Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-17
She Hrgus Daily Short Story
- Tim and His Time. BY w. F. Bryan.
copyrighted 1908. Associated Literary

Tim Roscoe sat on the coal box Ut
the rear of the station and s;lZed dis
contentedly upon the shabby little
town. For the first time he was I'M
impressed by the fact that Cheldon
Center possessed two banks and
brick postofiice that stood quite apart
from other buildings and paid II good
salary. s 3
Ever since he could remember it had
been Il treat 10 drive over 10 the Cen
ter and he had been rather proud of
the town. Now he was seeing it
through Matte Westcott's eyes. and the
haddIe of wooden buildings distressed
| him. Recently he had seen Il maga
zine picture of lower BROADWAY with
| its mountains of masonry aDds its riy
/, ers OF humanity flowing through the
narrow canyons called streets. He
| wondered what Matte would think
when presently the train from the
junction should roll in and ,she should
stand on the station platform. compar-
ing the place to the New York she had
/ just left He had never seen New
York, but he knew much about the
wonder city. and he knew also that
Matte would Fever again be content
with Cheldon Center, much less with
lGardenvale. She would despise the
town and its people alike.
Mates cousin Bess had married
lwsll Her husband. Richard Beldin,
had been the secretary TO 4 railroad
Imagnate who made his summer home
on the hills back of Gardenvale. Bel
ldin had met and married Bess Petty
lduring one of those summer visits.
After making money in stocks he and
Bess had urged Matte TO visit them.
Tim had said goodby with unusual
meaning as he had helped her aboard
the train ut the Center. There had
lbeen more than hint I'M Bess' letter
that she had match in mind for Ma
tie All that had happened two months
Iago. Today Matte was coming home.
A faroff whistle announced the ap-
Iproach of the train. and Tim sauntered
around to the front of the station. The
platform was crowded with outgoing
passengers and the usual reception
Icommittee of small country town
|
Icrowd until the train pulled in, and a
1.-the, girlsh figure sprang down the
Pullman steps before the porter could
toffer his hand.
Tim had been watching the day
lcoaches, but he sensed Mates pres
fence and hurried to relieve her of her
lsuit case. 1t was the first sign of the
lchange, this substitution of the smart
Leather case for the near-leather yalise
(which had been considered good
enough for travelling when she had
left homie
'Your pa couldn't get over" he ex-
planned as he raised his cap without
offering his hand. He had heard that
lpeople in the city did not shake hands,
but simply bowed.
Father sick?p asked Matte quickly
Tim shook his head.
"It's only the rheumatism" he ex.
planned, but he thought it would be
bad TO get out i'm the cold. and so he
asked me to come. I'll get your
trunk
Matte handed him the check in ST
llence, and presently the smart new
trunk had joined the suit case In the
box of the bobSed. and Tim offered
her his hand to help her into the seat.
st. amt an automobile" he sale
alphabetically, "but I thought you't
be in athprry to get your trunk over tt
!, show all your pretty things, so didn'
bring the cutter"
'That was nice of you," said Matte
approximately. 81 do want TO dispia,
all the wonders brought back from
Flown. Tim. do you suppose we coult
stop at the grocery and get some gin