Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-08

II toleuse, Salu tue man WIN the
frayed cigar. He gets his little old
rakeof, too from jamming sixty people
into forty passenger car While he's
running the town this rotten old line
won't have any competition"
Mr.. Sledge is good customer of
mine," observed the fat butcher.
There's one thing about Ben Sledge
he always keeps some big city i'm
provement going on" announced the
Irishman who had extinguished little
Henry Peters.
Little Henry pulled his derby audi
bly, off his head and rubbed the red
circle it had left
Mr.. Sledge is the workingman's
friend" he declared.
Jaw, shut upr' ordered the gaunt
Celtic laborer and kicked his ankle by
way of accidental emphasis.
1t was strange that, while everybody
on the car kept the name of Frank
Marley sacred to their hatred. the name
of Sledge, who was notorious through
out the United States for his utterly
constituencies methods of public theft,
was received with equanimity.
Meanwhile Sledge, turning to see
who his neighbors might be. met the
eye of Frank Marley and nodded per-
functorily and then bent his entire at
tention on Molly, gazing at her in stol-
id concentration. with no more change
of expression on his heavy features
than if he had been reading a time
table. Bert Glider noticed his rude
ness and tried in 4 mood of intense
aggravation to catch Sledges eve and
reprove him with savage frown. but
he might as well have tried to catch
the eye of an oyster. Sledge, perfect
ly contented with the pleasing picture
which sat before him, continued to
stare calmly until Molly. discerning
from Bert's countenance that some
thing was wrong. turned to meet the
small gray eyes of Sledge fixed thought
fully upon her. She wheeled abruptly
TO her father.
Isn't that the scandalous Sledge|
she asked, annoyed and still amused.
Her father nodded his head and
smiled. his nose becoming still more
pointed in the process.
We'll, introduce him. | can make
him stop staring. then" she ordered
He can't drive on"
Il say. Sledge." called Marley. lean
ing forward. This is my daughter,
Molly
Sledge tugged at his hat and smiled
his acknowledgment of the introduce
ton.
"Glad to meet YOU he told Molly.
Il didn't know you had such a fine
looking girl. Marley. She's corker,'
and once more he viewed Miss Molly
with quiet appreciation. in which there
was dawning glimmer of quite I'M
Sledge-like enthusiasm.
Il think so myself" laughed Marley
First thing l know she'll be getting
married.
Sure" agreed Sledge. contemplate
ing her earnestly in this new light.
: I'D marry her myself"
The street car ahead gave forward
lurcb. and the fiamingly indig1 ant
Molly darted into the opening.
.The ugly brute!" she gasped.
There arrived on the morning train,
escorted TO the platform by distinct
" worshipful porter, tall. big boned
gentleman in light gray suit of fine
texture. plump, careless man to
whom one would instinctively turn for
= tediously funny story. and a hard
| iawnd man of a most forbiddlng eX-
nression, who looked about as commu-
NEGATIVE as cabbage. This gentle
man loafed about the hotel with his
mouth shut. while the other two
secuted" Promptly at II o'clock they
returned from their various directions
and gathered in the room OF the smii-
ing tall one in the gray suit.
We'll. Timbers. Is 1t as cheerful as
we thought" asked the host. settling
himself in the most comfortable chair
Looks gay and merry to me. Boz
zam," replied Mr. Timbers. folding his
hands on his fat knee and frowning
intently at little slip Of paper he held
| between his thumb and forefinger.
..SIndge is, of course. the whole works"
whats the approach TO Sledge:
| ..rom Bendix." returned Timbers
promptly, consulting MS snip OF paper.
/ He sits everything before it gets TO
I the big boy, and you don't need any
,ntroductions. The best plan Is to go
right 20 his Office and give him the
| straight story
How about MarleyT
"A fluff" returned Tmbers con-
CONTINUOUSLY. Because he's the presi-
dent of the street car company he
thinks he invented electricity. and his
noodle is swelled SO that it cracks his
scalp
you'd better lead me to this Bendx
nerson." suggested Bozzam, rising.
Come on, Moodson."
Very automatically the silent man
arose and accompanied Bozzam from
the room with the air of being just
as willing 10 do that as anything else
! inst as automatically he followed into
| Ton, Raudiy five minutes