Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-19

YOU AXE THE BEST MAN ] EVER san.
eh?" His lean. brown face softened
wonderfully as he bent down to catch
her answer.
II heard you swearing. mister. Is it
because you don't like the play to-
night
why, | dunno little gal | liked 1t
well enough the fust time | seen it,
but somehow after you've seen the same
play mangled some seventeen times.
not to mention shootin' up one or two
specially bad, rank companies. it looks
almost too familiar to me. Most like
gettin' a bill sayin'. Please remit
when you've broke yourself payin' it
the week before"
I'm sorry" said the child. with
little tired smile That's what every
body says. | wish Mr.. Bemis had
picked out sone other play that folks
would want to come and see"
who's Mr.. BemiS?'' demanded Jink
Probe. with sudden suspicion.
He's the manager OF the company.
He plays Lawyer Marks I'm Little
Eva" she explained proudly.
''HO. ho!' link blinked rapidly. so
you're Little Eva. eh? Well. reckon
you'll make IL right pretty one too
Where's your ma, Eva:"
Shes in there getting ready for the
parade. Mothers Eliza"
link threw one spurred boot over the
pommel Of his saddle and rested his
chin in his gloved hand. Where's
your dad? He playing Uncle Tom. eh?"
''Oh. no: fathers dead. There's Just
us two. and mother hates il all. but we
have to work to take care OF each
other. You see. The last town we were
in the cowboys shot holes in the seen
cry and broke all the windows in the
opera house. so we didn't make any
money at all. IL hope they won't do
1t here"
Little Eva" declared link solemn
~. If airy varmint so much as breathes
out loud In that opery house tonight
I'll shoot him as full of holes as a
pepper pot. Now. don't you worry.
honey. Jest you tell me where can
buy some tickets. I've got a pocket
full Of money to spend"
1
! saw" cried Little Eva. jumping up
and down with excitement Now. I
wonder-you must do just as | say.
will yOu?''
"Sure thing"
We'll. you can bry Just as many
tickets as YOU please. but the one Won
20 in on yourself is to he a compli-
tnautary opa from mo SAT- Cr,r;.lIr
because like you and you are so
| kind and brown" She opened little
bag that swung from her waist and
extracted a piece Of blue pasteboard.
With a bit of pencil she wrote some
thing. ''If you'll tell me your name. -
she suggested. Il might put that on
too"
So Jink blushinGIy received his com
/ plimentary ticket emitting him To- wit
ness one performance u Uncle Toms
| Cabin" free of charge. That's a
mighty pretty ticket. Eva" he said.
( tucking 1t awav in his pocket I'm
much obliged to yOu. and | shall be
settin' there whoopIn' her up to beat
the hand. and don't you forget it.
/ Now. how about my buyin them tick
( efS?''
( Right after the parade YOU can get
/ them at the box Office said the child
/ proudly. And now ! must hurry. for
/ the parade starts in a minnie"
! At the Royal hotel. which in this dem
/ Ocratic country appeared to be the IA
/ vorite IounGing place for man and beast.
/ the coming theatrical performance was
/ avoided by universal assent. for Jiuk
I Prole sat at the head Of the table and
had ordered hOrseradish with his
baked beaGs. When Jink ate horse
Tadish there was usually trouble ahead
for somebody.
Suddenly Jiuk Probe jumped from
the table and strobe down the street
/ toward the opera house. When he re
turned he tossed box full Of yellow
tickets dow: in front of his plate aud
resumed his chair.
Gents" he said briefly, I've bought