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

the tune of -"Old Dog Tray" through
his nose. which Miss Matte found
very amusing.
She measured out the coffee, one
spoonful for each cup and one for the
pot. Red watched her patiently, and
when she had finished he threw in
the rest of the contents of the mill
drawer. Il like it fairly strong" said
he in explanation.
Now, Will.' protested Miss Matte
Look at you! That will be as bitter
as boneset!"
''Thin her up with milk and she'll be
all right replied Red.
well, such wasteful ways 1 never
did see. Nobody'd think you were a
day over fifteen
I'm not" said Red stoutly, land"
catching her chin in his hand and turn
Ing her face up toward him. 'nobody'd
put your score much higher than that
neither if they trusted to their eyes
this morning"
The compliment hit so tender place
that Miss Matte lacked the resolution
to tear 1t out: besides, 1t was so hon.
est that it sounded much less like a
| compliment than plain statement of
fact. She bent hastily over the fire.
I'm glad look young, WILL she said
softly.
"So'm Ir' he assented heartily.
whats the sense in being old. any
how? I'm as Timber and good for
myself as ever I was in spite of my
forty years.
You're not forty years DID, ex-
| claimed Miss Matte. You're joking
Mary ioke-ferty round trips from
| flying snow to roses since I hit land,
Mattie-why. you We're only a, little
| girl when | left here--don't you re-
member? Yon and your folks came to
| see us the week before L left. I got n
thrashing for taking you and Joe to
| the millpopd and helping you to 81
good and wet The thrashing was one
of the things that gave me.a banker
ing for the west. Very liberal man
with the hickory. father. Spare the
clothes and spoil the skin was his
| motto. He used to make me strip 10
| the waist-phec-hew. Even n light
breeze rested heavy on my; back when
dad got through with nae. Say. Matte,
perhaps oughtn't to gay so, now that
he's gone. but don't think that's the
proper way TO use boy, do your
\ NO. l don't" said Miss Matte.
"Your father meant well, but his way
was useless and cruel.
i've forgiven him the whole
sweep" said Red, "But. d-n me.
if had boy l wouldn't club the life
out of him; I'd try to reason with him
first, anyhow. Makes boy as ugly
ms anybody else to get the hide whaled
off his back for nothing-once In
awhile he needs it. Boy that's got any
life in him gets TO be too much oc-
casionally, and then warming is
healthful and nourishing. Lord, you'd
think I was the father of my country
to hear me talk, wouldn't you? II
somebody'd write book. What Red
Saunders Don't Know About Raising
Children it would be full of valuable
information. How's that breakfast
coming on?'
"All ready-sit right down, WILL"
$50 you.v cried Red, and incautious
ly flung himself upon one of the kitch
en- chairs, which collapsed Instant!
and dropped him to the floor.
Mercy on us. Are you hurt?' crie(
Miss Matte. rushing forward.
"HurtT' said Red. TRY ii! Jus
jump up in the air and sit on the foo
where you are now, and see if you ge
hurt. Oh, no! I'm not hurt, but Tn
astonished beyond measure, like tn
!, man that tickled the mule. I'll TAX
my breakfast right here-shouldn'
wonder a bit IL the floor went bae
on me and landed me in the cellar. NJ
: sir! l won't get up! Hand me tn
supplies. I know when I'm well of
If you want to eat breakfast with m,
come sit on the floor. I'm not going
have my spine pushed through the to
: of my head twice in the same day.
Twill, you are the most ridiculou
person / ever did seer said Miss Ma
. tie, and she laughed till she cried
sheer lightheartedness But there's
chair you can trust. Come on now"
We'll. IL you'll take your solem
oath that this one has no mustaehe
deceive me-" said Red doubtfully. 90
e looks husky. Well, I'll try 1t. Hoora.
She didn't give an inch! This kind (
l. reminds me Of the time Jimmy Hel
bricks came back from town an
IL walked off the edge OF the bluff In tt
dark. 1t Just happened that Old SEQ
't ty Ferguson's cabin was: underneat
e him. Jim took most Of the roof o
l with him as he went in. He s,
II awhile to figure out what was trump
e having come $50 feet too fast to
q much thinking. Then, Hello. he yell
II Old Scotty was. a sleeper from We
back. but this woke him up.
g "'Hellor says he. 'Was'er matter
e. Jim saw he wasn't more than ha
y. awake. yet. SO he says, why, / W,
n UP on the bluff there, Scotty, and, Sc
a ing 1t was such a short distance,
y thought ia drop In
n cav ri','s grunted Scotty. MAI
y'self t. home and with that be. rol
s. over.
re Jim couldn't wait for morning. an
though his leg was pretty bad