Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-02
BY SKINNER.MACK.

to followers of sport and those
who admired the Australian fight
er. None of them will bring bet
ter laugh and convince you more
thoroughly of his credulity in the
ways of the world than a little ex-
perience that befell him in Den
yer.
The fncIdent.sto which we refer
occurred some years ago-over ID,
in fact-and the story, 1t seems,
win never grow old in the telling.
F'itz and his party were on their
way from New YorkSto San Fran
cisco and the journey necessitated
a stopover of several hours in the
Rocky mountain metropolis. While
Fitz was strolIfng Ieisurely along
Seventeenth street in that city he
was accosted by a stranger of good
appearance.
''This isnteBob F1tzsimmons, is
it," shouted the stranger, at the
same time extending the glad hand
OF welcomeAto the fighter. That's
me-" responded Fftz. but 1 can't
recall you for the life of me-"
Your memory is bad, Mr.. Fitz-
simmons" retorted the stranger.
81 met you in my fathers offices
OUT in San Francisco" he contin-
ued.
F4tz scratched his head and
thought long and hard, only to ad-
NIT that he could not recall the
meeting referred to. What are
you doing here?" asked Fitz.
Just stopping off on my way
home. My car is at the depot and
I leave for San Francisco this aft
ernoon," he smiIingly said.
That's funny" said Fitz. 81 am
going to Frisco on the same train"
How fortunate" came back the
stranger, who now introduced him
self as the son of Mr.. Huntington,
then the president of the Southern
Pacific railroad. You can ride all
the way out in my private car and
l now ask you to be my guest"
The Scheme Works.
Fitz was overjoyed at the invita-
ton and at the suggestion of the
self-styled Mr.. Huntington they
decided to go to the depot and in
spect the private car of the rail
road. Scarcely had they walked
two blocks when a man rushed
out of the First National bank, ex-
tending his hand to the stranger
and shouting, How fortunate, MI.
Huntington, 1 am to meet you. Mr..
Mofht Just stepped out for a few
moments (Mr- Motif was then pres
ident of the First National bank,
and wants me to tell you he has a
sum of money your father for
warded which he wishes me to
hand to you
1t was then suggested by the
second stranger that all walk
about to view the sights until Mr..
Motif returned to the bank. This
idea was accepted and the three
men started toward Larimer street
Passing cigar store, they stepped
inside for Perfecto. Fitz seemed
in the seventh heaven of delight to
be in such prominent company
Just as they were about to leave
:hA cigar store Mr.. Huntington no.
tiSSd a card game in progress in
Ahe establishment. Mr.. Hunting
ton nonchalantly strolled over to
the table and watched the game
for few moments.
DO you play cards?" he asked
Fitz The latter replied in the
negative
''f1o you know, 1 have a great
passion for playing cards, and if
you don't object and these gentle
men wiN allow, I'd like to play
hand Sr two just to help pass the
time away; and then, too, Mr.. Moi
fit has EOs as yet returned to the
bank" With these remarks Mr..
Huntington sat in the game. Two
or three hands were played and
Mr.. HuntingSaN's ready cash was
gone, SO, turning to F'itz, he said:
Gets Loan from FftZ.
ct realize it's rather embarrass-
ing to ask you for q loan at this
time, but I have such a splendid
hand l would hate not to play it.
Have you 4 thousand dollars you
could loan me until we get back 10
the bank, where 1 can Immediately
reimburse your"
Fitz pulled out a roll and hand
ed over two $500 bills to Mr.. Hunt
ington. The latter got a peek at
the roll and the 81, 600 was soon
lost in the game. Then a request
for another $1,000 was made and
granted, and this was also lC1t in
a jiffy. A third request for $1,000
was made, and Fftz, pulling out
the remainder OF the roll, replied:
Unfortunately, have only $500
left, Mr.. Huntington; but If you
don't mind I'll run to the hotel and
get as much more. as you require
from Rose (Mrs. Fftzsimmons)."
Mr.. Huntington thought $500
would be plenty, and If he failed
to win this time he would throw
down his cards. They realized
once F1tz got away their soft VIC
tim was gone. so they thought they
had better take the $500 in hand
than to take chance on his wife
"wfstng him up" When the final
$500 was lost Mr.. Huntington and
Fftz went to the bank. Then the
former excused himself as If 10 go
inside, but stepped out a side en-
trance and left poor Fitz standing
there an hour OF so. until he bare
ly had time to catch his train,
At the depot he asked for Mr..
Huntfngton's private car. The de-
pot master only laughed, for these
were daily experiences to him. He
showed Fitz to Pullman and in
formed him that Mr.. Huntington
had no private ear. And while
Fitz was wondering what had be-
come of the railroad magnate,
''Soapy" Smith and Smiling" Pat
sy Carroll Gfr- huntington were
dividing the spells so generously