Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-12

ways impresses the unthinking.
He was neatly grooned and in every |
way the antithesis of six foot Henry |
Bruce. whose clothes tapped about his |
| lank form and who walked with q
| slight stoop, as NEST tall men do.
| Chiswick had core to camp as the
agent for a supply firm. The camp
had grown in the last few years. and.
| though no bonanza strike had .adver-
tised the place to the rest of the
| world, there was gold in plenty In the
mountains and every prospect that thc
place would continue to grow.
| Chiswick had a shack built for his
samples, and once the place was open
he left clerk in charge and devoted
himself to Lefty. Chiswick had the
odd faculty of making others work,
though he himself lacked habits of in
dustry. and he preferred riding into
the hills with Lefty to attending to
business ut the store.
For six months the courtship contin-
ued; then one day Chiswick found
Bruce waiting for him at the store.
His lean length was sprawled over
Chiswicli's own chair at the rear of
the shack and Chswick eyed his caller
angrily as the latter slowly rose.
1T was IL long wait, and that was
the only comfortable CHAIR explained
Bruce. guessing the cause of the 9th
ers anger.
1T must be important, since you wait
in spite of discomforts. retOrted CHS
wick Il left word that | would be
back at 8"
Il had the time" said Bruce, and
wanted to see you-about Miss Ches-
ter"
THAT WAS to be expected" sneered
Chiswick. I've been expecting it for
some time. Because you haven't the
nerve to win her for yourself / sup
pose that you want TO use your club as
guardian and tell me that am to keep
off your preserves. Rather handy. isn't
| it, Hank:"
1T would be if l wanted to do such
Il thing was the quiet retort, but
what l came to see you about was to
ask if you are going to propose.
You've made II lot CT talk in the
camp, but you have said nothing def
nite to Lefty. or at least she has told
me nothing about it if you have. and
think | have Il right to know
You are Z man of the world, or you
We're before you buried yourself in this
place. You must know that just be
cause man is nice TO Il pretty girl it
does not argue that he wants to marry
her."
I'VE look at things differently here in
| the mountains" retorted Bruce. You
| know very we'll that the entire camp
expects YOU to marry Lefty. and they
are wondering why you don't say some
thing about it. AS her guardian have
come to ask you TO come out in the
open. That's our way"
There was I glitter in Bruce's eyes
that warned Chiswick TO be careful,
and the snnrl faded from his face and
his oily voice returned as he sought to
argue that his income was too small
end too uncertain to permit him to
marry Bruce listened patiently until
the end; then he looked up slowly.
"Then it's only because you can't af
ford TO marry that you don't ask Let
ty!' demanded Bruce.
Chiswick nodded. 1t seemed the one
insurmountable objection that he coult
i advance. He had no intention of mar
rying Lefty.
She was pretty child, and she ha(
helped to pass the time. but also Their,
was always the hope that his work II
this wilderness would result in cal
to the city, and there Lefty would be
sad hindrance.
You needn't worry about that
cried Bruce. You look here! 1 sup
pose you know the branch they cal
Cat cfeek?''
Chiswick nodded, and Bruce contin
ucd: There is gulch leading of
that creek with a tall pine at tn,
mouth. At the top Of the gulch is ;
spruce. Walk along line with thos,
two trees until you come to a plac,
where there is a cleft in the rocks un
derfoot. You stake that claim, and
guess that you can afford to be mar
ried."
Chiswick thanked him profusely, ant
by the next night the camp knew tina
Chiswick had fallen upon q bonanza.
The darned little fool wasn't eyel
looking for it," explained one of tn
miners. He just naturally fell Vi
against it, but unless I'm mistaken #
going to be the making Of this camp
It's pity that man didn't locate it.
The sentiment was generally echoed
but there is no questioning the favor
or Fate. In six weeks development
work had shown clearly that the min
was winner, and on the heels of tn
i assurance came the announcement
that Chiswick had sold a third interes
for 100000.
Then the town looked for the an
nouncement Of his engagement to LIE,
ty, but the announcement was no
i forthcoming. Not until Bruce remind
ed him of their understanding an
threatened to publish him as liar di
'' Chiswick speak.