Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-14
Red Saunders
HENRY WALLACE PHILLIPS
COPYRIGHT. MCCLURE PHILLIPS l. COMPANY

SOI " say IOl IlC iOOhCu
at them brands staring him in the
face. and he bit off small hunk of
chewing Ptt-chay" Says he. Gentle
men, I'm at loss for Words And
they let him 20, as a good joke is
worth its price in any mans country.
I'm in that lads fix. | amt got the
words to tell you how seriously drunk
| was on that occasion. | remember
putting for what | thought was the
hotel and settling down, thinking there
must be lulu of a scrap in the bar
room from the noise. Then somebody
gave me punch i'll the ribs and says.
Where's your ticket?' and l don't
know what l said nor what he said
after that, but it must have been all
right Then it got light, and | met a
lot of good friends l never saw before
nor since. Then more noise and trou-
ble and at last l woke up-in hotel
bedroom. all right, but not the one l
was used to. | went to the window,
heaved her open and looked out. 1t
was a bully morning. and l felt AL.
There was a nice range Of mountains
OUT III lEOllI VI lLt lntll IIuSI htNt
come up during the night. I'd like to
know where l am J thinks. But
somebody will tell me before long, SO
there is no use worrying about that
the main point is, have been touched:'
| dug down into my jeans. and there
wasn't thing of any kind to remem-
Der me by. NO | says to myself. L
nlN1N n
they might have left me the price
of a breakfast. Well. it's nice look
ing country, anyhow" So down
walks to the office. A cheerful seem
ing. plump Kind OF a man was sitting
behind the desk. Hello" says he,
Glancing up and smiling as l came in.
How do YOU open up this morning|
Somebody saved me the trouble,
says l. I'm afraid I'll have to give
you the strong arm for breakfast
HE grinned wide. oh, it amt as
bad as that. hardly reckon says he.
He dove into a safe and brought out d
cigar box.
"'When q gentleman's in the condi-
ton you was in last night he says. L
always make 1t point to go through
his clothes and take out anything a
stranger might find useful, trusting
that there won't be no offense the next
morning. Here's your watch and the
rest of your valuables, including the
cash. Count. your money and see If
It's right
We'll. sir. l was one happy man,
and | thanked that Teller as thumbed
over the bills, but when l got up to a
hundred and seventy I begun to feel
queer. Looked like I'd made good
money on the trip.
Whats the matter?' says he. see
ing my face. Nothing wrong, | hope
why. the watch and the gun and
the other things is all right says l.
but I'm now so to the good. even fig
uring that didn't spend cent, which
amt in the least likely, and here's ten
dollar bills enough to make a bed
spread left over
"pShawr says he Blame it. I've
mixed your plumber up with the min
ing gentleman that came in at the
same time. You and him was bound
to fight at first. and then you botl
turned to to lick me. and what with
keeping You apart and holding you of
and taking your valuables away from
you all at the same time, and me al
alone here, as it was the night man;
day off, I've made a blunder of it
Just take your change out of the wac
and call for drink on me when YOU
feel like 1t. will your
Il said | would do that. and, mere
over. that he was an officer and a gen
tleman and that I'd stay at his hote
two weeks at least to show my ap
| probation. no matter where it was
but TO satisfy a natural curiosity. IL
like to know what part of the countr.
1 was at present inhabiting.
YOU'RE at Boise, Ida says he
'one of the best little towns in th'
| best little territory in the United States
! of America, including Alaska
Well says l. Well for again
l was at a loss for words. l had n,
idea I'd gone so far from home. 4 be
lieye what you say says /. VIVA
do you do round these parts|
Mining says he. You're just II
time-big strike In the Bob Cat dis
trict. Poor mans mining. Placer, ant
burned good placer, right on the top o
the ground. The mining gentleman
spoke about Is having his breakfas
now. Suppose you go in and have
talk with him? Nice man, drunk o
sober, although excitable when he
had little too much or not quit
enough. He might put you on to
good thing. I'm not a mining perso'
myself
Thanks says I and in 1 went t
the dining room.
There was great, big, fine lookin
man eating his ham and eggs the wa
l like to see man eat the next morn
ing. He had black beard that was S
strong it fairly jumped out from hi
face.
"Mornin',' says 1.
"'Good morning, SIR says he. 8.
day of commingled lucent clarity an
verral softness, amt it?'
well. wouldn't care to bet o
!, that without going little deeper int