Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-08-11

Bunkers groaned. What a trial to
nave to deal with such a numskull!
You don't mean they didn't have time
to get away with all the stock in the
night?"
Il dunno; they was there at sunup
this mornin'."
Had they gone when you came
away?"
Reckon"
"Do you mean that they were per-
mitted to do as they liked with my
store from 10 o'clock at night till sun
rise this morning"
Reckon"
"And not a neighbor 1nterfered with
them?'
THE neighbors didn't know they was
there"
after you saw them break in what
did you do?"
81 listened for awhile to find out
what they was about"
What did you hearT"
"Nothin'."
did they have a light?" -
First off, but they put it out"
what did you do next? You didn't
stay there all night. did your"
Il went home thinkin' I'd come here
in the mornin' and break the news to
you"
Bunkers, not being able to make head
or tale of this incoherent statement,
concluded to hurry on and find out for
himself what had really happened
whether any of his stock had been
left and why his neighbors had not
taken any action in the matter. He
had shut up his store, since he had
no one to take his place while he was
gone. Now he regretted taking such
chance. Martin was his nearest
neighbor, about an eighth of mile dis
tant. The next, Saunders, lived on
the other side Of hill. 1t was very
easy for robbers to pry up q window,
go into his store and appropriate what
they liked. On second thought he was
not so much surprised that they should
take their time about It.
The wayfarers plodded on in 81
| lence till they came to rise in the
ground whence they could see Bun
chimney. The owner stood looking at
it in establishment
st can't be-" he said, ''that the ras-
Gals are strong enough to defy the
whole settlement
There was five of EN-" suggested
Sam.
Five desperate men. well armed,
! ub ha foo form lido l,Ia m xuorro 2
an attack-that is, by any force that
could be collected within a few miles.
Mebbe they're waitin' to git in more
men from distance" -,.-=-..
! Like enough" Sam put in.
shut up" growled Bunkers. irritated
that Sam, too stupid to give an alarm
when he saw a store broken into,
should offer an opinion.
There was another silence while the
two descended the declivity. Present
ly Sam said:
Air you goin' to tackle 'em all alone
by yourself"
Bunkers made no reply to this. He
was trying to think what it all meant,
what to do The truth IS, he was
badly ratified. He walked ON in 81
lence
How would it do" asked Sam, for
me to go ahead, see what they're dom
and come back to tell you? They
wouldn't do nothin' to a measly chap
like me-
Bunliers uttered an exclamation of
contempt. He was not the man to put
a fool into danger he would not en-
counter himself.
AS they drew nearer q girl about
fifteen years old came out of the house
and stock looking up the road.
Buniers stopped stock still.
"By jingsw he exclaimed; then add
ed, IF that don't look just like my
Emeline."
From this time he forgot all abou
Sam, who dropped behind and disap
peared. AS Bunkers drew near til,
store he hastened his steps, for he saw
his daughter, and before he reached
her his wife came out, holding hi
boy, Jim. by the hand. They saw hin
and few to meet him.
Mrs. Bunkers had got legacy ari
used it to surprise her husband b.
taking herself and children to joil
him. She had arrived in the night ant
had been obliged TO break into tn
house for shelter. There was q happ,
reunion.
But where was Sam?
Bunkers found him and said to him
"Sam, anybody who calls you a foo
again I'm goin' to lick him. You go
it on to me splendid. | said if yo
had given the alarm I'd "a taken car
o. you for the rest Of your life. 70
come into my store and I'll give 20
, q salary. II you're smart enough I
fool me you can make somethin' @
yourself. Anyway. you'd better try"
Sam tried and succeeded far beyon
!, his employers expectations.