Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-30

muscles. were without avail. There
was a sharp grade where the car
wheels slipped Oh the icy rails and
where the help of every brake became
necessary. Duty had set his and was
edging across a car TO assist chilled
neighbor when his foot slipped the
fraction an inch. But ii was enough
for the wind and a sudden iurch TO
wrench him loose and send him slip
ping and rolling off the car top into the
darkness.
When they picked him up and
brought him back the trainmen said he
was the luckiest man who bad ever
fallen from a car top under full speed.
for be had struck upon n steep en-
bankment and slid a hundred yards
down the snow with only a broken leg
and some bruises to show for the fall.
AS he had no people to notify, they
took him straight to the Elton hospital.
where he would be cared for by the
railroad. though Duffy insisted that he
should pay his own expenses. There
was an odd look of content on his face
as the surgeon made the examination.
1t was small price to pay for McAr-
dies life and Katie's happiness.
He was not much surprised the next
day to see Katie herself coming down
between the cots, her face pale and her
eyes full of tears. or to have her sink
on her knees beside him and press her
face down close to his. Katie was
loving and impulsive. and OF course
she was grateful for what he had done. /!
But there was a warm glow in his
for this
membrance.
Duffy, me own sweetheart" she |
whispered tenderly, rs IL that you are
not much hurt? Tell me for true,
darlin'. They said it was jist broken
leg an some bruises, but maybe they |
was tryin' to make it aisy for me.
Tell me true, an how was 1t that We
was on McArdle's run? The men say
the conductor told ye to tell him, an
McArdIe says ye never come for him
at all, at all"
Duffy had raised himself to an ell
bow. Now he sank back. Katie was
excited, and she was loving and i'm
puIsive, and they had always been
good friends.
There want much time" he an
swered evasively. THE conductor
said only a few minutes an it was
bad night entirely, an they would be
need1n' some one, so / whit"
Katie's tear dimmed eyes were
studying him suspiciously.
WAS 1t for McArdle We wint," she
demanded suddenly. him that is no
friend to ye? 1t was a bad night en-
tirely, as many a brakeman could tell
If he was here, an everybody knows
that McArdIe wild his foolish ways
would have been one o thin had he
gone Was it for him, Duffy?"
NO. 1T wasn't for him." he answered
almost savagely. 1T was for you.
Katie, dari'-
His lips closed upon the word sharp
~, so sharply that the teeth met them
and a dark red line oozed along the
grimly shut mouth. Then the mouth
quivered, relaxed, and the gray eyes
flung wide their lids With amazed in
curry. Two arms were around hif
neck, a fair. sweet face was pressed
penitently against his. and tears. moi
from his own eyes. were wetting his
cheeks.
"'Tis bad crathure ! am. acusblar
the girl sobbed. But we've beer
ever since we were chill
der in school. Duffy, an We ought Il
have known. Only ye was $3.50 sloN
that l got tired wild the waitin'. an
whin McArdle come along | thought J
could make We a bit jealous so maybe
7e'd spake. An'-an We whit on Il
Kill yourself for a light head that isn't
worth your little finger. IT'S hero
70 are Duffy an I'm proud of We, but
couldn't love ye a bit more. p
Che sobbing grew less. and the face
vas raised so that sudden reproact
dashed upon him through misty eyes
: IT'S shame for a girl whin a man
8 that slow an stupid she has to dc
10Th the seekin' an the speakin'." she II
aid with plying scorn. II take back II
he words l Jist spoke. IT'S no hero
e are. Duffy. but a big. stupid lad
bats fa:-iful intirely."