Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-03-11

two bills. Our ~hero is too
heartbroken to protest. He takes
from his pocket the small roll Of
bills given him by wilkins, sir. and
hands them to the walters. The
walters retire. .. He notices, in
the doorway. two truculent-look-
ing gentlemen. with very black
mustaches and very white collars.
They are looking at him in a man
ner that adds yet another bitter
sting of life-twO bitter stings, to
be exact. The walters return
and present to him two trays, both
bearing change. Unlocking he
reaches forth his hand-two hands,
indeed. Looking. he finds the
change has vanished from both
trays. He also notes that the two
walters are eying the two trucu-
lent gentlemen in a very hopeful
and eXpectant manner.
The two trucu1ent gentlemen ad-
vance side by side They tap him
on the shoulder
"Whas NATTER" ne asks.
You, say the two truculent gen
tlemen, out"
Our hero rises and sighses. l
mean, he signs and rises. Bit
terness fills his world like a food
Not only are there people so poor
as not to have forty million dollars
but there are others so brutal as
+, to wear black mustaches and white
collars. | mean
Our hero, you must know. is by
nature gentle and kindly. Also he
is where surroundings are new,
painful and uncomfortable He is
a stranger in a strange land. He
knows not its manners or its GUS
toms. 1t Games to him vaguely,
that perhaps a second table is wait
ing. Or, perchance, it is the Gus
tom among the rich thus to inform
one when dinner is over He has
heard that There it is entirely, diff
ferent. Which is why. heart
surcharged, ne signs and rises.
Where's m'hat?" ne asks sadly.
Therein at least he is safe: for
whatever may be the strange GUS
toms of the rich, he knows that of
surety it is not one to go out into
the night without ones hat. The
rich are too baldhead2d TO take so
grave a chance.
The two truculent gentlemen
opine that a hat is a small matter
But our hero, now or certain
ground, is obdurate. Also our hero
is six feet one. broad Of shoulder.
lean Of hip, muscled like a panther
and in petfect condition Whereat
the two truculent gentlemen and
the two efficient walters 20 into ex-
ecutive session. Usage has taught
them that diplomacy oft is wiser
than force
The two walters depart for the
hat The two truculent gentlemen
and our hero wait.
Anon return the walters. carry
ing two hats. Our hero puts the
two hats on his one head. He does
not try to explain the phenomenon:
ii interests him vaguely That Is
all.
As, accompanied of the two trucu-
lent gentlemen, our heroe passes
through the lobby. they encounter
two gentlemen, well-groomed and
Of pleasing manner. whose appear
ances are strangely familiar.
The two gentlemen. with a nod
TO our hero. stop the two trucuIent
persons who are our hero's escort
Where are you going?" query
the two pleasant gentlemen
The two trucuient persons inform
their queEtioner that they're only
going to bounce the picked ruhe.
But" protested the pleasant
gentleman. This young man is a
guest OF the house
Their words strike our hero like
shaft of light, BY love- He knew
there was something he'd forgot
ten That was 1t, He is a guest
OF the house,
Amiably, aud With beamiug
smile, he turns 10 the two pleasant
gentlemen. There was stlll hope
after all.
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