Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-16

HE LOOKED UP AND SAW HER AND BILLY.
as conductor, another as train dis
patcher and to fill other positions in
turn. He said nothing about being the
son of the principal owner of the sys-
tenn or that he was to be boosted
RAPIDLY Those with whom he came
in contact wondered what the com
pany meant by sending "a child" to
do the work of a man.
But Billy, who had roughed 1t at
times. didn't mind living for awhile
in a wilderness and performed his du-
ties, which were not onerous, tolers
ably we'll But his father had ordered
that Billy be supplied with n strong
man for handling freight and trucks,
and Billy spent most of his time be
tween traIns-some trains were hours
apart-at a ranch house not mile
from the station. At such times his
assistant, Jim Horgan, was in charge,
and even If the agent wasn't there
when train passed Horgan could sell
tickets.
What drew Billy to the ranch house
was the seventeen-yesr-old daughter
of the rancher, Mr.. Archibald. The
ranchmau had been merchant in the
! east and had gone west ten years
before to raise sheep instead or mer-
chandising, because he needed dry
air and an out of door life His
daughter. Daisy, was seven years old
when he removed his home and had
grown UP rancher's instead of a mer-
chants child. She could ride. shoot,
swing a lasso and If necessary lend
q hand at herding.
Daisy, being OF the mating age, was
ready for attention from the opposite
sex and before Billy McElligott's ap
pearance had permitted such attention
from cowboy named Tom Swartout.
Her companions had been such as are
usually TO be met in new countries,
and she had grown up with Swartout.
not sufficiently recognizing the differ
ence of refinement between him and
her. She was in a transition state
from girlhood to womanhood, and hep
parents We're slow to realize the fact
and that greater care should be taken
in keeping her from one who would not
make suitable husband for a young
woman of her class. When McElll-
gott appeared Daisy herself saw the
difference between him and her former
playmate and was not slow in showing
a decided preference for the former.
sympathy. might have run toward
Swartout had he accepted his fate in
proper spirit, but he did not The
good or the bad in a man-usually the
bad-comes out at seeing himself sup
planted by a rival. 1t is natural among
animals for the mate TO fight for the
female, and man is no exception. But
refinement among men brings defer
ence to a woman which permits her TO
choose for herself. The black spot in
Swartout was that he lacked this def
erence to the lady of his love. The
spirit of revenge overpowered all other
considerations. Besides, he was goad-
ed to meanness and enmity by his asso-
ciates. Daisy saw at once that trouble
was brewing and warned Billy
You mustn't come here any more"
she said
What have done?"
Nothing. Tom Swartout Is jealous.
and I'm afraid of him."
He won't hurt you, will he?"
''No. but he may hurt YOU"
''Is that the only reason must keep
awayY'
Yes"
Then III come as usual"
One day Tom Swartout was playing
a friendly game with some of his asso-
ciates In an adobe one story house
when Billy and Daisy rode by ON
horseback.