Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-01-04

Gee. | can't hardly Wilt Only"
Tracey continued. disconsolate. lit
amt no use. really. She's so purity an
swell an old man Tuthill's so rich
not like the Lockwoods. but rich all
the samee-an' I'm only the son of the
livery stable man an fat anal that
an"
Nonsense. Tracey" Nat interrupted
firmly IF you really want her and
will follow the rules / give you its
cinch-''
Honest. Mr.. Duncan
Il guarantee 1t. Tracey. Listen to
me" And Duncan exDounded Kel-
ioggs rules at length. adapting them
TO Tracey's circumstances, OF course.
and throughout maintained the grav-
lty Of a craven image. You try and
you'll see if I'm not right" be concludJ
ed.
Gosh. b'lieve you are Tracey
cried admiringly. I'm just goin' to
see how it works
do. If you'd favor me. Tracey"
Say. Mist-Nat. you've treated me
somethin' immense"
Your mistake. Tracey haven't
treated anybody since I've been here.
Pm on the wagon"
IT meGo just now, when we was
ta!kin' boat me an Angie. Td-Td
like to help you the same way If !
could"
You would?" Duncan eyed the boy
apprehensively. wondering what wss
coming.
Yes. indeedy. would. An p'rhaps
kin tell you somethin' that Will"
Speak. beg
"You-er-you're tryin' to court Josie
Lockwood. amt you?"
"Ohm said Nat. $50 that was it,
That's secret, Tracey he averred
All right Only if you are she's
your'n-"
Just how do you figure that outT
''Oh. l kin tell. She was in here to-
night with Roland"
''Tonight?"
Yes. just afore you come home from
prayer meetin'. She was lookin' for
you. an when she seen you was'.'.
here she wouldn't wait for no soda me-
aothin'; said she had headache an
was goin' home Roland went with
her. but she didn't want him to. You
Just missed seem her"
Heavens, what a blown
But Roland's takin' her home
needn't upset you none"
Thank you for those kind words.
Tracey Nat sighed and passed a
troubled hand across his brow. You're
a true friend"
I'm trSin' TO be. Nat. same's you
are to me- Tracey thought this over.
But you amt fOolin me. are you?" he
asked presently. Il mean bout bein'
q true friend?"
why should II"
"Ah, | dunno. You're so Gurus
sometimes. I amt never sure whether
you mean what you're sayin' or not"
oh. don't say that"
Well | amt the only one. Every
body i'll town says they don't under
stand you half the time"
Duncan moved over to Tracey. His
face was entirely serious. Tracey"
he said. dropping a hand ON the boys
shoulder. do you know. nothing in
life is harder to bear than not to be
underStoodT"
Tracey wrestled with this for a mo-
ment. but 1t was beyond him.
Then why the dickens don't you talk
SOS folks III know what it's about?" he
demanded heatedly.
"Because-hmr' Duncan hesitated.
with his enigmatic smile. We'll. be-
cause the rules don't require it,
What d you mean by that Tracey
exploded.
Nat couldn't explain. so he counter
cd neatly. This is one of your An
gle evenings. isn't It. Tracey
Yep. but
We'll. you hurry along. I'll close up
the shop"
To Duncan. now seated on the edge
Of an upturned box in corner of the
store. came an idea. He drew a roll of
bills from his pocket and stripped off
the top one.
Here's So he said to Tracey.
Girls can usually be captured by