Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-26

the shore. Its owner leaps over
board, takes the passenger on his
back as one carries a child, carries
him safely through the swirling
surf. sets him down on the beach,
collects a substantial endorsement
therefor, and prepares to go back to
sleep again.
Left lingually helpless upon the
strange strand, the erstwhile pas
senger, seeing what looks as
though it might have been, or
might be going to be, street,
makes his way therealong. He
emerges at length upon plaza. 1t
contains what appear TO his I'M
familiar eyes to be a church, gen
eral store and four or five saloons
which seem to be conducting most
of their business out-of-dOors. It
likewise has, but does not boast,
what looks to be a soldiers monu
ment; at least there is a statute of
that school Of sculpture, and the
finest example Of what not to do in
pavements that-he has ever seen.
To complete the picture he sees
weeds, a number of stucco bunga-
zens and citiZenesses whose attire
seems to proclaim that they are
Just about to take a bath and good
ness knows they need it. and
large number of dogs that look as
though they have been crossed in
love, or in ancestry, and probably
both.
The erstwhile passenger stands
surveying the scene before him
with a so-this-is-Parisi expression.
Interest, excitement have hitherto
marked his gaze. But now, noting
the complete absence of trolleys
and the utter lack of twelve-story
buildings, comes to his eyes look
of alarmed dubiousness. However,
girding up his mental loins, he
crosses the square to the largest
saloon. He thinks perhaps it's
hotel. He's right. That is, he
is nearly right. Entertainment for
man and beast may be purchased
within it's walls. Entertainment,
that is, if you don't care what you
say.
A proprietor, with French dress
ing, greets him in broken, we might
almost say bankrupt. English. In
response to his request for room
and meals, he is turned over 10 a
porter, smothered in onions He is
shown a room. 1t contains bed,
chair, a bureau, tiled floor. three
spiders, small green lizard and
a balcony overlooking the square.
They descend to the Office.
The proprietor asks him if he
likes the room.
He says he guesses so.
The proprietor spends half an
hour trying to find the register
With the aid Of the porter, smoth-
cred in onions. and a cook, fried
in batter, he finally locates il under
opens it with a flourish. Its in
terror looks Ike a thumb-print rec
ord in police headquarters.
They try to find a pen.
This is finally achieved by call
ing to their aid :. JoAlceBan with
sauce Bordelaiae. He locates it in
the bar where someone has been
using it to stir sugar into the rum
1t is wiped off and presented.
with another flourish. to the erst-
while passenger.
Somewhat uncertainty he taxes II
and, after a moment of cogitation. /
he indites upon the register a name. I
It is Henry j. Smith, Montpelier. |
Vermont.
Opposite this. the proprietor |
with yet another flourish. places !
the date. Thursday, 1915
lie knows II is Thursday for IN
three days IL will be Sunday and /
he'll have to go TO church again. T.
AS for the month-what is a month ,
more or iess when waits eternity? /
Having thus performed his hos /
telric duties. the erstwhile passen-
ger, whom from now on we Will /
call Mr.. Smith. mounts 10 his room.
secretes his valise under the mat