Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-11-23

Didn't like to tell the old woman,
though. Say, pal. If L had some kin
folks o. me own to hustle fer Fd-rd
quit the road an go to work"
Kelly did not answer at once. He
seemed to have lost the power Of
speech and to be lost in thought,
though Red knew him too well to try
to force his ragged friend to unbosom
himself.
Finally Kelly pulled himself togeth-
er and said: ''Well, must be goin'.
Got a hen on. No, don't need no help.
See yer tomorrow" And then be add
ed Increasingly: "Red, whatever yer
do. don't git pinched. Hear me?
Keep yer eye peeled an don't git
pinched. s. long
"S' long, Kelly" said Red. Look
out yer don't git pinched yerself.'
There was no denying it was n grim
risk Red was running, as was indicat-
ed by the following news item which
appeared prominently the next day in
city paper:
SNEAK THIEVES INVESTING HILL
DISTRICT.
Recently sneak thieves have been plying
their trade in the Russian Hill district so
industrfously that there is an insistcnt
call for more police protection. Articles
of food and clothing have been disappear
ing so rapidly in that neighborhood OF
late that il would seem small army OF
these gentry are at work there. Groceries
left at back doors in the early morning
hours are being taken. clotheslines are be
ing denuded and small neighborhood
stores even are being entered and robbed
in broad daylight. The police are laying
for these miscreants, and a good, healthy
penitentiary term awaits all caught IA the
dragnet
And besides the risk which he knew
he was running Red felt the weight
Of the responsibility which he had vol
UNFAIRLY assumed. Looking out for
himself was an easy matter. Long ex-
perience had made him past master
in the high art Of living without work
ing. But looking out for himself and
supporting "a family" were two differ
ent propositions.
However, he had not long to carry
the burden. One morning-it was
week since Kelly's sudden disappear
ance-Red was surprised to find the
poor woman awaiting him on the oft
visited back porch.
Their surprise was mutual, for the
woman at once recognized in Red the
tramp with whom she had offered to
divide her crust several weeks previ-
Gus.
"And is It really you who have been
doing this?" she questioned, as though
doubling her senses.
"I reckon faint nobody else, num-"
said Red.
How can 1 thank or ever repay
you?" she said, her lips trembling.
Don't try to do neither one, num-"
advised Red, longing for some avenue
of escape "How's yer gittin' erlOng?
How's the kids?"
''Oh, that is what 1 was waiting to
see you or whoever brought the things
about" said the woman. "Wc don't
need help any more. My dear son
WilI"-and tears Of happiness shone
in her eyes-"has returned, and he got
work yesterday. He's going to take
care Of us now. He was gone so long,
and we didn't know where he was.
But he says he'll never leave US again.
We're all so happy, 1t seems as
though you have brought Us good
luck 1 want you TO come this evening
and see my VIII. He'll be so glad to
see you
Red looked past the woman and saw
a coat which he easily recognized as
Kelly's hanging upon peg just with
in the kitchen door. And his pals
strange behavior on the night of their
last conversation was at once explain
ed.
Don't see how I can come, num-"
he said, but tell Kelly-I mean Will
that I'm glad he's dom so well and
to stay with his new job"
And before the happy woman could
detain him or press upon him more
words of gratitude Red was out the
gate and gone.
But one day they saw an item in a
newspaper about q tramp being run
over by an automobile and lying in a
hospital with a broken leg. Something
in the reporters reference to the man
led those whom Red had befriended to
think it was he. Going to the hos
pital, true enough there was their old
friend. AS soon as he was able to be
moved they took him home with them,
and as they We're now in a more pros
porous condition they kept him till he
had grown strong again. Then he in
sisted On going out to resume his
tramps. They tried to persuade him
to stay with them and get work, but
he shook his head grimly and walked
away.
The habit of looking at the best side