Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-25

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ties through the crowd up TO the top
deck. beside the pilots baDgout. and
sits down to get acquainted with the
breeze. If such there was
well. he'd been sitting there about
| ten minutes. Sam tells me. when along
came about the easiest picking that
ever got loose from the old home
stead"-
II beg your pardon" protested Pro
lessor Bolton.
THE ready money. the loosened kale.
| the posies in the garden waiting to be
| plucked," calculated Mr.. Max. This
! guy, Sam says. was such perfect rube
he Just naturally looked past him to
see IL there was trail of wisps of hay
on the floor. For awhile Sam sits there
with crouch as he thought how hard
1t was to put business aside and get a
little rest now and then and debating
whether, being on vacation. as 1t
was. he'd exert himself enough to
stretch forth his hand and take what
ever money the guy had. While he
was arguing the matter with himself
the jay settled the question by coming
over and sitting down near him.
Hes In the city. he tells, Sam. to
enjoy the moving pictures of the
streets. and otherwise forget the trees
back home that grow the cherries in
the bottom of the cocktail glasses
And believe me- he says to Sam. there
amt none of those confidence men GO
ing to get me. I'm too wise he says.
"I'll bet money you are Sam tells
him laughing all over at the fish that
was fighting to get into the net
Yes, Stree says the last OF the Mo
hicans, they can't fool me. 4 can tell
them as fur away as | can see 'em,
and my eyesight's perfect. One OF
'em comes up to me in City Hail park
and tries to sell me some mining stock.
1 guess he amt recovered yet from
what | said to him. L tell you. they
can't fool Mark Dennen,' says the guy
Sam told me that at them words he
just leaned back in his seat and stared
at the jay and whistied under his
breath. Years ago. it seemed. Sam
had lived in the town Of Readsboro,
Vt. and ran up and down the streets
with one suspender and a stone bruise,
and the kid that had run with him was
Mark Dennen. And Sam says he look
ed at this guy from the woods that
was running round crying to high
heaven he needed a guardian, and he
sees that sure enough it was the tow
head Mark Dennen and-Sam told me
something seemed TO bust inside him, |
and he wanted to stretch out his arms /
and hug this guy.
:" Mark Dennen.' shouts Sam, as I
live. OF Readsboro, Vt. The kid 1 |
used to play with under the arc lights /
don't you remember me| !
But Sam says the guy just looked |
him straight in the eye and shut his |
jaw and says. i suppose you'll be ask |
ing after my brother George next?
You amt got any brother George. !
you IDIOT laughs Sam. He told me |
he was thinking how he'd treat his
old friend Mark to dinner that would |
go down in history in Readsboro.
Mark. you old rascal he says, don't
you remember me? Don't you remem-
Der little Sam Burns that used to play
andy over with you and that stole your
girl in 1892? Don't you remember the
old days in Readsboro:' He was all
het up by this time. Sam tells me. and
all the old memories came creeping
back. and he kept thinking he never
was so glad to run across anybody in
his life. You remember little Sam
Burns. don't you?' he asks once more.
|
Sans eye. with his own cold as steel,
and he says. says he: You're pretty
clever. mister. but you don't fool me-
No. you don't come any games on
Mark Dennen.'
But. Mark says Sam. 4 swear to
you by all that's holy that I'm that
kid-Im Sam Burns. What proof do
you want? Do you remember old Ed |
ITo1 hat 70, 10 J-x,r !
store right across from the postofice.
the guy that never washed his win
dows? l do. And Miss Hunter that
taught the sixth grade school when
we went there. a little woman with |
out gray eyes ana oroKen
front tooth. and that pretty little girl
Sarah somebody-wait a minute. I'll
get it or bust-Sarah--Sarah-
Scott, you used TO be so sweet on?
Did you marry her. Mark? And old
Lafe Perkins. who used to be on hand
whenever there was any repairs being .
made anywhere-rheumatism and a
,ane and high. squeaky voice that he =
used to exercise giving orders about
things that wasn't any OF his business.
Why. Mark. 1 remember 'em all. Good
Lord, man. says Sam, do you want
my more proof?'
But this country blockhead just
ooked Sam up and down and remarks
udicious: It's certainly wonderful CO
low you know all these things-won- al
lerful. But you can't fool me- he 81
ays, 'you can't fool Mark Dennen.'" fe
Mr.. Max paused in his narrative for m
moment. The sound of voices came c.
Up from the office of Baldpate inn
)ne, that of the mayor, doomed loudly dc
md angrily. In an evident desire to T
lrown it Mr.. Max went on with spirit: re
We'll. gentlemen. IL got to be point ir
4 honor as you might say. for Sam to RI
onvince that guy. He told me he al
lever wanted anything so much in bis
fe as for Mark Dennen to give in. 1t h,
vas a hot afternoon. and he'd come A
board that boat for a rest. but he ST