Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-18

TALE WAS RATHER a TALL OFE-
town-can't exactly recall the name,
but it began with a w
"Varrejo?" inquired Shaw, the de-
tective, quietly.
1.-The very place." agreed Carus-
worthy, glad to come by the name.
You know your geography, Shaw"
Have to-" was Shaw's laconic an
swer.
WELL" went on the narrator, "I
had been making a thorough investi-
CATION of certain mines in which 1 was
interested.
"Of course it had been convenient
to make my visits to the nearest ship
ping points of the mines, in my private
car, and L had managSu pretty well
to avoid those sad hostelries of n flea
bitten populace. 1 carried my own no.
tel. On the night of which I'm telling
my car had been sided at little town
not an inch on the map from the Tex
as border, and 1 was counting on hit
ting the states some time the next day.
Varrejo was the name, as Shaw re-
minded me.
But the through limited that was
TO pick me up was reported full six
hours late, and an attack of acute in
digestion didn't help me to look on the
bright side of the situation.
Il went to bed early. but sleep
wouldn't WOO for copper. So l got
up. slipped on the universal duck and
Panama rig of the cline and time, left
the car without being seen by any of
my attendants and made for anything
that might show Semblance of drug
store. 1 rustIed into a dilapidated
wickiup. reused profusely polite Mex
lean from postprandial slumber and de-
manded some cure all device of the
doctors for that sense of oppression.
He led, with many explanations, 70
stuffy little rear room, and there l
underwent the ordeal of the most con-
elomerate mixture of all the Russian
Turko-Fiz Zip, steam-calorific baths
that ever 1 suffered the shock of.
But, nota bene. it did the trick. I
became another pleased patron and
reached for my roll for the whcrewith
to requite my deliverer.
MY hasty toilet had omitted the
prime necessity. l explained matters;
FASTENED back to the siding.
My car was gone. The through
limited had caught up some of that
lost time and. likewise, as per sched-
ule, had caught up my outfit ard was
now merrily whirling my belongings
northward And my crew thought I
was comfortably ensconced for the
night. 1t was distinctly annoying.
II fastened back to the apothecary
and explained the situation. 1 could
not blame him for that smile of In
credulity which broke through his set
politeness. The tale was rather a tall |
one, and it was evident that he took |
me for n new species OF the genus |
CRATER
Il first turned my attention toward |
q civilized eXpedient in this extremity. !
viii you direct me to the telegraph I,
Officer / assumed more or less OF an /
imperial tone. for calculated on soon /
my creditor OF his erroneous /
impression concerning myself and !
standing. L will telegraph to New /
York for money
His expression changed from one OF |
to one of alarm. You're from
New York. senor?'
Certainly What's odd about
hat? replied, somewhat nettled by
ais attitude, for / could see that his
alarm was coupled 10 hatred which
IN unpaid bill could scarcely account
'or.
lie changed his face on the In
slant, and, assuming a semblance of
ais former politeness, he said: Certain.
v, senior l myself will conduct YOU
o the Geographic office. though il Is
'ather late"
He led the way up dingy street.
tasting furtive and what seemed TO
ne uneasy glances at little shack
beside what l took to be freight de-
rot. My guide here left me for a mo-
nent. saying, IN see what can be
lone. senor.'