Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-11-18

"whoo-upr' shouted Ike Williams
as he guided the team around sharp
corner where jutted a great split rock.
Are there any snakes around here?"
asked q timid passenger.
Ike Williams turned ruddy face
toward the passengers. and as his light
brown eyes met those OF plump little
woman in the corner he winked signii-
cantly.
The plump little woman looked very
severe and turned her eyes away.
Yes, sir; this is called snake corner.
and it's a funny thing that every time
1 reach this particular rock every
stranger aboard wants to know If there
are snakes hereabouts.''
well, are there any snakes:" de-
manded the thin woman sharply.
There are snakes sometimes, ma'am.
Once 1 was coming up from Cherry
Brook with a load OF folks. and just as
We reached snake corner one OF the
wimmen screamed and tainted. and
the others all hollered to beat the
band. or course l stopped and looked
to see what was the matter
What was it," demanded the pas
sengers breathlessly.
Trash shifted Debby Bovine.
at was a whole passed. OF black
snakes assuming themselves on the
big rock.
II was some fiustered, because I
knew, all my passengers being VIM
men, I'd have trouble between the VIM
men and the snakes and the bosses
;,,sk
I'm Il quick thinker. and Mr..
Williams paused and cast suspicious
glance among his passengers. IT
thought somebody LATED" he said ag-
gresSively.
No one made reply. Debby Bovine
was staring through the open doorway.
and the little dark man appeared to be
asleep.
The other six passengers were hang
ing breathlessly on the words of the
stage driver.
go on" they cried impatiently.
What did you do then?"
II got down from my seat and. TAX
ing my whip, 1 went up to the rock
and laid it on to them snakes till there
wasn't one to be seen. Then I clumb
THE wimmen all cried with joy over
getting rid of the snakes, and when we
reached the top of the hill-this one
we're climbing now-1 happened TO
look back. and what do you suppose I
see?" Ike paused dramatically.
"What did you see?" they asked in
chorus.
"Snakesn' said Ike, frowning at the
recollection about fifty blacksnakes,
assorted sizes. all humping themselves
along the road. trying to catch up with
me- / reckon they would have clumb
I'D over the wheels and right into the
stage if | hadn't done some quick
thinking.
I'm something of a reader" pur-
sued Ike modestly, land, being inter
ested in the critters, I'd read consider
able about snakes. So ] took my har-
monica out of my pocket and, getting
out of the stage, / went back and
PLAYED Yankee Doodle to them pur-
suing reptiles. and I'll be blamed If
the hull lot didn't Stand still like they
was charmed. and then l played n
march called The Retreat And you'll
hardly believe me when l say that the
hull regiment of blacksnakes turned
tail and bumped themselves back down
the road.
whoa. Here you are! Willow
House,
With the words Ike halted his horses
with n flourish before the door of the |
little mountain inn.
With the single exception of Debby |
Bovine the occupants of the stage dis |
mounted at the inn. While some or !
them were paying the driver. the /
leaned toward Debby Bovine. |
Does he speak of a TRUTH" he in
luired, nodding toward Ike Williams.
Two red spots glowed in Debby's
cheeks.
THE truth is not in him. she said
"You know him of a certainty, that
be lies:' asked the man sharply.
"T was engaged to marry him." said
Debby with dry bitterness.
VAS" repeated the man doubtfully.
"Was." emphasized Debby. until
ifteen minutes ago"
"Ah with many thanks for the con-
fdence." smiled the STRANGER. bowling
himself away nth his heavy basket
Just as the stage was about to re-
;ume it's journey with Miss Bovine as
rs sole inmate that small person skip
ped alertly DOM tile steps and siam
ned the door upon the empty vehicle.
"Ain't you going 10 ride up to the
ane with me, Debby?" demanded Ike
Il dismay.
Not today" returned Debby crisply.
I'd rather walk than ride with such
story teller as you are. You remem-
,er what said the last time you told
hat snake story" Debby Bovine
gathered her lilac skirts neatly from
he dust and tripped away. leaving Ike
TO stare after her until she
lad quite disappeared into the opening
u WhippoorwiIl lane, wkfre she lived 4;
sfIlI he biamedr' calculated Ike