Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-13
The Argus Daily Short Story
The Grit of Greyson.-By Mrs. A. F. Ransom
COpyrIghted. 1910. by Associated Literary Presa

Got several other bills TO collect this
morning and can't waste time on any
one of them. Just follow that bit Of
advice and settle now"
The great fist came down with a
whack on the top of the packing case.
''You insolent little whippersnapper'-
his voice sounded like the roll of a
trombone-"I'm busyi Get out of this
or I'll put you OUT"
Gust waiting for my check" Grey
son acquiesced imperturbably, land III
be happy to oblige you. Come on and
DO 1t Now"
stephens came on. His go pounds
of bone and muscle. backed up by his
six feet three of height, bore down on
Greyson like q freight engine on a
handcar. But before he reached him,
with fists doubled up like a pair of
battering rams, Greyson sprang MIN
bly, upon the case. Another leap land
ed him square on the shoulders of Ste
phens, legs hugging the sides, his
hands clasping the wrists Of his ad-
versary and holding them fast. Ste
phens jumped, kicked jerked, doubled
and tossed, but GreysOn sat as secure
on his perch as cat on the back of a
dog.
After a struggle that landed them on
the floor and bumped stephens nose
till it bled Greyson rose. held out
handkerchief toward Stephens and
said: please tell me where to find
the faucet, and I'll get the water ready
for you to wash up. You can't write
checks with those hands, and my time
is limited
Cant. hey?' retorted stephens, fish
ing in his pockets. Then while one
hand held his nose he produced check
book and pen from somewhere beneath
the duck jacket. In a moment he tore
the slip free and passed it to Greyson.
Take thu. and clear out" he order
ed Tell your firm to duplicate the
last order and hurry it up
Greyson glanced at the check before
folding it. 1t was double the amount
of the bill. So Stephens had taken to
paying cash for his orders. He
chuckled.
wen have the goods over tomor-
row." he said. 'Many thanks Tor your
kindness, Mr.. Stephens, and good
morning"
I'll SuS ne lCOh Oh LIS COtlt
and shook it; then he tried to mold his
derby into something resembling hat.
The junior partner looked up in sur
prise as a scratched, dirty hand held
a dirty check before him.
'Twhat in thunder you been doingT'
he exclaimed. where you beenT
Collecting" returned Greyson.
'gFhere's Stephens check. he wants
tho last order duplicated Where's
Jimf 1 want him to brush me-"
"You need it all right" grinned the
other. what happened? Get pitched
down the elevator shaftY'
"Nope. Had cushioned seat in the
front row. Mr.. Stephens is a gentle
man." And Greyson started IN the dI-
rection OF the whisk broom.
That evening found him In the COM
pany of gray eyed girl. Usually they
met in the subway station on the way
| home from work or they wandered
fhto the parks with which the city had
surrounded itself But this evening
had been set apart as the one In which
! her father was to be consulted regard
| ing the all important question, and 1t
was with more trepidation than he felt
| when he faced the warlike Stephens
| that he tinkled the electric bell of the
front door. She answered 1t In person,
and GreYsen noted with satisfaction