Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-12
The Argus Daily Story
Lucky Peters-By Clarissa Ma ckie.
Copyrighted. 1912. by Associated Literary Bureau

The men standing around the gen.
eral store smiled knowingly as Frank
Peters stepped to the postoff1ce window
ANY mail for me, captain?" asked
Frank pleasantly.
Same as usual, Frank" returned |
the postmaster, showing a huge pile Of
mail matter through the narrow open !
ing. Seems to me you're crowding
the mails some, amt your
Frank complacently filed his pockets
with letters. circulars and newspapers
while his arms were burdened with
several bulky mail order catalogues.
IT hope you don't mind handling it"
he grinned. EFF you can take care Of
large and valuable mail matter like
this here" he slapped his pockets.
why. We'll have so much confidence
in you that you'll go through next term
for representative. What say. boys"
He turned to the others.
That's right" nodded the group so
berry. reminded of their power of in
vesdture.
That's all right 50 far as 1t goes"
squeaked Captain Lemming from be-
hind the window, where his nut crack
er face was thrust against the little
grating: that's all right enough. only
you can't blame me for having doubts
when there's plottin goin' on right
here around my stove-how I'm to run
for representative while Hannibal
Flamm tries TO get the postoffice.
When I'm defeated on the state ticket
whatll do without my postoffce job,
eh"
There was an embarrassed silence
among the voters OF Little River,
while Captain Lemming surveyed them
| fiercely from the window, followed by
a sigh OF relief when the door opened
! and Capitola Webb bounced in. Her
| bingham sunbonnet was pushed back
| from her pink, excited face, and one
| plump hand shook postal card in the
| face of the postmaster.
"Id like 10 know" she was begin
| ming aggressively when the men OF
Little River thankfully seized the op
portunity afforded by the threatening
storm and quietly left the store tc
stand on the front stoop and watch
Frank Peters unhitch his sorrel mare.
He tossed the catalogues on the sea-
OF the light wagon and sprang in. The
sorrel twitched her ears, waved hel
scanty brush Of tail and started off
Frank turned to shout back at thu
spectators, Anybody going my wa!
want a rider
sol
from the group and waved a restrain
ing hand. You can take me along
Frank" he said. and laboriously lifteC
his 900 pounds weight to the seat be
side the younger man.
They drove down the village stree
and turned into a road that borderet
the winding river. The trees archet
overhead and the hot sun brought on
the sweetness Of ripened fruits an,
late summer flowers.
Mighty pretty weather" murmuret
Frank Peters. his gray eyes contented
~ resting on the scenery.
Hum" murmured Hannibal refieC
lively. TOO bad how you was stuni
on getting this mare. Frank"
Never mind" returned Peters cheer
fully: better luck next time"
Its all right to say that, but how
in thunder are you ever going to &c
rid of her."
I'm not going to get rid Of her. Sh
suits me all right"
Il guess you're the first Peters tina
ever drove spawned horse
Il guess be-"
Hannibal Flamm was Franks broth
er-in-law. and he took advantage o
the relationship to make sundry IN
complimentary remarks regarding tn
shortsightedness of Mr.. Peters and t
remind him with singing emphasis o
the many times that unlucky gentle
man had been bitten in various bus1
ness ventures.
You can't even plant early Jun
peas without having 'em come up COW
peas" he ended complainingly.
Il bought those last early June pea
from You. Han" reminded Frank mild
, ly "You oughtn't 70 have been SUI
priSed If they come up cabhageS"'
Hum coughed Hannibal. an
Frank knew that so far as his brotl
er-in-law was concerned the subjeC
was dropped. But the arragnmen
had awakened him TO self defense.
~ may be unlucky or a fool @
whatever you fellows want to ca
me-" said Frank darby. "Oh, yes; q
: course know they all call me Luck
Peters behind my back Just hecaus
I'm so darned unlucky, hut I'll wi
ont some day and have the laugh o
all you funny ones. What If I di
: undersign note for Dave Raybol
and had to pay mp when he skippe
out? I thought he was straight. an
he went to school with me. That III
me 100 couldn't help my bar
burning down the day after ! got a
my hay in. Il wasn't my fault h
cause I'd been too busy tn renew III
, insurance and lost 81 600 on that
bought this horse off Jeremiah PEI
3 hes, and yOu know rs well rs I d
d that he's a deacon In the church. an
Ia have made him pay mp the damag
If Mrs PEBBLES hadn't come and erie
me off I'm too easy. that's what
Z the matter with me. All vou fOlB
know II, TOO. whether It's fire insp
Hnce or spawned horses or cowpeas.