Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-13
The Light IN
the Clearing
BvIRVING BACHELLER
Copyright 1917. The Bobbs-Morrin Co.

wildly his clear, kindly, gray eyes
and rudy cheeks.
''Baynes. I'm glad to see vou. bs
said heartily. Did ye bring me
any Jerked meat2"
Didn't think Of IT," said r-ncra
Peabody. But I've got mo-
young doe all peTked an If vou're
fond o Jerk III bring ye down sor7a
tomorrer."
I'D like to take some 10 Wash
ington but I wouldn't have vor
bring It so far"
I'D like to bring tt want n
chance to talk with ye for half an
hour or such a matter" said nv
uncle. 1--WE got little trouble On
my hands"
There's a lot Of trouble hare
said the Senator. I've got to SET
tie a quarrel between two neigh
bors and visit a sick friend and
make short address to the North
ern New York Conference at thu
Methodist church and look over
piece Of land that I'm intending 10
buy. and discuss the plans for NV
new house with the carpenter
expect to get through about
o'clock and right after supper 7
could ride up to your place with
you and walk back early in thu
morning. We could talk things
over on the way up"
That's first rate" said nv uncle
THE chores amt much these DAYS
an guess my sister can git along
with 'em"
The senator took US into his Office
and introduced us to the leading
men of the county. These were:
Dinot Jenison, Gurdon Smith, Eph-
rain Butterfield. Lemuel Buck
Baron s. Doty. Richard y. HART
son, John L. Russell, Silas Bald
win, Calvin HurIbut, Doctor DIN.
Thomas II. Conkey and Preston
King These were names with
which the Republican had already
made US familiar.
Here" said the senator, as he
put his hand on my head. "is 4
coming man in the Democratic
party"
The great men laughed at nv
bushes and we came away with a
deep sense of pride in US. At last
felt equal TO the ordeal of meet
ing the Dunkelbergs. NV uncle
must have shared my feeling for. 10
my delight, he went straight TO the
basement store above which was
the modest sign: III Dunkelberg,
Produce" I trembled as We walk
ed down the steps and opened the
door. 1 saw the big gold watch
chain, the handsome clothes, the
mustache and side whishers and
the large silver ring approaching
US, but l was not as scared as I ak
pected to be. My eyes were more
accustomed to splendOr.
well 1 swan" said the mer-
chant in the treble voice which I
remembered so well. This IS Bart
and Ptabodyi How are you?"
Pretty Well" I answered. my
uncle being too slow Of speech 10
suit my sense Of propriety. How
is Sally?"
The two men laughed heartily
much to my embarrassment
He's getting right down to bust
ness" said my uncle.
Ldl light otALL MI bAuhH4-
berg. "Why, Bart. she's spry" as q
cricket and pretty as a picture
Come us to dinner with me and sea
for yourself"
Uncle Peabody hesitated, where
upon I gave him a furtive nod and
he said "All right" and then I had
delicious feeling Of excitement
had hard work to control my I'm
patience while they talked. I walk
ed on some butter tubs in the back
room and spun around on a whirI-
ing stool that stood in front Of
high desk and succeeded I'm the diff
fcult feat of tipping over a bottle Of
ink without getting any on myself
I covered the multitude OF my sins
on the desk with a newspaper and
sat down quietly in a chair.
By and by I asked. Are you
most ready to go?"
'Yes-come on-it's after twelve
o'clock" said Mr.. DuukeIberg.
Sally will be back from school
now"
My conscience got the better Of
me and l confessed about the ink
bottle and was forgiven.
Continued tomorrow