund allowed by the es-
timators for the care of the public
bath house on Erskine-st is too small
to allow Of sufficient help or repairs,
an additional sum Of 500 was appro-
priated for pressing needs.
A resolution was presented by Aid
Korte, asking the water board to con
fer with the common council In re
gard to building the new sewer pump
ing station on the grounds OF the water
works Rear-the water pumping sta
ton. II would cost the city $4,000
to get an additional pumping site fol
the sewer.
The public buildings committee
brought in a forcible report advising
against placing the welcome sign or
the city hall again. The report says;
ut was a novelty and served It's pur
rose. even though II proved rather ex
pensive. but to resurrect Ii at thii
time would be not only nonsensica
but a waste OF public money"
The same committee advised thai
the commissioner OF public works be
authorized to advertise for bids fol
remodeling a portion of the city hall
basement for the free employment bu
reau, the room now used by that blu
reau being turned over to the side
walk division.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-07-22
PASSES UP PROBLEM
TO TOWN LAWYER

Park Commissioner Breitmeyer has
found himself up against a peculiar
situation In regard to the separation
OF grades at the western boulevard.
The law requires him to advertise for
bids on all work In excess Of $500. At
the same time the railroads which
cross the boulevard. insist on doing
the work OF separation and charging
II up 10 the city.
The city must pay the entire cost
of the separation but Breitmeyer has
two questions to solve. How can he
let the railroads do a work costing
thousands OF dollars without adver.
Using for bids? How can he adver.
tise for bids when the separation is to
be made In the railroads right-of-
way and they insist on their own men
doing the work?
He has passed II up TO the cor
poration counsel.
The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-07-22
$500 EACH PAID TO
TRUSTEES IN
FA|Rv|EW
FORMER TREASURER CLAEYS
MAKES STARTLING ADMISSION
TO COMMITTEE in PRoSEcUT.
ING CLAIM AGAINST CITY.

A little insight into the rottenness
of the old Fairview village govern
ment was given the council claims
and accounts committee, Tuesday
afternoon Louis Claeys. who was
treasurer Of that village for about a
year and half. was on hand to give
testimony on his claim for about So
500 against the city. City Treasurer
Koch has a claim to collect against
Claeys of about the same amount.
The most startling admission made
! by Claeys was that he had given
| 5000 each TO some OF the trustees OF
the village. more than $1,000 in all
He could only remember the name
OF President Keith as one who had re-
celved money.
This payment. he declared. was a
free will offering and not part of a
bargain. 1t was made some time be-
fore the village council adopted a
resolution allowing him the unusually
high rate Of four per cent for collect
ing taxes. The law forbade the trust
ees from voting themselves any com
pensation and II may be contended In
court later If the city sues Claeys.
that this was roundabout method
OF paying them money.
A part OF Claeys claim is for work
In connection with the collection OF
taxes In 1907 The taxes were col
lected by the city treasurer but the
act OF annexation was later declared
invalid and a new one passed. Claeys
declared that he was put to great
trouble In telling people not to pay
him but to pay Treasurer Koch In
the city hall.