Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-06-22
8he Hrgus Daily Short Story
Changing Places With Jimmie-By w. F. Bryan.
Literary Press.

Jack Morewood stood upon the
piazza tapping the floor with the tip
Of her daintily booted foot and slap
ping at her habit skirt with silver
mounted crop.
1t was a perfect day. for ride. The
sun kissed the peaks of the low chain
Of hills to the west, and in between
was the bright green of early summer.
Nature was in her kindliest mood, but
JaeQueline did not share it.
The groom was slow about bringing
her mount around, and while she wait
ed a dozen couples had cantered past,
waving their hands gayly to Jack.
But no cavalier waited to assist her.
and no smart cob whinnied impatient
ly over the delay in the appearance Of
her own horse.
Presently the groom would lead her
horse to the block. he would assist her
in the saddle with the perfunctory care
of hireling, and she would go canter-
ing off alone to her ride.
1t was this fact and not the slow
ness of the stable hands that brought
the frown to Jacqueline's face. For
the first time In her life she was tired
Of being the boy Of the family.
When stalwart John Norwood had
leaned over the cradle to look down
into the blinking eyes of his fireborn
the baby had seized the proffered fin
ger in sturdy clasp and her father had
chuckled with delight
.'She's shaking hands like the little
gentleman she is" he declared. Then
ard there he had named her Jacque-
line that he might call her Jack.
He seemed to find comfort for his dis
appointment in her sex by making his
little daughter as boyish as possible.
In her youth. thanks to his training,
she had been given over to tOmboy
tricks. When she was thirteen and a
she regarded the newcomers appear
ance with contempt.
I'm the best boy" she declared
with emphasis. and she took pride in
her fathers assurance that she was
indeed. Jimmie became his mothers
pet. while Jack still chummed with
her father, and as the boy grew up
delicate and pallid Jack seemed to
| gain mannishness by contrast
She was the golf champion of the
country club. not in the ladies' class.
but by virtue of having beaten all the
men. She could ride wherever man
went, could shoot straight and handle
| a cue. She was voted a good fellow
but now, on the eve of her twenty-sec-
| ond birthday, Jack turned rebellious.
| Her thoughts We're interrupted by
the appearance Of the groom with her
horse. and presently she was cantering
| down the drive to the highway. Once
| on the road she eased the horse into q
| trot. The cliff road was accounted one
of the most beautiful in the state. but
| Jack gave no heed to the beauty OF
| the scene.
| Phil Minturn had cantered past with
Bess Farley just before she had start
ed out, and his careless greeting had
wounded her.
She had been good chums with Phi
ever since she was q little girl. and
he had always given her the same
careless greeting Of fellowship. but this
morning it had Jared. She knew that
he did not really care for Bess.
He had said so more than once. bui
Mrs. Farley would not let Bess ride
unless there was some one with hel
who could keep watchful eye on hel
mount. SO Phil, being neighbor. -hat
come to the girls relief.
As with Phil. so 1t was with ths
other men. They were all good chums
but they were only chums Jacl
could not recall tender speech eve
made to her. and, carrying her intro
spection further. she did not blame tn,
boys for regarding her as one OF them
selves Even In the evening her thicl
dark hair was severely done and he
I: dress was in kcenlng...