Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-13
The Argus Daily Short Story
THE UNTOLD HALF BY ARTHUR COTTONWOOD.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated Literary Press

There is no particular excitement
OF the Yellow Star lire comes intol
port. There was no particular stir
along the water front that biting. 70.
gy morning in December when theI
Admiral Dart came wheeling up the
harbor. swung into her berth at the
Yellow Star docks with the aid of n
couple of tugs-for the tide was run
ming stronGly-shot out her gangpiank
and disembarkcd the four passengers
she carried
She also disembarked Bobby Shack
lett. But Bobby Shacklett did not
come to the wharf by way of the
| gangpank. While the fussy little
donkey engines IN the sheds were
| putting valiantly and swinging briskiy
out OF the Admira! Darts hold the
| many punches of green bananas Bob
| by Shacklett. very thin, very pale and
very much urwaShcd. came up from
the stoke room. took 4 long breath OF
the misty air. shivered bit-for his
clothes were painfully thin and shah
| by-ard then climbed over the rail
and dropped unostentatiouSly to the
! wharf
A couple Of carriages bearing the
steamers late passengers whisked
past him. Three rumb!ing tlrays went
| humping past. one of tn, drivers
shouting impolitcly to Bobby to get to
somewhere out of the way
Bobby srinned. 1t Was not a pleas
ant grin. He WAS thinking OF his
homecoming as he had planned it and
as it had actually turned out. and
comparisons. which are always odious
things. were particularly so in this
case
lie thrust his hand into the pocket
of his ragged trousers, drew cut few
pieces of silver, grinned once more,
shivcrcd again and made his way to
the street
A solitary hanson was drawn up to
the curb, waiting for chance fare.
Bobby stepped over to it. The cabby
surveyed him scowlingly, but Bobby.
| iuitC ooiiN ioNo silpolShtis W INT uuUi-
Gus glances cast in his direction, climb
ed calmly in.
He gave an address on certain con-
sentative street uptown. The driver
stared at him. Bobby smiled.
"Don't blame me. old chap" he said.
noting the others hesitation. But I
want to go there. strange as it may
seem and Incompatible as it may be
with my present appearance. What's
the row? Afraid won't be good for
the fare? Here you co.
He passed up the handful Of silver
through the trap. "Now. then, drive
on he commanded.
The whiplash sang through the air;
the. stumbling horse lurched into q
trot; the hanson rocked. and away
they went through the dingy, noisy
streets
They drew up finally before an i'm.
posing house on the conservative up
town street Bobby climbed from the
hanson, and while the latter turned
and went Gathering away he shut his
teeth grimly and mounted the brown
stone steps with II light of determine
tion in his eyes.
In response to his vigorous tug al
the bell the door was opened by a
statuesque butler, whose dignity stood
out obtrusively all over him. He look
ed at the figure on the stoop and closed
the door halfway.
"Well?" he said, and the manner In
which he said 1t plainly babe the Wis
itor begone.
els Miss wadsworth IMP said Bob
by quietly.
Hi think not, sir. In fact. Hi an
very sure she isn't the butler replied
, A look came into Bobby's gray eye.
!. la look that had made better mel
n than the butler quail many times be
: fore now
81 rather think you are mistaken,
said he. I'm sure she is home, and
what is more, am sure she will b.
glad to receive me. If you don't be
lieve it, just tell her. If you will. tina
the general manager of the Colona In
tercoast railway would like a wort
with her. I'd advise you to do as
say