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

said of him that he was born for a
church deacon and had failed to de-
velop. He was the butt of many q
joke, but he didn't seem to mind it,
and he was supposed to be too Obtuse
to understand that he was an object of
ridicUle.
One of the settlers, Jim Bunkers,
was especially inclined to guy Sam.
He would send Sam off on fools err
rands, then abuse him for not having
gone in the right direction, or to the
right person, or for having committed
some other stupidity. Jim's DISPOSE
ton had been soured by Ill success
He had left his wife and children to
seek his fortune in a new field, open
ing a store in the settlement to supply
the people round about. But his profits
were small, and his losses from bad
debts were large. The consequence
was that he had put off sending for
his family from year to year and was
getting discouraged.
One summer the country in his vi
cinity filled up considerably. and by
for goods was increasing and his stock
needed replenishing. Encouraged, he
resolved to use all his capital as well
as his credit. go to the nearest city,
! lay in a good stock, and there was a
prospect that in one year more he
might feel warranted in sending for
his wife and children. He had COM
pleted his Journey and was returning
when, a few miles from the settle
ment. whom should he see sitting on
a log beside the road but Sam links,
looking more solemn than ever.
Hello, SAM" exclaimed Bunkers.
what are you dom away out here?"
"Waitin' for you"
-Waitin' for me? What for?"
Bad news"
| whats happened?' asked Bunkers
in sharp, irritable tone
81 don't like to tell. Better wait till
! you git home and see for yourself"
You doggone fool, What did you
come out here to tell me bad news for
and then tell me to wait for 1t till
get homer"
"Well, If must tell, your store was
broke into last night"
Bunkers' cOuntenance fell. Just as
prosperity was coming his hopes were
dashed. Sam got W off the log. jim
started: and the two logged on
did they git away with all the
| stock?' asked Bunkers.
81 hain't been inside the store t.
see"
What time did they break in?"
About 10 o'clock last night"
Didn't the neighbors know anything
about it,"
NO. None of 'em lives neal
enough"
"How did the devils effect an en-
trance?"
"Pried up a winder."
How many of 'em were theref"
Five"
How do you know so much abou
it?"
II was there and seen 1t ALL"
"And you don't know how nue.
stock they got away withT'
81 came away before they left"
"And didn't give any alarm?"
Sam made no reply to this. bnt hun
his head. Jim gave him a look of cor
tempt and could scarcely refrain fror
kicking him.
"Sam," he said, you're too stupid t
live. You should have run up th
road to Martins and told him"
"Now, why didn't 1 think o. that?
said Sam refectively.
Because you were born a fool an
will never be anything else than
fool. You have missed the opportun
ty Of your life. If you had given Il
T alarm and saved my goods wOul
! nave looked out for you for the fest {
your life"
The two proceeded on their way Il
some distance silent and with mour
! iul countenances. Bunkers' indicatiI
4 that the hopes he had cherished we
blighted, Sans indicating that he WI