davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19
Continued tomorrow.
ASSISTS RICE FARMERS.

Fifteen thousand acres OF rice
land at the mouth OF the Trinity
river in Chambers county, Texas,
which were in danger OF beiDg
flooded with sea water were saved
by the Texas company when It sup
piled a dredge TO throw up a dam
TO impound sufficient fresh water
to save this land for the 1918 har-
vest.
E. A. Pedeu, federal food ad-
ministrator for Texas. made every
effort to secure a dredge, and when
the government had none available
on the Texas and Louisiana coasts
he asked the Texas company Il
they would help out Thomas Car
nick, in charge Of the emergency
feet for the company, wired It's
New York Office for permission to
release one Of its dredges, and the
response came hack al once: Ger
tainly; release a dredge and DO
anything else that VIII help the
food administration. We are with
the administration first, last and
always
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19
INVENTION MAKES
GAS OUT OF STRAW

The production of fuel and light
ing gas from straw is now made
possible by a Canadian invention,
illustrated in the August Popular
Mechanics magazine. This pro-
Queer, which is designed for indi-
vidual farm use, offers a practical
means for utilizing the vast guam
titles of straw that now go to waste
on the western plains.
The gas is made in a retort equip
ped, with three cylinders, each of
which holds q bale of straw, 7 feet
long, : feet wide and inches thick.
After filling and closing these
chambers, a straw or gas fire is
lighted under them and allowed to
burn 80 or 40 minutes. One firing
with wheat, oat, barley or fax
straw in this manner produces l.
200 cubic feet OF gas having fuel
value Of 400 b. I u. About 1900
cubic feet of gas can usually be
generated from one ton of straw.
and in addition six TO eight gallons
of tar and $40 pounds of carbon.
from which lampblack can be OBJ
tanned.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19
And They Are Our Bows.

The people of America are today proud of the part
their soldier boys have taken in seriously checking
the creator as it is described by leading
espondent-the greatest of the German drives.
Germany not failed 10 express in the strongest
terms her contempt for the UNFRAMED boys from
the farms" that America was about to send over to
meet her expert leaders and we'll disciplined soldiers
but such cynicism never did trouble us this side of
the Atlantic and probably this feelings have
undergone a change in Berlin. Confidence from the
very start was felt by all living under the and
stripes that the present day American soldier would
uphold and indeed add additional glory to the ira
ditions of a great past.
Well done, gallant laddies We thinking OF
you and praying for you back in the dear homeland,
and are already considering how best welcome
you home when victory has been achieved.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19
The Morale of the Troops.

Bishop Cannon of the NJ z. church. South, and DR..
z. ]. Moore, both acting representatives of the
Saloon league have result of Investigations
made abroad. just issued report on moral condi-
tons among the troops.
They reiterate the assertion made in connection
with every discussion of conditions cover there"
that the taken a whole ARE clean, sober
and efficient bring feeling of pride to every
American"
The report further commends the commanding
officers of the expedonary forces for their zeal in
behalf of the moral welfare OF the troops
and eulogzes the efforts of the Red Cross and the
Y. NJ c. A to protect the by affordng diversion
very confident feelings to effect of safe
guarding influences at work the battle front
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19
The "Stars and. Stripes" on Gentle
Ways Of "The Hun"

The Hun has bombed hospitals, off and on, all
during the war Hitherto he has covered it up by
complaining that the houses of mercy placed too
close the front. military centers which
perfectly fair game that any strang Of the help
less quite incidental and therefore, in sense,
regretable But his recent attack force with
than twenty airplanes upon plainly marked group
Of hospital buildings far behind the British lines
the raid having obviously that objective-far
passes all his previous performances of frghtfulness
The Hun no longer Apologies He no longer
pleads military necessity" for his slaugh-
ter of the helpless He glories in his guilt.
Fatuous people who still believe, in the face of
proof this that a negotiated peace with lib
eral" Germany is within the range of probability
ought to be led quietly by the hand and placed in
retreat for the feeble1nnded there is only one way
to deal with the Hun. Thank God have learned
that way!-From The Stars and Stripes, official
newspaper Of the Z. S. army in France)
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19
Poor Bleeding Belgium.

Tomorrow is Belgum's national holiday, and it
is significant, as commemoratng the countrys free
dom from the yoke Of Holland and with the power
of electing its own ruler.
America viii certainly want to express in
thusastic manner, feelings OF admiration for people
who have suffered SO sorey-and withal so nobly-
during the present Alas, the jubiIant spirit in
the heart of the Begians will probably be in very
large measure sought be suppressed by the ennis
saries Of the cruel tyrant under whose rule they
exist.
Let the people of Rock Island display the Belgium
flag and recall the story of the gallant defense made
in the early days of the conflict.
Only when the clash of armies shall havesceased
and the history of the worlds greatest struggle
written" shall we begin to realize how much we owe
to Belgium
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19

realize on his singular legacy. lie
purchased a cot. some covers, lit
tie oil stove, come kitchen utensils
and what food he required. day
times visiting towns further away.
seeking TO find some one who could
utilize the old factory. He did not
meet With any success.
He never forgot one day. he never
forgot one man whom a sudden
shower drove TO seek shelter in the
old building.
Jerry was soon aware that the
rain-soaked refugee was John Har.
Vey Custis, a shining light in the
financial Armament OF stock pro
motion, They grew companionable.
and the exploiter OF industrial de-
yeiopment fairly bristled with en-
thusiasm as he saw in the old aban-
doned structure the nucleus OF 4
vast undertaking.
III give you twenty thousand
dollars for the building" he de-
clared, and pay you five thousand
dollars down for an option TO buy
II for the bulk amount within \
year" which proposition fairly took
Jerry's breath away.
But what in the world are Won
going to do with it," questioned
Jerry.
DO with II! List il as a hundred
thousand dollar asset Could II be
rebuilt for fifty thousand? No. !
am about 10 promote a new motor
car We need a manufacturing site.
Here 1t is. Don't you see that with
the ability 10 schedule a big factory
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19
THE DAILY SHORT STORY

Affairs were at their lowest ebb
with Jerry Just then. He had al
sways been a wanderer, and clear up
to manhood he would show up at
home for brief spell, receiving a
vague welcome, sometimes out OF
funds, sometimes overburdened
with money and profiigate of the
same,
For over a year Jerry had settled
down, He had gone at practical
work and ne had an object in view
now, A lovely young girl, Elsa
Dover. had come into his life. She
and her mother exercised a mar
velously uplifting influence over
Jerry, He was all but engaged TO
Elsa when the news of the prospee-
tive Inheritance reached him. He
gave up his position and came home
10 look after his interests.
All that the Dovers mad In the
world was the old family home and.
a mortgage on it was due The
amount was two thousand dollars
Mrs. Dover saw no way of meeting
II, but when Jerry had the prosp ect
of receiving enough from his faith
er's estate 10 provide for the pay
ment, his heart grew glad.
And now Jerry felt cheated. He
knew enough of the history and
circumstances surrounding the iso-
lated factory building TO compre-
bend that IL was az much out of
place as an ice house In the collar
regions. However, he resolved that
there should be some way found to
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19
CHAPTED XIV.
(Continued.)

L meet many good-looking boys
here, but none OF them are IKE
you. l wonder If you remember
what you said to me that day. IL
you want TO unsay itsyou can do IL
by letter, you know. / think thai
would be the best way to do II. SO
don't be afraid Of hurting my feel
ings. Perhaps l would be glad.
You don't know. What a long day
that was, 1t seems as If 1t wasn't
over Yet. How lucky for me that
il was such a beautiful day! You
know l have forgotten all about the
pain, but | laugh when ! think how
/ looked and how Mr.. Latour looked.
He laughed a god deal going home,
as if thinking of some wonderful
joke. In September l am going
away to a young ladies' school in
Albany. l hate 1t. Can you mag
inc why? l am to learn fine man
ners and French and Spanish and
dancing and be good enough for any
mans wife. Think of that. Father
says that l must marry a big man.
Jimmy Crimps! AS If a big man
wouldn't know better. i am often
afraid that you will know too much.
1 know what will happen when
your iRtellect sees how foolish |
am. My grandmother says that |
am frivolous and far from God. |
am afraid it's true, but sometimes l
want to be good-only sometimes.
1 remember you said, once, that
you were going to be like Silas
Wright Honestly l believe that
you could. So does mother>I want
you to keep trying, but it makes me
afraid. Oh, dear! How SAD and
homesick l feel today Tell me the
truth now. when you write"
That evening I wrote my first
love letter-a fairly warm and NOV
ing fragment of history. My family
have urged me to let 1t go in the
record, but l have firmly refused.
There are some things which l can
not do even in this little masquer-
ade. 1t is enough to say that when
the day ended I had deliberately
chosen two of the many ways that
lay before me.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19
A Word to the Wise.

The following directions concerning packages and
letters for soldi-s in military camps should be
strictly adhered failure observe is probably
the reason why so many of the boys complain about
not receiving their mail:
Postofices in the military camps report receiving
daily large number Of packages containing food
condition unit sor use they cannot be delivered be-
cause Of danger to the health Of soldiers. should
it be eaten.
Postmasters have been directed to refuse
parcels containing perishables especially fruit, if
there is doubt of delivery in perfect condition.
Mail for soldiers is subject delay account
Of changes of location, and insufficient address.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19
Well Done. Detroit!

The prediction of the VETS as to what would
happen in Detroit when prohibition into effect
has not in any particular been verified.
Indeed the very opposite has resulted. s. S.
Kresge of Detroit told the committee agri-
culture that there a single arrest for drunk
enness or accident, or theft the day after the law
became effective Arrests for drunkenness during the
month of May, down from 1852 in 1917 to 307
in 1918 and the Monday absences at the Ford plant
which is regarded good test of moral conditions
in Detroit have been rapidly diminishing scale
ever since.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19
THE LEGACY
By Marion Heath.

"Here We are. Jerry. There's
your patrimeny,"
"All of it," jibed Jerry Throop.
the essence of sarcasm In tone and
eye,
Why, yes. You see, naturally
father tfNSght of me first | Gas
the home bird and stuck TO HIM,
Our sisters. too, You'd got TO be a
sort of stranger TO us, see?"
II do. with boys eyes!" rallied
Jerry, trifie bitterly now, "You
get the big farm, Mel and Aggie the
town property and get-Nthatl"
Gloomily. almost angrily, the
speaker made sway OF hia head
toward his legacy, II was bleAk,
barren five acres. void Of tree, flow
er or grass, In it's center was a
fairly pretentious brick structure,
Jerry's father had built IL for a
company manufacturing stoves and
furnaces, The corporation had
failed and the structure had been
deserted and abandoned ever
since.
Who wants it-wholl buy it?'
muttered Jerry, Look here, Tom,
you've got money. I'll sell it to
you. cheap"
Hardly" returned his brother,
with a cynical grin.
Well" sighed Jerry, "Ill try out
my estate for bunking place for a
speii and see what turns Up"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19

savings stamps some other worthy cause, The
majority OF the pledges made relate to the relin-
gushing of Iuxuries.
II quite smoker. I'll do without cigars for
one day per week" Another forswears tobacco for
an entire month 81 have been doing without a great
many things In order TO help Uncle Sam. I think
now will do without silk stockings for the dura-
ton Of the war; is the statement of another member
Possibly the most sweeping pledge so far made
is that of the earnest woman who states that start
ing today willing do without meats candy. ice
cream and picture shows for a"whole year"
Rock Island might take note and add such club
to its many other patriotic organizations.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19

ready to hand, I can show an IN
itial substantially thar viii MAKE
prospective investors grab up the
stock shares like hot cakes. say
It's a bargain, and III put the op-
ton, five thousand in your hand
within forty-eight hours and give
YOU ten thousand preferred STOCK
as a bonus"
Jerry seemed to be walking On
sold colored clouds when. two days
later. the money and contract u
his pocket, he visited tho Dover
home. Never had he seen these
sterling friends so happy lookins
never had these good. loyal frienus
made him so welcome. Jerry wa
cxuberant as he told his story anu
produced the money 90 relieve MFs
Dover OF that dreadful mortgage
menace.
You true man and splenda
friend" almost sobbed the wido"
Il need not take your money, fof
relative has generously come ios-
ward TO lift us out Of our di~'
CULTS"
Then my money is no gooal
dolorously observed Jerry and lnSN
his eyes met the gaze OF the SPAR
ling. expressive ones OF Elsa any an.
when they two were alone a iiley
later Jerry asked her outright =
she would take charge OF his lltue
fortune Against rainy asy'
Jerrv?" propouuded the clever Bns
"No-a against our wedding da3,
corrected Jerry. and they kissed y
seal the compact
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19

the guns is 80 calibre Savage,
and the other is a rs calihre Colts.
Neither gun was loaded. and there
were no cartridges in Walton .
pockets.
Blaze Endangers 0iI.-The pres
ence of a barrel of oil in a barn
in the rear of 1119 West Third
street endangered the lives of fire
men early yesterday when fire
broke out in one corner of the
building The fire had made strong
Roadway before the trucks arriy-
ed and firemen were forced to lay
a line of hose before the blaze was
brought under control.
Obituary RecOrd.-WiIliam r.
Finefield passed away at 3 O'Clock
yesterday morning at the home Of
his daughter, Mrs. M. ]. Flynn, 425
Brown street The deceased was
born in the state OF New York Ill
1882 and during his early years
was employed as an engineer. He
had been a resident of Davenport
for the past so years.
Rollin F. Walker, 1927 East Fiji
teenth street, and who was en-
ployed at the Rock Island arsenal
as a government guard. passed
away at local hospital at
o'clock yesterday morning after a
short Illness. He had been en-
ployed at the Rock Island arsenal
for the past three months. The de-
ceased was born in Edgington, ILL.,,
Sept. 90, 1862. He married Miss
Cora Shirley in Davenport June
20, 1888.
Mrs. Jane Stewart passed away
at 6 o'clock yesterday morning az
the Davenport hospital. The de-
ceased was born in Ireland 5S
years ago and came to the United
States when q small child.
Mrs. Jennie Harris passed away
at 422 West Fifth street at 1880
O'Clock, yesterday morning. She
was So years of age. being born in
Illinois,
Carl Maisack passed away at
Mercy hospital Wednesday after
noon at 6:15 o'clock after a lin
gering illness. The deceased was
born in Davenport, April u, 1873,
being the son OF Gottlieb and Mag
dalena Maisack, who preceded him
in death many years ago.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19
Mail up Aloft.

The aerial pOstofice is evidently proving great
success. Since May Is, IS trips schedule time
have been made from Washington to Philadelphia and
New York
II is thought probable that Chicago VIII be the
city added the aerial mail route and the pre-
diction is that letter be delivered in Chicago
within ten hours after leaving Washington AS %
hours are required TO make that delivery now by
train the advantages Of the plan very apparent
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19
NElsAITM TNlLdMS
BY WILLIAM BRADY nd.
Industrial Hygiene-Accident In
sUrance.

Industrial Hyglene-Accident In
surance.
In recent years there has been
introduced into industry a system
OF workmen's compensation insur-
ance designed. presumably, to pro-
tect the injured workman against
want while he Is disabled by in
jury suffered in the course of his
work. The system is falling TO ac-
complish the stated purpose, be-
cause wrongly managed. The state
enacts laws OF general character
to cover the plan, and also main
tains q sort of general supervision
of It's working, but the state hands
over the practical control of this
insurance to private insurance
companies and the trouble starts.
The private insurance company
practically, II not openly, selects
the physician or surgeon who shall
attend the injured employe. 1t
practically, If not openly, regulates
his payment. 1t requires or at
tempts to extort from the attend
ing physician all sorts of confiden-
tial information concerning the In
jured employee, as for instance,
whether the injured employe has
syphilis, tuberculosis. etc.-facts
which, if the physician happens to
know, are none of the insurance
company's business. The idea of
the insurance company in extort-
ing such information, from physi-
clans who are faithless enough to
divulge it, is to use 1t for the pur-
pose of evading payment of just
compensation to the injured en-
ploye-it is easy to claim that the
syphilis or tuberculosis or other
incidental condition is the cause of
the delayed recovery and hard to
prove it is immaterial, once the at
tending physician has sworn away
his patients natural right to Sc
crecy.
The idea of workmen's compen-
sation insurance. of accident or
sick insurance, is right, provided II
is wholly controlled by the state
and not largely left in the hands of
prof1t-seeking corporations.
An injured man has q right to
select his own attending physician
at any tiIne and under any posi-
BILE circumstances and when this
right is abrogated by the rules or
regulations of a hospital, a corpor-
alton or other body an injustice is
done the workman
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19
The Light in
the CLEARING
Bv IRVING BACHELLER
Copyright 1917. The Bobbs-Merrin Co.

OF politics. Rodney Barnes and
Uncle Peabody were standing with
me in front Of store A man came
out with Colonel Hand and said IN
a loud voice that Sile Wright was
spokesman and a drunkard-in pol
tics for what he could get out Of 4.
My uncle turned toward the
stranger with a look Of amaze
nent. Rodney Barnes dropped the
knife with which he had been whit
thing. felt my face turning red.
Whats that, mister?" asked
Rodney Barnes.
The stranger repeated his state
ment and added that he could
prove it.
Les see ye," said Barnes as he
approached him.
There was a half moment of 81
lencc.
Go on with yer proof" Rodney
insisted his great hand trembling
as he whitfield.
There arc plenty Of men in Al.
bany that know the facts" said
the stranger.
@'Any proof 10 offer?"
That's enough"
"Oh, l see, We can't prove It TO-
day, but ye don't mind sayin' It
today. Say, mister, where do you
iive?"
None O. your dam business"
Swift as cats paw the big. right
hand of Rodney caught the man by
his shoulder and threw him down,
Selling him by the collar and the
seat of his trousers our giant
friend lifted the slanderer and flung
him to the roof of a wooden awning
in front of the grocer's shop near
which we stood.
"Now you stay there til I git
cooled off or you'll be hurt" said
Rodney. you better be out o. my
reach for a few minutes"
A crowd had begun to gather.
Il want you all to take a look at
that man" RodneH shouted. "Hs
says Sile Wright is a drunkard an
thief"
Loud jeers followed the state
ment, then a volley OF oaths and
moment of danger, for somebody
shouted:
Les tar an feather him"
"No, well just look at him a few
minutes Rodney Barnes shouted.
Hes one o. the greatest curiosl-
ties that ever came to this town"
The slanderer. thoroughly fright
ened, stood silent a few moments
like a prisoner in the stocks. Soon
the grocer let him in at an upper
window.
Then the loud voice OF Rodney
Barnes rang like a trumpet in the
words:
ANY man who says a mean thing
of another when he can't prove il
ought to be treated in the same
way"
That's So" a number Of voices
answered.
The slanderer staid in retirement
the rest of the day and the Incl
dent passed into history. not with
out leaving its impression on the
people of the two towns.
My life went on with little in Il
worth recording until the letter
came. l speak Of it as the letter."
because OF its effect upon my ca
reer. 1t was from Sally, and It
said:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-19
CHAPTER XVI.
/ Use My Own Compass at Fork
I'm the Road.

I'm the Road.
Swiftly now | move across the
border into MANHOOD serious,
eager, restless manhood. 1t was
the fashion of the young those days.
| spent a summer of hard work in
the fields. Evenings l read the
books which Mr.. Wright had loan
ed to me, Blackstone's> "COmmen-
taries" and "Greenleaf on Evidence"
and a translation by Doctor Bow
ditch of LaPlace's "Macanique Ce-
leste" The latter l read aloud. l
mention it because in a way It
served as an antidote for that
growing sense of expansion in my
intellect In the vastness of infin-
tie space / found the littleness of
the man and his best accomplish
ments.
Mr.. Wright came up for a days
fishing in July. My uncle and |
took him up the river. remem-
Der that after he had landed big
trout he sat down and held the fish
up before him and looked proudly
at the graceful, glowing, arrowy
shape.
81 never did aQythin in the
senate that seemed half so import
ant as this" he remarked thought
fully.
While 1--WE ate our lunch he de-
scribed Jackson and spoke of the
famous cheese which he had kept
on a table in the vestibule of the
White house for his callers. He
described his fellow senators-Web-
ster, Clay, Rives, Calhoun and Ben
ton I remember that Webster was.
in his view, the least of them. al
though at his best the greatest ora
tor. We had a delightful day. and
when I drove back to the village
with him that night he told me
that could go into the Office of
Wright and Baldwin after harvest
ing.
Git will do for a start" he said.
"a little later shall try to find a
better place for you
l began my work. taking only
the studies at school which would
qualify me for surveying. I had
not been in Canton a week when I
received a rude shock which was
my first lesson in the ungentle art