Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-31
~ JUST wish I was a man" exclaimed Jamie,
III emphatically, kicking a that lay in his
DathWay MEN don't have

pathway. Men don't have to"
Goodness! Was this a cyclone-or what? He felt
himself being whirled head heels, up and away
-away-awa.a-ay, at tremendous pace $50 it
seemed as If some giant had shot him from a rub
Der cataput
Thump! He had landed as abruptly as he had
His head still whirling he staggered to his feet and
near the border of small lake. The first out
Of the ordinary that he noted the distance beneath
him of the grass. Was he stills No; for when he
wggled his feet they stirred the green blades The
one matter in especial that he noted was number OF
close the turf, and bird uering helpessly the
rqples some FIVE or six rods from shore ,,
Eaded IN cautiously, because he was afraid OF the
depth; but the water after all came up to his shout
ders and he easily succeeded in reaching the poor
'fEqg Sas ri thing Fetch hin, out shouted voc. from
behind
Janmie hastily turned and looked He saw on the
shore, TALL thin man, whose and face
apparently as bare and clean as any egg. So very
smooth and bare were they that his aspect was really
Carrying the bird, which, half-drowned as it was,
nevertheless futtered and squawked and pecked,
"How-dedo" said the stranger. as jamie neared the
waters edge "ThanE-ee, and he extended his hand
Give him to me-the mean critter!"
Whereupon, sezing the bird, he popped him into
cage which had myseriousy produced ITSELF evidently
There ' grunted the man, in satisfied tone
He set the cage down, and began scrutinlzing his
face in small oval hand mirror Jamie observed, also,
that sung from one shoulrer shaving mug, from
trouser pocket stuck the end of razor, and the
orncr Ouged as II contain DruSn ana soap
peeded to complete the outfit; and he about to
inquire politely: Please sir. are you barber? when
row. any feahered thing of that size soaked and
unacceptable its pumage), having coughed sew
sral times with sneezy explosive sound piped hus
"Do wish folks would let alone! Meddlng menl
Jamie was astounded its ngratitude much
was drowning" he appealed Indignantly ''''- '~- ~
"DrownngP' scofed the bird. How fish
But you're not fsh-you'rc brd!" retorted
"certainIy he isl Just what tell him. every time,
r agreed the individual md With tt the mir 5rsadish
mean crtterl Did you ever see any meaner''
Io don't , tsy sdd m side pTs 5e perceived
that the not tall after all. Why himself
Rd nias fh hard sfS4 responded the man. But
on. on! While were standin here a-talkn
Leaving the bird which was moodily huncnea its
perch in its cage, he hurredy trugded off adown the
warm, sandy beach, and Jamie followed.
TITS fish, isn't it," cried Jamie. can it's way up
"of courser snapped his guide, What are you do
Ing here ohi he ex Sann hating ns at the wig
was about eight inches long), and without more ado
Almost Immediately, however, the fish put its head
out in e1postuation, and, balancing as if treadng
'asSd ou fsnny od fus sesp y@'f rallied you do that
every time start to fly You ought to be"
you hushl" commanded the man. You can't ex-
pect to swim and fly both L., Amt you fish? Vel
You got what you wished, didn't you?"
81 won't be fish l don't like it, replied the
squeaky head I'm going to be bird again.!
You're not, eitherp
The fish jumped into the air and fell with a fat
splash.
4 shanr
"You sha'n'tl"
" shall"
"Wen you'd better not let me ketch you on shore
agarl-that's sail Z" threatened the man, his last
word While thus scolding back and forth, they had
gradually drawn apart. and the accompanied
BY Jamie. proceeded upon his way. Jamie, gancing
behind could the fish, apparently in frenzy,
bouncing up and down the surface like an ami
mated piece of whalebone.
"Isnt r .Sisgustabe asserted ths Pausng and
thoughtfully scanning hs SaSe in his glass.
was anything ever esRTe disgustabuier? Hey!
."Wi1l you tell where am pease?" asked Jamie,
N alarm. at the oddly of his surroundings.
"I will if you'll say need shaving" offered the
man.
*But-but you don't" responded Jamie. $50 I
,ant"
Jamie spoke only truth, for assuredly the mans
hin as gutless of hair is dressed kid glove.
High ho-hun- HarryP sighed the man, sadly Il
},clon don't So nj tell you anyway You're in the
and of she'd and 70 pefh have