Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-11-03
CHAPTER III.
"They Ain't No Seen Thina'7


Across the river, through the (
E opalescent blur. one could see the /
old sou'westers piiing up on the /
point. just a little farther ca b time.
for wild sea was running ju from
the lake.
You could hear the waves roar as
they broke against the granite promou-
tory. two miles away. Sometimes
there would be seething white patches
on the siveFs face-vbere the wind
spitefnrfy eiashed down tIe rain. One
or two hardy souls were fishing hope
jessly along the mainland Lodges, where
there was bit % lee. The knowing
fisherman. however. sayed his bait
The bass by now were all ont in deep
water. for the b'atk fellow doesn't Ike
the seasicky rollers any more than his
hunter docs. Besides, what WIS mere
important, bait had left the shadows
snd gone out Of the reach Of the mud.
II wns n dag for poker, the telling Of
tales or reading and snoozing or tinker
lag In the bodthonse
And tiusering in the penthouse vas
precisely what Uncle Billy was doing.
Ranged along the top Of his work
shelf were dozens Of spark plugs, Next
to bringing hotBe a four ponder ms
liked to tinker. His attitude and out
LOOK were Identical to those Of the VII
laee doctor-no matter how wen you
looked or felt. something wrong could
be found going on in your insides
Only Uncle Billy acquired no profit
in bis diagnoses. With Il grease
smudged hand he nursed his stubbly
unshayen chin
Cast it. seven plugs, n not one OF
IN with a darn Whut's folks sellin'
these days, anyhow
search me-" said voice from the
rear doorway.
by jings" Uncle Billy wiped his
fingers On a piece Of waste and trot-
ted to the door didn't know they
want no serh thing es q ghost. How
are YOU. Mr. Crawford When'd y
git here? 5 morniu1 Well well! a
raforks No bass in shaller wa
rrrov Wen try Homing dock
H. uaa ia wreck i'll Sand hay. Oh,
psbln can't row sou, Sir Gran
ford CT party No idea how long
shes COIN t. stay neither Why dn't
y write me-
One at time, Bill, ono Mt time
Go back TO your work. I'll tell you al
I know when I've prowled about ans
kind Of soaked this picture into my
soul"
Crawford shook the water off his bat
and stamped his feet.
He bad come cross lots. through the
high grass. and the very skwunch
skwunch Of the vet leather on his feet
was music. an obligato. TO the slap
swish. siap-swish of the river whict
sprawied over and about the runway
sloping down from the boathoust
doors.
This was air. washed clean. cleal
from the heavens, undefied by smoke
or dust or contact with living things
neetarous, Gods own.
He leaned against the lamb. breath
ing, breathing, with a little smack Of
his lips Just before he let The breath
20. He wanted the good Of it in hi;
veins, In his marrow. In another day
he would forget that he had ever beer
anything but an outdoor man. Of sim
pie habits. simple thoughts.
How we'll he knew every nook and
corner of these wonderful waters, Eu
rope. Asia. Africa Nand the south sea
isles. North and South America he
knew, but none Of them called Ike this
quiet but rugged spot often while
sitting on the balconies or verandas Of
notable foreign hotels his thought had
snnihilated the distance,
He could see boat after boat coming
In toward evening. the catch throw
carelessly on the dock; he could heat
the banter Of the bronzed guides. the
Dragging of the fishermen and the no
tel bartender's polite well, what luck
today. sirTH
Uncle Billy. vainly pretending t.
squint at the business end Of spari
plug held between his eyes and the
light, watched his young friend GOV
ertiy.
Didn't look as ft as usual Beer
staying up late and lying ahed morn
ings. Two or three days on the water
would take that look out OF his face.