Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-17
The Daily Story
Copyrighted 1918 by Associated

he was between me and it | could see
the silhouette of his figure.
| stood for some time with my haho
grnsping the back of the chair, expect
ing every moment either TO feel coIo
steel in my vitals or bullet crashlns
through me- That the man did not at
tack me | attributed to the fact thar ne
could not see me. The gas fixture was
midway between me and him. but II
had struck a match to light the gas !
would have been exposed to any blow
he chose 10 strike. | knew also thA'
ne would rot 81 expose himself.
had read OF the old time duel in
dark room and fell into this one OF my
own naturally. The only difference
was that in the old time duel both par.
ties were armed with the same kind OF
weapon. while | had no weapon at al
and did not know how my enemy WAS
armed | felt sure that he was waiting
TO locate me. 50 | kept perfectly sun
| even put my hand on my heart. FOR II
beat so loud that it seemed 1t must
give me away.
Suddenly | heard the tread Of a shoe
on the door. The man had been put
ting on his clothes II he were com
pietely dressed he would feel better
protected than ! In bare feet and
nightshirt. One feels an advantage
behind a defense even if it be clothing
covered into the corner.
The window sash went up like
shot. | saw something dark on the
sill. 1t remained there moment. then
disappeared, and | heard something
drop on a roof without The man had
escaped me after all
l scratched a match so that l could
see the bell button pushed ii violently
and continued TO do so till boy came
up TO my room
I've been robbed" | cried. The
thief has gone out through the window
with my pocketbOok. conta ming $1,000.
Go down and tell them at the office ia
call the police and give chase at once"
The boy stood staring at me out OF a
pair OF sleepy eyes. then suddenly turn
ed and ran downstairs | hurried on
my clothes and followed him. Ths
night clerk had telephoned the police
and the patrol wagon was pulling up
btA'AV Aut hN'A ~ ia q SAChb Nih' NtA"
was telling them TO hurry after the
thief when a man out of breath came
in the front door, crying:
I've nearly escaped being murdered.
There's a lunstic or robber or some
thing in 40 escaped by the win
dow"
He was my roommate.
Hes lying" exclaimed. Hes TAX
en- my pocketbook
There was a babel of voices for
awhile, when one Of the policemen
asked me some questions about the
lost money. which led to the party 60
ing up to No. 40 to investigate. and a
search was made for my pocketbook.
1t had slipped from under my pillow
and fallen from the head of the bed 10
the floor. Every dollar II had contain
ed was still in it. | didn't know wheth-
or my Joy ut finding my money or my
modification was the greater.
Il beg your pardon" | said shame
facedly to my late enemy.
II beg yours" he said. with equal
ahashment
What did you get ont of bed for?"
and wanted something to quiet me.
dropped the flask"
Those surrounding us began to grin
well" i continued. why didn't
you go back to he'd again?"
From your actions | got afraid OF
you. was trying to dress when you
jumped ont Of bed. and thought you
were coming for me"
81 saw You raise your arm to strike"
Guess | was putting on my shirt
and You saw the arm going into the
sleeve"
well. I'll be hanged" I replied.
"Gcntlemen. would you ike some cham
payne"
That's on me" said my roommate
J. "Mr Night Clerk. can we get any
thing"
The clerk took us into the dining
room and brought IN n dozen Of cham
payne ~ the expense " myself and
roommate II was urar daylight when
we separated. and instead Of not lik-
ing my eurmy's looks / thought him
fine fellow
Since then whom I 20 to n hotel AMI
u - I''Pi''-''l ~ I'ii NV III liif- @dllN
room with another person. my re-
mari, t.
"ThaukS. no: III sleep in pigsty,
but not with y roommate"
And. vet singular Il is that 7 and
the man with whom I was about
T" fght when he ran away from that
due IA the dark room became warm
friends We found we were from the
same place and were fellow members
Of tw" organizations one OF which was
n regiment ~ militia. At supper. after
1riN | tell OF my prowess on that
memorable occasion how bravclv
locked mrsr.f in with robber and
how defended myself with nothing
more formidable than chair againsu
su'rnsah.e SIX shooter Then 7 con-
tr1St 'hiS hra very with my cnemy's dis
gracefI! f!-ht through n window.
When describe his appearance at the
front entrance ~ tho hotel he turns
the Toxic against me n asking me
TEe~ I r.t,iru 10 the insane asvlur1