Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-28
The Argus Daily Short Story
The Hero of Pond Point-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted. 1870 by Associated Literary PresA

proud day for Pond Point! For the
first time in her history she is able to
stand side by side with her patriotic
sister towns and to enthusiastically
commemorate the Declaration of our
Independence and to honor the men,
DRY of one who fought and died for
that liberty and who. through u strange
oversight. has been too long permitted
to rest in an unknown grave" etc.
Jared Wilson wheeled a small cam
non into position. and the minister
lifted his long. white hand and bowed
his head. and there was silence while
be prayed.
First Selectman jefferson Foster
came forward when the prayer was
ended His round red face was redder
than usual, and when he removed his
stiff hat beads of perspiration stood out
on his forehead. He took the roll OF
manuscript from his pocket and sur
veyed the company with n waverlng
eye. When his glance met the slightly
contemptuous smile of the reporter
from New York he started violently
and unrolled his papers nervously.
The first selectman was suffering
painfully from stage fright He look
ed at the opening lines of his carefully
prepared speech and then concentrat-
ed his gaze upon solitary vehicle
vending its way slowly up the dusty
road.
Friends and fellow country men,"
began the selectman in a husky growI.
this is a great occasional great occa'
sion" he repeated. confidently evading
a synical CLEAN in the reporters eye,
"for which we are indebted to our
esteemed townman. DR.. Liscom." JET.
ferson Fosters eye wandered again
and encountered the grinning report
er's face. "A hero is sleeping in our.
midst. Today we are to honor the
bravery and daring of our esteemed
citizen Theron Bassett. killed on the
field of duty. A year hence we hope
to erect a suitable monument to his
memory
There was a rustic of excitement on
the outskirts of the crowd where the
vehicle that had crawled up the dusty
road had halted. A woman's voice,
rising high above the tumult, angry
and expostulating, interrupted the Sc
lectman's speech. Il tell you I'm go
ing up front: This thing has got to
be stoppedr'
A murmur of indignation followed
the speaker as she pushed her way
through the crowd and finally emerg-
ed into the open space about the grave
She was a tall, rawboned woman.
with strongly marked features and
iron gray hair drawn tightly back
from her forehead.
What do you mean by this disturb
ance, MADAME" asked DR.. Liscom Sc
verely.
My names Bassett." she replied.
with little clicking movement of her
teeth.
The reporter took notebook from
his pocket and refiectively sharpeped
a pencil.
'Bassett" repeated the doctor az
fably. Then I am sure you are a
relative of the hero whose dust lies
under this mound. We would have
included you among our honored
guests had we known there was liv-
ing descendant of Theron Bassett.
who"-
''Fiddlesticksw interrupted the wo-
man rudely.
The reporter scrubbed busiIy in his
notebook. The first selectman's mouth
hardened.
what do you mean. madam" asked
DR.. Liscom patiently.
81 mean that just heard this morn |
ing that you Pond Point folks were
going to hold celebration OYER this !
grave, and i came over here from my |
home in Leetown to stop these sacri- |
legious proceedingsr' She looked tri-