Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-02-24
8he Hrgus Daily Short Story
"A Simple Man. BY Madeline Lewis.
Copyrighted 1908. by Jessie Morganl

at least figure ON an even vote in the
house.
Honest John" still stuck out. He
hadn't the acumen to discover where
the colored gentleman was hidden, but
he had a feeling that he was there in
the wood pile somewhere, and he would
not commit himself.
1t was then that the lawyer dropped
argument for the more powerful weap-
on. He knew the financial condition
OF the farmer. He doubted If the man
had ever had a thousand dollars in his
hand. Though rated as honest" there
was q doubt as to whether he could
stand temptation-legisa tempta-
ton!
| One night he paid Thompson q visit
in his room and went over the whole
| matter with him. putting everything
in n most favorable light. and when he
went away he left a thousand dollars
in crisp greenbacks on the bureau.
That was double the price he had paid
others, but he had reasons for increas-
ing the bride. The money was found
after he left, and next day the old
at must have been left by some
other caller" was the reply, prob
ably by some one who was in there
arguing in favor of my bill. He may
speak to you about it III the course of
the day"
But he was mighty careless to leave
a thousand dollars lying around that
way"
''Oh, he isn't worrying about it. Per-
haps he wanted to make you little
present and took that way of doing it.
It's often done here in the Legislature.
you know
ut may be, but I've done nothing to
earn it. and | don't know more than
ten members by name. l wish that the
Teller who left 1t would come back"
He was told to hang on to the money
until the owner called for it, but he
was much perpleXed and put out. BY
a curious coincidence three weeks later
he found two other farmer members
who had come into possession of $500
each in just as mysterious manner.
There seemed to be philanthropist
going about among the conscientious
|
merit.
When the house adjourned for
week and Honest John" went home
to his daughter he had that thousand
dollars with him, and its history was
still a mystery. In few hours, how
. ever. he was enlightened. and he went
back to the legislative body to en-
; tighten others
The day finally came when Lawyer
Trask's bill was up. He had counted
=, noses and was sure of its passage He
, sat there in the utmost condolences to
+ be amazed and dumfounded when it
, was defeated by majority of three
Honest John and his two farmer
, friends had recorded their votes among
: the mays" although they had been
, bought and paid for. An hour later the
former had Il caller at his room. The
, caller was pale faced and desperate.
, Mr.. Thompson he said, II left a
thousand dollars on that bureau one
night 4 few weeks ago"
p "Geewhittaker. But you denied II
was yoursr'
at was little present"
. "But why should you make me q
, present of a thousand dollars?'
q 'BecauSe-becauSe I wanted your
: help on that bill and because 1 was go.
ing to ask your daughter to be my
:, wife"
"And mebbe you left $500 apiece fol
, Crane and WilliamsT
eyes"
q "And you were going to ask theil
+ daughters to be your wife?"
- MOO"
"See here Mr.. Trask," said the ole
man after looking at him for half {
), minute, "if were you wouldn't ash
=, Minnie to be your wife. I told her al
. about the money when went home
p She said as it wasn't yours and as n,
u one had lost it and as Crane and VIII
liams was in the same fix that the mon
a ey belonged to charity.
1--WE sent it down to her. and she di
- vided it between a couple of orphan
~ asylums. and she's got the receipts t.
" show that it reached 'em. No.
~ wouldn't ask her. l might object t.
you as son-in-law, and she might tax,
- it that you were trying to buy you
:. way into the family
:, "Lemme just add that you are
mighty careless man with your money
:, and if you don't mend your ways you'll
- bring up in the county house befor
: you are forty years old"
:, All the news all the time-TH
- ARGUS.