Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-07-30

mOn1ally, and she permitted me to do
my own thinking. She is here with a
crowd of Texans. While people who
meet up with each other in these
mountain resorts don't demand an aft
davit Of character of one another, still
there are rules of conduct that prevail
wherever respectable society exists.
Remember, 1 do not say positively that
she was introduced to me as a miss,
but she certainly held her title under
cover in beautiful fashion, much, to my
joy while the dream had me in control,
but the discovery, while can't betray
any feelings of disappointment, has
been anything but pleasant.
Wasted a whole week on her. She
was the bold thing. 1 was the nightly
dance pilot, held UP my end at the din
ners and other entertainments that
call for a rap at the roll Not seri-
Gus affair of the heart, you under
stand, but just one of those little
friendly mixings that might lead to a
serious climax If one found that he had
! p good break in prospect. There are
so many lovely girls in these parts at
this time of year that a man don't
know exactly in what direction to CEN
ter his attentions. This friend of
mine was so companionable that de-
termined after our first little confab
that 1 would play her as long as I was
or the beat. In fact we had an under
standing to that effect
You see, out here man may be
friendly with all the folks, but as
rule it is good policy to have
STEADY as the counting jakes put it.
] will confess that l was interested
almost to the point of mushiness.
Seemingly l was the only man on the
reservation tina: she fused over. She
had the cutest line of bunk that have
heard in all the years that have been
on the skirt circuit With it all she
had pretty good sense-for a woman.
She looked about 10 and confessed to
90. She had enough clothes to bedeck
regiment. When 1 swung through
the bal, room with her on my arm,
10y, I'll wager my chest had a pouter
pigeon extension.
One cool evening we wandered away
by ourselves. It's not so easy as you
might think to hide from the throng
here. There are giggly girls who keep
cases on you and there are numerous
grandmas who are affectionately term
ed chaperons who have their lines
cot constantly night and day TO learn
the latest bit of gossip. If there is any
going they get it, and when the sus-
rect enters the dining room you ought
to see the gaping and the exchange
of knowing glances. They have an
organization. What one knows they
all know-or think they know. If they
can't find out a bit of news involving
an acquaintance they will manufacture
some Then you ought to listen to it
grow. One chap was seen at a dance
two consecutive evenings here with a
frolicsome sort of girl who is here with
an invalid aunt-the latter is obliged
tc turn in every evening at 8. One
day the frolicsome girl and the chap
were missing. BY evening the chaper-
ones had them married in Denver, with
the girls irate father on the way from
his home in Kansas on the trail of the
elc pers, determined to get the young
fellows scalp. Truth was the girl
went with her crowd into the noun
ts ms for a day. and the young man
was called away on business.
Well, we had one of those talks
where both parties divulge their real
names and tell of their plans and their
hopes and their ambitions Father,
ste said, located in Texas when a boy.
He suffered the hardships and the pri-
vations of the pioneer. He prospered,
until today he hesitated to approx
mate his wealth She was the only
child She loved her father devotedly,
ard she knew it would break her heart
when he was called away from her.
But he was now past 20, and she could
see him declining fast. Mother was
his constant companion. and she was
AZ home with father, while the daugh-
tel was enjoying herself in the noun
tains. Her parents would not hear to
her foregoing the outing that she had
annually enjoyed since she was a child.
She said we had become such fine
friends that it seemed a pity that we
should be separated by so many hun
dreds of miles-probably never to
meet again after we had departed for
our homes That mattered little, said
Il, when it was possible to have daily
communication by post. She never
thought of that before.
Well, the next day her husband
came, and l have met him. He's good
scout, and I'm for him, and l don't
know any fellow I'd sooner see have
the little lady than myself. l wonder
If she has told him how she buncoed
me? If 1 thought she had I'd pull my
freight tonight She could tell him all
and have nothing to apologize for, but
wouldn't I be a peach of picture in
hrbby's eyes. You're the only one I've
spilled to- The air don't feel like it
cid when I first came, so I guess I'll
he moving soon. BILLY.
FROM THE VALLEY CLARION.
A Chicago woman married a man