Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-09-05

walked to the window. lighting his
pipe the while. and stood soberly look
ing out on the snowy landscape. One
could scarcely tell it was twilight. with
such sweeps of wilderness to eaten eV-
ery CLEAN of the dying day.
Drop work minute and come here.
Rod he said at length. Can you
keep secret?"
Course can. I'm chock full of 'ein
now. and nobody could dig one of 'em
out o. me with a pickax"
..Oh. well. if you're full you natural
Iv couldn't hold another.
II could try to squeeze it in if it's
nice one" coaXed the boy.
u don't know whether you'll think
it's Il nice one. Rod. for it breaks up
one of your plans. I'm not sure my
self how nice it is. but it's u very big.
unexpected. startling one. What do
YOU think-your 'favorite. Patty. has
gone and got married..
PATTY, Married. cried Rod. then
hastily putting his hand over his
mouth to hush. his too loud speaking.
Yes. She and Mark Wilson ran
away last Monday. drove over 70 Al
lentown. \. H.. and were married
without telling a soul. Deacon R@N-
ter discovered everything this after
noon. like the old fox that he is. and
turned Patty out OF the house
Mean old skinfint." exclaimed Rod
excitedlv, all the incipient manhood
rising in his ten-year-Oid breast is
she gone to live with the Wilson's: ?"
The Wilson's don't know yet that
Mark is married to her. but | met him
driving like iehu. just after l had left
Patty. and told him everything that
had happened and did my best to cool
him down and keep him from murder
ing his new father-in-law hy showing
him it would serve 10 real purpose
now"
Did he look married and all differ
ent?" asked Rod curiously.
Yes. he did. and more like man
than ever he looked before in his life.
We talked everything over together
and he went home at once to break
the news to his family without even
going to take a peep nj Patty.
couldn't bear to have them meet till he
had something cheerful to say to the
poor little soul. When met her by
Uncle Bart's shop she WAS uudSinS
along in the snow like ii dragged but
tertly and crying like baby.
Sympathetic tears dimmed RodmanS
eyes Il can't bear 10 see girls cry.
Ivory. l just can't bear it. especially
Patty"
Neither can I. Rod. I came pretty
near wipirg her eyes. but pulled up.
remembering she want II child. but Il
married lady. Well. now we come TO
the point.
Isn't Patty's being married the
, polnt:"
NO. only part of it. Patty's being
sent away from home leaves Waitsti'l
alone with the deacon. do YOU see?
And if Patty is your favorite. Watstill
is mine. | might as we'll own up 10
! that"
shes mine. too" cried Rod They
are both my favoriteS. but always
thought Patty was the suitahiest for
me to marry If she'd wait for me.
Waitstill * too grand for Il hoy
shes TOO grand for anybody. Rod
There isn't man alive that's worthy
TO strap on her skates"
We'll. she's too grand for anybody
except ana here Rods shy. wiStfu!
voice trailed off into discreet silence.
Now. | had some talk with Patty.
ond she thinks WaitStill will have no
trouble with her father just M present.
She says he laviShrd so much rage
upon her that there'll Ice none left for
anybody else for day or two. And.
moreover. that he will never dare 10 20
too far with Waitstill because she's 50
useful to him. I'm not afraid of his
beating OF iuiurinC her SO long rs he
keeps his sober senses IL he's ever
rightly had any. lSut | don't like 10
think of his uphraiding her and break
ing her heart with his cruel talk just
after she's lost the sister that's been
her only companion And lvoryS
hand trembled as he filed his pipe He
had no contidant but this quaint. ten
der hearted. old fashioned little lad. To
whom he had grown TO Speal; his mind
as II he were man Of his own age.
and Rod. In the same way. had gr,,il
ually learned TO understand ana sym
pathize.
Its dreadful lonesome on Town
House hill," said the boy in a hushed
tone.