Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-10
The Light IN
the CLEARING
Bv IRVING BACHELLER
Copyright 1917, The Bobbs-Merrili Co.

hand, until he had gone awa-a-a-y
out o. sight In the sky"
Couldn't anybody do that?" said
little John.
II didn't say they could-did r
We unbelievert" said the school
master as ne rose and led us in 10
the supper table. Il said Nobody
diu it
We got him to tell this little tale
over and over again in the days
thai followed. and many times since
then that impersOnal and mysteri-
Gus guide OF the schoolmaster's
fancy has led me to paradise.
After supper he got out his box
ing gloves and gave me a lesson il
the art of self-defense, in which,
was soon TO learn, he was highly
accomplished, for we had q few
rounds together every day after
that. He keenly enjoyed this form
of exercise and 1 soon began to
Ny capacity for taking punishment
without flinching grew apace and
before long / got the knack OF coun-
tering and that pleased him more
even than my work in school, I
have sometimes thought
God bless We. bOy!" he exclaimed
one day after l had landed on his
cheek, we've nice way o. sneakin'
IN with yer right. I've a notion ye
may find it useful some day"
wondered lutle why he should
say that. and while I was wonder
ing he felled me with a singing
blow on the nose.
L.
thing l have seen ye do-get up an
! come back with no mad in ye," he
.Ssaid as he gave me his hand
One day the schoolmaster called
the older boys to the front seats IN
his room and I among them.
Now, boys. m going TO ask We
what We want to do in the world"
ne said. Don't be afraid TO tell me
what We may never have told be-
fore and I'll do what can to help
ye"
He asked each one to make con-
fessiop and q most remarkable eX-
hibit of young ambition was the re-
suit. I remember that most of US
wanted to be statesmen-a fact due
probably TO the shining example OF
Silas Wright Then he said that
on a certain evening he would try
ito show us the way over the
mountains"
For some months I had been
studying book just published, en-
titled. "Stenographic Sound-Hand''
and had learned its alphabet and
practiced the use of it. That even
ing took down the remarks Of Mr.
Hacket in sOund-hand.
The academy chapel was crowd
ed with the older boys and girls
and the townfolk. The master new
er clipped his words in school as he
was wont to do when talking ia
miliarly with the children.
Since the leaves fell our little
village has occupied the center of
the stage before an audience OF
millions in the great theatre Of con-
gress. Our leading citizen - the
chief actOr-has been crowned with
immortal fame. We who watched
the play were thrilled by the query:
Will Uncle Sam yield 10 temptation
or cling TO honor? He has chosen
the latter course and we may still
hear the applause in distant gal
leries beyond the sea. He has de-
cided that public revenues must be
paid in honest money
My friend and classmate, George
Bancroft, the historian, has writ
ten this letter TO me out Of full
heart.
Your fellow townsman, Silas
Wright. is now the largest figure
in Washington. We were all wor-
ried by the resolution OF Henry
Clay until it began to Crumble IN
der the Irresistible attack OF Mr..
Wright. On the 18th he submitted
a report upon it which for lucid
and accurate statements presented.
in the most Unpretendiug manner,
won universal admiration and viii
be remembered alike for It's In
triusiC excellence and for having
achieved one of the most memor-
able victories ever gained in the
United States senate After a long
delay Clay himself, compelled BY
the irresistible force of argument
in the report of Mr.. Wright, was
obliged TO retire from his position.
his resolution having been rejected
by a vote of Al to l.
CONTINUED tomorrow