Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-01-24

count OF what she had done. we've
got father just where we want him."
ut seems to me-" replied dolefully,
that he's got US just where we don't
want to be-"
She laughed, and because 1 wouldn't
laugh with her she boxed my ears and
said Look pleasant" This made me-
look worse than ever, but she kept
boxing my ears till 1 had to smile to
stop her. She's a great woman, Molly
ts-that is, in a certain kind Of way.
A few DAYS later 1 received a note
from her saying that she had made an
arrangement to visit a cousin in ~,
neighboring town. where there were
several churches, all with steeples. She
told me to meet her there with climb
ing tackle and she would take her first
lesson. l put my ropes and pnlleys
IN a baggage car and went with them
to n. l found Molly in gymnasium
costume. She had taken prizes in gym
nastics, and she said she would go
right out to take lesson. l sent my
tackle to the church with the lowest
steeple, climbed to the roof. fixed a
beam from which l hung a pulley,
then sang out to Molly TO put the loop
on the end Of the rope under her arms
and haul herself up. She did it without
any trouble. Then L went to win
dow midway up TO the steeple. fixed
another beam, and this time pulled
her up from below, and she got in at
the window. / was surprised that she
didn't vince. But, as I've said, there's
a lot of sand" in Molly.
Before we had finished the first les
son Molly was sitting on the base of
the ball Gaping the steeple. hundred
feet from the ground. A number of
people had collected below, watching
her, and she kissed her hand to them.
/ saw from this that she had a steeple-
jacks head as well as 1.
l remained in n. a week, and every
day we did some climbing, the last
day 1 was there going to the top
of the most difficult steeple of all to
climb. It was not very high, but there
was a long pull with no rests from
the base to the top of the spire. On
the apex were ball and a cross, and
Molly hung from one side of the cross.
AS I looked at her hanging there it
struck me more than ever that for that
kind of girl Molly beat any one / had
ever tackled.
This was valuable preparation, but
the height was only 40 feet, while st.
Thomas was $50. But Molly said
that if she could hang 40 feet above
ground with her eyes open she could
hang $50 with them shut She seemed
very happy over il all. and l wondered
whether she was glad because she was
going to get me and her $4,000. too, /
or on account of having demonstrated 4
her ability to climb.
Molly" / said, cit seems to me that
you're mighty pleased at the prospect
of getting a man who is nothing but a
steeplejack."
well. I'll tell you why I'm so
pleased"
WHY
Ever since I was a little girl, father. 1
in speaking to me OF marriage. has /
dinged it into me that was to marry I
high up in the social scale"
Molly" I said. with difficulty con- /
trolling my trembling voice. you've F.
crushed me TO earth"
1 was pulling out my handkerchief .
to wipe away a tear when Molly .
kissed it away
Never mind. jim" she said. Doubt
less there'll be lots Of couples just like
US. but there'Il be none more loving"
That conforfed me- awfulIy.
We went bat : home / told Molly