Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-04-24
The Dailv
Short Story
"FIGHTTNG TED7
By Walter Joseph Delanev

DDne.
Mrs. REILLY was In tears via,
she started her m0urHful sfatemo..
Pretty Fife Mortimer looked MI
ing!y. Just now she had troubles -
her own Her heart was aig.sp.
true to the best instincts OF bumay'
ity, however. and she tried 10 con
sole The widow. The latter a..
regularly 10 the Mortimer nome ~
do hOusework. Brisk, bright even
full Of wit, Ted was held in genar.i
good favor, except when he "brors
out" The Reillys lived in a frsc.
tjous community, with broken bas5.
or natural outcome Of commands
feuds. Ted Reilly was the best
man Of his especial crowd tbei,
champion and their pride.
1T was the DDolans who baitaS
Ted as TO being second In a wrsst.
ling match, narrated Mrs Reilly
He challenged them TO try him Out
but they came-at him unfair. Six M
them-and he laid about him. Officer
Murphy caught Ted. the Judge SAID
an example must be made and Uoor
Ted is in the jail for lack Of twenty
dollars 10 pay his fine"
IF Ted would only take his Dree.
ent predicament as a lesson oh
served Effie, 1T might encouraVa
one to give him a new start Well
well-don't cry. Mrs Reilly W.
will see what can be done for aim
Ted felt as though an angel Of
mercy had come to his rescue
when he was released IOm his cell
to find Miss Effie in theNsheriGs Of
flee awaiting his release.
II have arrange for your fine
Ted she said in her usual sweet
and kindly way. Il hope this will
be a lesson to you. Remember nov
you are in way paroled to me and
l am responsible for your behay-
ior."
"You-yon needn't fear. Ill not
disgrace you" muttered Ted. a big
lump in his throat, his innate biz
heartedness sending the quick tears
to his eyes, and then she walked
with him along the street. disdaln-
full of criticism and he was COM
pletely overcome.
Il hope you will curb your fight
ing propensity, Ted" said Efie
Look" and she paused abruptly
and pointed 10 a great plaCard. Il
was an appeal TO all patriots to vol
unteer. Enlist for the war;" It
read. fighting men wanted
Does that appeal to you, Ted?" she
intimated.
He read, and new light came in
TO his face. 1t was fairly irradiated
with a grand and noble resolve. Il
know what you mean" spoke Ted
Miss Efie, III make you proud Of
me yet"
She believed him and awaited re-
suits. They came within the week
She was not surprised when Ted ap-
peared at her home. With positive
admiration Fife regarded the tall
manly appearing young fellow
straight as an arrow, proudly ar
rayed in his suit OF khaki.
I'm to go Monday, Miss Fife,
he said. Can | come and bid you
good-by them
oh, Ted! l shall feel honored &c
have you"
Il was No. - OF the township vol
unteer quota" continued Ted and
they've put me on tae service FLAG
star -. And it's a lucky number
Miss Efie. It's got 10 be. for
weren't there 10 stars in the old
colony flag, and isn't there IS let
ters in YOUR own sweet nance"
Monday afternoon Ted again sp-
peared at the Mortimer home.
servant told him that her young
mistress was somewhere in the gar
den. Near TO a vine covered pagoda
Ted paused AZ the sound OF Efie';
voice. She was sObbing out 10 q
girl contidante her wTetchednesSs
She had foolishly quarreied witt
her lover, Ralph Barrett, he had
gone TO the eucampment without
bidding her good-by aud her heart
was broken, Ted could not PLAY
the eavesdropper and left the spot.
"I'll tell it to Barrett when I see
him" resolved Ted, but Barrett was
sen abroad first and il was not unf
til they were over there" that The
treasured message was trans
mitted.
The service flag bore a marked
star one morning in March and Enc
asked the postmaster what it meant
we've got only the barest word,
he explained. Ted Reilly killed
There's a hint that he did SONS
wOndrously heroic deed. We expeei
particulars later"
They came the next day Tea
Reilly, fearless. dare devil that ne
was. had accepted a scouting com
mission to find himself cOrnerea ~
a vast store house OF the enemy
His discovery meant death as
spy. There was only a moment u
act. with so foes rushing 10 over
come him. Ted drew his revolver
fired point blank al a can OF expo
sive and made half a company ae-
company him into eternity, besides
destroying a million dollars worm
of enemy munitions.
You shall never want a home
Effie told Mrs Reilly. "F1ghtns
Ted an, hero Ted. he was, and a.
the world viii revere his memory
\ little later a letter came ina
sent a tremor and thrill ;hrousl
Eflic as she recognized the aauu
writing. II was from Ralph baFreL
in far away France. telling OF lR'
revelations of Fighting Ted, sAe
asking Ellie 10 forgive ana torse.
and believe that he loved her luO''
than ever.