Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-11


the doctor. Sayvy? Well. 1 bring
back the minister at the same time.
Angeyine, he loses the Jersey COW over
in the canebreak. and uncle and Ange-
vine go hunting her, for not even Logs
is ace high In uncls's mind alongside
that COW. The rest is easy
Red, you're brick. You're the
best fellow alive says Kyle, nearly
squeezing the hand off me.
"Tve tried to conceal 1t all my life.
but | knew 1t would be discovered
some day. says 1. We'll. suppose I'd
better break the news to Logs.
'Twouldn't be any more than polite
"'Oh. Lord! / wonder if she'll be
willingY says he.
mo reason l shouldn't turn an hon
est dollar ON the transaction. I'll bet
you a months wages she is says ].
He wanted to do 1t, thinking was In
earnest, but l laughed at him.
"She WAS willing all right-even
| anxious. There's some women, and
men, too. for that matter, who go
through life like cat through a back
| alley, not caring a cuss for either end
or the middle. They would have been
content TO wait. Not SO Logs. She
wanted her Kyle, her poor Kyle, and
| she wanted him quick. That's the
| kind of people for me! Your cautious
/ folk are all the time falling down
wells because their eyes are up in the
| air, keeping tabs so that they can
| dodge shooting stars.
| Now, | had a minister friend up in
town, Father Slade by name No, he
was not a Catholic, l think. They
called him father because 1t fitted
him. His church had a steeple on it.
| anyhow, so it was no maverick. Just
| what particular kind of religion the
old man had I don't know, but should
1 say he was a hOmeopath on guess.
He looked it. Twas Il comfort to see
him coming down the street, his old
face shining in his white hair like a
shriveled pink apple in snowdrift,
God blessing everything in sight-geOd
bad or Indifferent He had something
pleasant to say to all. We was quite
friends, and every once in awhile we'd
| have q chin about things.
"'Are you keeping straight, Red?
he'd ask when we parted
"'Um,'. I'd say, I'm afraid you'd no
tice bend here and there If you slid
your eyes along the edge
well, keep as straight as you can
don't give up trying, my boy he'd
tell me. mighty earnest, and I'd fee
ashamed of myself clear around the
corner.
Il knew the old man would do me
a favor If it could be done, SO pulled
out easy in my mind.
First place, l stopped at the doc
tors. because l felt they might fiji
up the marrying business some Other
time. but if leg that's broke in the
upper joint amt set right you can see
: large dark complicated hunk of trou
bic over the party's left shoulder fol
the rest of his days. The doctor was
out. so / left word for him what was
. wanted and to be ready when / got
back and pulled for Father SHADES
The old gentleman had the rheuma
tism, and he groaned when 1 come in
Rheumatism's no disease for people
who can't swear.
"'How are you, my boy?' says he
I'm glad to see you. Here am l, an ole
man. nipped by the leg and much
? wanting TO talk to somebody
Il passed the time of day to him
, but felt kind of blue. This didn't lool
like keeping my word with the kids
, l really hated to say anything to the
old man, knowing his disposition: still
| oil II haA 70 nd r ont wit
story.
"Dear. dearv says he. The hurr!
and skurry of young folks! How idl,
+ it seems when you get fifty years
Iaway from it and see how little any
!, thing counts! For all that, l thaul
Cod says he, that there's little reg
I left In my blood yet, which makes m,
! sympathize with them. But the girl''
people object, you say?
Il made that all clear to him. 'Th,
girls always all right father says /
and as for the man in this case, m!
word for him..
Now, it amt just the right thin,
for me to say; but seeing as I've new
err had anything in particular to b,
modest about, and I'm proud Of wha
the old gentleman told me, I'm goinl
to repeat it.
Your word is good for me, Red
says he You're mischievous DO,
at times, but your heart and your heat
are both reliable. Give me your arm
to the wagon
Then 1 felt mighty sorry to thinl
of Juggling that poor old man all tina
ways.
Here says I. Now you sit dow
again. Don't you do anything of TIL
sort. You amt fit
"He put his hand on my shoulde
and hobbled his weight of the gam
leg.
Freddy, was sitting there think
ing when you came in-thinking o
how comfortable it was to be in a
easy chair with my foot on a stoo
Of and then / thought, IF the Lor
should send me some work to d,
!. would 1 be willing?" Now, thanks b
= to him, am willing and glad to fin
:, myself so, and do not believe there
1 81, IA 20 l.