Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-10-27

out on the roof beside az husband. J
What you doing. Celia ~ demanded
Mr.. Dillaway testify. You'll fall and
break your neck. that's what you'll do.
Go in the house" Quite confident
that he had been oboyod Mr. Dill
away walked across the creaking, rat
thing tin roof to the ciStern, whose top
rose three feet above his head Lead
ing up to the top of the cistern was a
narrow iron ladder. One-half of the
circular lid Of the cistern was propped
open. From this opening there pro-
ceeded the strange sounds heard from
below.
What is it," asked Mrs. Dllaway
anxiously.
II don't know. Maybe it's the cat"
1.-The cats in the kitchen, Samuel.
Now, be careful" for Mr.. Dulaway
was propelling his small, round person
up the ladder with dangerous rapidity.
Hello exclaimed Mr.. Dillaway
fiercely. peering inside
what is itE' pleaded his wife.
Nothing much" returned Mr. Dilla-
way sarcastically. "Only one of my
prize cockerels chasing his tail around
down there. He's got 10 get out of
there tonight or he'll run himself to
death. Can you get the stcpladder out
TO me. Celia? I've got 10 climb down
inside here"
IN fetch Il in n minute, Samuel.
The telephones ringing. I'll be right
back. You might just drop down that
three feet and be catching your bird
= To N-C
With that she was gone, and Mr..
Dillaway waited in vain for her re-
turn. each moment growing more pep
perry as to temper. Having requested
his wife 10 bring the stepladder Mr.
Dillaway would not demean himself by
fetching il himself. so after period
of impatience he threw himself gin
gerly over the edge, clutched tightly
the rim and swung down inside the
cistern. Then he dropped with clang-
ing tbud to the dry, zinc lined floor Of
his cistern.
Around this slippery surface he chas-
ed the elusive cockerel in narrowing
circles until in some inexplicable man
ner he found that he was pursuing
himself frantically around the well
while the cockerel leaned exhausted
against the side. 1t was an easy mat
ter to capture the bird and tie his legs
securely with a handkerchief.
Cecilia called Mr. Dillaway in a
commanding voice. He looked up at
the semirircular opening overhead and
saw the deep blue of the sky and moth
ing else Celia he called again.
where is that LADDER"
His voice echoed with hollow me-
upon him. The cockerel squawked
feebly.
Steps creaked slowly across the tin
roof without and some one laboriously
climbed the iron ladder and peered
rosy faced over the opening. 1t was
Mrs. DillaVay.
Where is the stepladder?" demand
ed Mr.. Dillaway irascibly.
"In the house"
"Why don't you bring it out here?
I've got to get out of this
Il should think you'd ike to stay in
Tits q dreadful nice cistern. You
think a lot more Of it than you do of
your own daughter" returned Mrs.
DiIlaway quietly.
Nonsense. Celia. I won't listen to
such talk. You get that ladder down
here at once"
Not yet" said Celia. 'Not till you
give your consent TO S;ella's marrying
Joe Mellcn tonight"
IN do no such thing" roared Mr..
Dillaway wratlfuuy. I see now,
Celia. You put this cockerel in here
yourself. It's a shameful imposition
You coming to the wedding?" de
handed Celia.
No beloved Mr.. Dilaway. III
stay here Ill doomsday first"
Very well. Samuel. III drop you
down some wedding cake. The min
ister's coming now. They'll be married
at 6 o'clock, and Stella hoped you'd
give her away-the Dillavays was al
ways married in style. you know" she
flung back over her shoulder as she
backed down the ladder.
Continued on Page Eight.J