Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-06-17
CHAPTER VII.
NV Second Peril.

We always thank God for mer
like Purvis: we never thank them
They are without honor in theiI
own time, but how they brighten
the pages of memory! How they
stimulated the cheerfulness of old
countryside and broke up its nat
ural reticence!
Mr.. Franklin Purvis was our
hired man-an understood bacae
Ior. He had a Roman nose, face
so slim that it would command IN
terest and attention in any com
nany. and a serious look enhanced
! by a bristling mustach0 and q re-
treating chin. AT first and on &C
count of his size | had no hlgh
opinion of Mr.. Purvis. That first
evening after his arrival | sat with
him on the porch surveying nun
inside and out.
You don't look very stout"
said.
Il amt as big as some but I'm all
gristle from my head to my heels,
inside an out" he answered.
| surveyed him as he sat looking
at the lodges. He was not more
than a head taller than /, but If
he were "all gristle" he might be
entitled to respect and | was glad
to learn of his hidden resources
glad and bit apprehensive as they
began to develop.
"I'm as full o. gristle as a goose's
Leg" he went on. God never made
man who could do more damage
when he let's go of himself an do It
faster. There amt no use O. talk
in"
- There being no use of talking,
our new hired man continued to
talk while l listened with breathless
interest and growing respect. He
took a chew of tobacco apd squint-
ed his eyes and seemed to be study
ing the wooded rock lodges across
the road as he went on
You'll find me wide awake.
guess. l amt afraid o. anythin' but
lightnin'-no sir! an l can hurt
hard an do it rapid when | begin,
but l can be jest as harmless as a
kitten. There amt no man that
can be more harmlesser when he
wants to be an there's any decent
chance for it-none whatsomever!
No sir! I'd rather be harmless
than not-a good deal"
This relieved, and no doubt cal.
culated to relieve, feeling of in
security which his talk had in
spired. He blew out his breath and
shifted his quid as he sat with his
elbows resting on his knees and
took another look at the lodges as
if considering how much of his
strength would be required to move
them.
Have you ever hurt anybody" I
asked.
Several" he answered.
Did you kill 'em?"
No. never let myself go too
fur. Bein' so stout l have to be
kind o. careful"
After a moments pause he went
on:
"A man threatened to lick me ND
to Seaver's t'other day. YoI
couldn't blame him. He didn't know
me from a side o. sole leather. He
just thought l was one o. them com
=
use TO timber up on. But he see his
mistake in time I tell We Coo
was good to him when he kept him
away from me-"
Aunt Deel called us to supper.
Les go in an squelch our hun
ger" Mr.. Purvis proposed as he
rose and shut his jacknife.
| was very much impressed and
called him "Mr Purvis" after that.
l enjoyed and believed many tales
or adventure in which he had been
the hero as we worked together in
the field or stable. | told them tc
my aunt and uncle one evening.
Whereupon the latter said:
He's a good man to work. but
Jerusalem"
He stopped. He always stopped
at the brink of every such preci-
pice. | had never heard him finish
an uncomplimentary sentence.
began to have doubts regarding
the greatness of our hired man. /
still called him "Mr. Purvis," but