Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-27

men working out there. suppose"
NO. not exactly"
He left the postofiice and walked
across to the bank.
HAS Willie Smith presented check
here for ten thousand recently| ne
asked.
Miss Willie Smith has," replied the
cashier.
Il beg your pardon. ] meant Miss
Willie Smith. You see. out west we
get in the habit of dropping ceremony"
The old cashier looked ar rim
thoughtfully.
$50 you are a westerner. are your
he asked.
IL was. but | expect to be a south
erner now" the young man said frank
| ly my mother left this country
nearly thirty years ago, but | have
often heard her describe the neighbor-
hood. When l made my pile con.
Guided to come down here and looK
around and If l liked the place to stay
permanently"
The cashiers face cleared instantly.
"Goodr he exclaimed. You can't
help liking such grand country. All
| it lacks is money and energy. But
| WnaC part OF tue west are you IEOm!
"Leadville, Colo"
"Ah. | began to suspect 1t. You
have been connected with the house
| of WaIdron & Co. and called in to see
If the check reached it's destination all
right" He came from behind the
counter and took the young mans
hand warmly. Il am right glad to
meet you, sir. Your house never sent
out a better check than that in all its
life. Miss Willie has paid off a mort
gage on her plantation and is making
| wonderful improvements, sir-wonder-
full. But how would you like to go
out and see her yourself? We close
early, and 1 generally go that way for
a walk She'll be glad to see any one
from Waldron & Co."
why, I-nothing will please me bet
ter"
VERY we'll. You'll take dinner with
me. But you haven't told me your
name yet, sir"
"Smith-er-call me Hamilton Smith"
"a good name. SRA good name.
| We have Smiths in every county in
the south, but | tell them good thing
cannot be too common. My mother
was a Smith. But about you locating
with us. There's the Calhoun planta-
ton. Joins Miss Willie's and is one Of
the best in the county, and just now
it can be had for a song. Wen look
at it when we walk out"
The young man said little, but on
his face was an expression of min
gled amusement and indecision. And
this amused indecision remained with
him and even appeared in his voice
until they went out to the Smith plan
tation. But when they returned late
in the evening it had wholly disap-
peared.
Miss Willie is an exceptionally fine
girl" he said with considerable en-
thusiasm, land if l am not mistaken
the community will be proud of her
plantation. Miss Willie told me she
wanted to plant trees along her side
Of the river which runs between the
two plantations and that it would be
nice if the owner of the other side
could be induced to do the same. Are
you sure the place can be bought?'
abruptly.
The Calhoun place? Certainly, and
for a song"
well. 1 want it. / suppose it's too
late to get it tonight" regretfully.
But you haven't seen the place yet"
Yes. l have-across the river. you
know. Besides. I'm willing to take
your word for it. If you can have
everything settled before noon 1 VIII
go over after lunch and talk with Miss
Willie about the shade trees"
In the fall there was an engagement
announced which all Talbottom said
was the most suitable match of the
year. A few days before the wedding
young Smith carefully overhauled his
papers There were many letters I'D
dressed simply to Willie Smith, some
were to Willie II. Smith and a few
to william Hamilton Smith. All OF
them were destroyed.
at isn't a good plan to keep 90
papers," he soliloquized as the last one
WINS reduced to ashes. Sometimes
they call for explanations"