Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-23
HENRY WALLACE PHILLIPS


/
Fairfield that the owner was still
much alive.
Run away, Matte! Run away and
! let me cussr' shrieked Red. Miss
| Matte collapsed into the arms of Let
| It's.
The dust settled enough so that the
anxious villagers could see horse and
| man: the former resting easily as if
he had had enough athletics for one
day and the latter sitting in the road.
| Neither showed any intention of ris-
ing.
whats the matter Mr. Saunders,
are you hurt?" inquired the fussy post
mistress.
please go way, ma'am," said Red.
waving his arm.
I'm sure you're hurt-I'm perfectly
sure you're hurt" she persisted. hold
ing her ground. Now, do tell us
what can possibly be the matter with
you"
Every WELL" returned the exas-
perated cowpuncher, 81 will. My
| pants, ma'am, have suffered in this
turn up, and they're now in a con-
dition to make my appearance in po-
lite society difficult, if not impossible;
now please go way, and somebody
fetch me horse blanket"
1t is regrcttable that the discom-
future of the postmistress was received
with undisguised hilarity. The blan-
ket was produced, and Red stalked off
in Indian dignity, marred by limp
in his left leg. for he had come upon
Mother Earth with force which made
itself felt through all that foot of
soft dust.
Bring that durn fool horse along"
he called over his shoulder. Buckskin
rose and followed his owner. There
was no light in his eye now; he looked
thoughtful. He. too, limped, and
there was Il triclile of blood down hiI
nose. Verify it had been a hard
fought field.
AS both men were anxious to see the
lay 'Of the land as soon as possible
Red took his place in the wagon
; that day, after the damages were re-
paired, content TO wait until his leg
was less sore for horseback riding.
=
for them. Mr. Demilt had some money
he wished to put into the enterprise
but his most valuable assistance was,
of course. his thorough knowledge of
the resources of the country.
), They found an admirable site for the
mill in an old stone barn which had
stood the rayages of desolation almost
unimpaired. Reds mining experience
told him that the creek could easily
be fiumed to the barn, and as that was
the only objection of the others to
this location they wrote the owner of
the property for a price. They were
: astonished when they received the fig
ures. 1t had come by Inheritance to
n man to whom it was q white ele
plant Of the most exasperating sort
and he was glad to get rid of 1t 70
. almost song. They were a jubilan
three at the news. 1t saved the cos
, OF building a mill, and, including thai
: the price was as low per acre as an,
! land they could have obtained Re,
!; closed the bargain instantly.
:, LettiS' part of the business wa
/ chiefly TO arrange for the disposal o
4 their product, and when he explains
/ to his partners what he could reason
e ably hope to do in that line the affai
lost it's last tint of unreality and be
t came a good proposition. for Lett
e had an excellent business acqudint
: ance who would be glad to deal wit
: the straightforward young fellow.
The night after the signing of tn
I deeds Red said to Miss Matte: wv
t ought to have a stockholders Dime
u tomorrow night. Matte. If you coul
II hire that scow built girl who wear
f her hair scrambled to come in an
i give you lift, would you feel equs
e to it?''
It You always put 1t that I'm dom
e you great favor In such things, vii
f but you know perfectly well there
J. nothing I'd rather do" replied Mis-
g Matte, with dimpling smile. "Hov
ever, 1t adds to the pleasure Of It I
o have it put in that way. so I won
n complain. I'll just have my suppe
e first and then you men can talk owe
II your business undisturbed."
n You will not-you'1l eat with til
rest of uSv
= yes. but you Stockholders Til
{. word had an import to Miss Matte.
e something. If not regal, at least XII
d ship to the king. Under her democr;
IS cy lay respect for the founded inst
e tuition, impersonal. an integral part
= the law of the state-in fact, mine
Y sovereignty within an empire.
A stakeholder yourselfv retorted Re,
v Don't you call me names"
IS what do you mean, WHIP aske
:, Miss Matte. with wide opened eyes
l. 81 mean you're a stakeholder as GOO
r! as anybody. You've got half my stoc
h Now. hold on! Just listen. This is
is queer run, Matte, from the regulatio
e point of view. this company Of our
D / know enough about film and bacl
e In to know that. You ought to ha,
.e seen the pryin' and pokin' and nosil
around them Boston men did befol
If they took holt of the Chanta Seecht
=. and made 1T stock company. Or
Is Teller was the ablest durn fool 1 ev,
/ cnruo anr0ocf 7 ttcoJ ~ Jaf ~ r ds5x,