Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-10-28

1t was morning IN 1QanO. enc Ina
sun was beaming pleasantly upon Dn.
~ Vail as he rode alongside the big
irrigating canal that he had been sent
to inspect.
MANY settlers on the reservation,
Jim?' he asked the foreman.
''They are coming now that they see
the canal is a go. The nearest one is
Judge Rand. His shack's up yonder
He's in luck. We go right through his
ranch"
Judge Rand! Vail wondered If it
could be the same man he had known
eng ago. He concluded it was not
EOss1ble.
which way do take to his ranch?'
he asked.
Hes generally clearing sagebrush
this time of day. Follow the canal and
you'll likely run on him."
Vail rode on. fitting his sombrero
back and humming a love tune. He
was IN a contemplative mood this
morning. and the word Rand" carried
him back to the east, where he had
been born and bred, but whose dust he
had shaken from his feet five years be-
fore. At that time he had been in love
with Kate Rand, an imperious, self
willed girl. One fateful day she had
announced her intention of going to a
masquerade in the character and dress
OF a page. His young. conservative
scruples were Mortified. He objected,
and when she persisted In carrying out
her intention his dictatorial attitude
moved him to break the engagement.
Immediately afterward he secured an
appointment as civil engineer in the
west. Lately his love affair viewed at
long range appeared a very boyish af-
fair.
When he came upon the solitary fig
ure digging doggedly at a resisting
root he recognized the man who had
come so near being his father-in-law
There were mutual recognitions of
pleasure, and then the judge explained
that he had been caught in Nhe f1nan-
cial coil of Wall street and had lost all
his worldly possessions.
"Just enough left,' he said, ''to make
a payment on 100 acres here, which
shall put to potatoes. The spirit OF the
west has caught me. Barry. wouldn't
go back into Wall street purgatory for
any consideration"
After Vail had related his own expe-
riences and inquired after the fortunes
Of mutual friends he asked almost
sheepishly:
"Did Kate come out here with you:"
The Judge was silent for a moment.
Then he said, with a sigh:
"Can you picture Kate in the primi-
tive life? She had an opportune invi-
tation to accompany some relatives on
a trip abroad"
"And you live out here alone?' ex.
claimed Vail pityingly.
mo. / have my helper, Bill. We
are very comfortable-a little shack for
a living room and dining room COM
bined, two sleeping tents and an out
Of door oven-a place for these parts"
But Vail was not listening. His at
tention was concentrated on a slender
figure that was approaching in the dis
itance. The figure was clad In khaki
trousers. blue shirt, red kerchief and
O sunbonnet.
"Who IN the world Is tdat:" he asked.
The judge turned hastily and looked
confused
"Oh, that's BILL want him to 60 to
the next ranch on an errand for me.
Excuse me moment / will be back"
He FASTENED toward the sunbonneted
figure, and after a moments converse
ton the figure turned and went the
way from which It had come.
Your Bill doesn't look equal to
much hard work." observed Vail dryIy.
"Bin's all right at farm work or
Homework" assured the Judge. Hes
wiry. willing. enduring and. best of ALL
intensely interested in the development
OF the ranch"
You see a good many queer sights
In Idaho" remarked Vail. but I'll
swear never saw man or lad wear
ing q sunbonnet."
"Bfli lost bis one ana only sombrero
In q reckless ride last week, He went
to the nearest ranch to buy or borrow
one, but the only superf1uous headgear
Il had was this suubonnet, to which
he Ia quite attached, as he is a little
fearful of aunstrokes,''
well, l must return to the canal.
intend to be neighborIy, judge"
; "0f course. Let me ses, Come over