Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-18
The Argus Daily Story
Calamity joey Clarissa Mackie.
COPYRIGHTED. 1912. by Associated Literary Bureau.

er and giggled,
I'VE was informed that some yallow
hearted varmint had stampeded your
horses" said Morgan calmly,
Yes" said the imperious one stiffly.
Its all true. but we don't need any
reScuing. We're going to get home
all right
How"
Walk" she returned calmly. ANY
obiection?"
Yes. ma'am," said Morgan emphat-
ically. I'VE don't let ladies walk TWEEN
ty miles when they're out for holiday
time not in Poregrass county"
I'm sure they're very kind Mabel"
spoke up one of the other girls.
You know. we were saying just be-
fore they came that we didn't know
how we were going to get home" add
ed the queenly brunette, with a fash
ing smile at Freeman.
Il suppose 1t is well meant, and we
are obliged" said the spokeswoman
suddenly. Perhaps you gentlemen eau
tell Us how to get our horses back.
They belong to Dan Perry. the livery
man at Eagle City"
In response to these amenities on
the part Of the red haired damsel the
five rescuers slipped from their horses
and awkwardly submitted to Morgans
elaborate ceremony of introduction to
six ladies whose names were unknown
to any of the cattlemen.
In their guise of members of a res
cue party they were invited to partake
- hn ho
tered into serious consultation as to
the best methods Of discovering the
miscreant who had run off the horses
or stampeded them and also the all
important question of how Finkle- q
STEMS salesladies were to be returned
to Eagle City that evening.
At last the unfortunate picnickers
consented gracefully to submit to the
better Judgment of the men. and It
was agreed that each lady should ride
one of the Flying V horses and that
its owner should walk beside the horse
so as to ride 1t back when their deed
of chivalry should have been accom-
/ pllshed.
OF course all this required much dis
/ cussion In general and then in tete-a-
| tetes, where names were exchanged
| and there was much merry badinage
as past purchases OF gents furnish
| ings" at Finklestein's emporium were
recalled.
1t was Smith who secuted around
and found one of the missing ponies
grazing out on the plain. He quickly
mounted his own horse and caught the
animal, and In this way there was
provided a mount for the sixth lady.
who was suffering from the toothache
and cared little whether she was fur
nished with an attendant cavalier or
not.
1t was she who hurried them home
ward at sunset, when her companions
had decided to ride back to Eagle City
in the moonlight.
They formed procession as they set
forth on the twenty mile journey TO
| Eagle City. The toothache lady led
the way, and the others struggled aft
er with a man at every horses bride.
This was, of course, necessary. because
never had there been collected together
such a number of vicious. Ill tempered
brutes as the horses that belonged to
=.
son and Pete Willis. and the fair riders
appeared timid.
At dawn the five weary cattlemen
rode slowly into the camp. Calamity
Joe was on watch and without word
handed cups OF hot coffee TO his friends.
You gents are some heroes" he
ventured. breaking into their reveries
of tender looks exchanged and engage
ments promised for Wednesday even
ing to come, for the Flying men
were bachelors all.
Il reckon So" said Freeman absent.
ly. He was wondering IL he could earn
enough TO support certain blond beau.
ty in case she would marry hiH
Morgan suddenly looked up and
caught Calamity Joe's attention with
a sharp glance.
"Who do you reckon run off them
hOssesf" he asked.
81 dunnOw declared Joe.
You was seen doing 1t and might
as well own up" shrewdly said Nor
gan.
Then Calamity Joe confessed his du-
plicity. He told how he had waited
his opportunity and. hearing about the
proposed picnic Of Finklestein's clerks.
had himself stampeded their horses
and thus created situation whereby
his comrades could rescue the fair dam
sells and at the same time make their
acquaintance.
In the guise Of a matchmaker Calam-
ity Joe had hoped to hide his unfortu-
nate reputation.
And he did, for ever after they called
him Cupid" and he was obliged 10
officiate as best man at so many wed
dings that be almost regretted the step
he had taken.
After all. the foreman Of the Fly
ing declared that Joe had brought
calamity in his wake. for Eve of his
best men married within a year and
started ranches q their own.
But he retained Joe Bliss because
there were no signs OF his getting mar
ried and straying of. !,