The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-13
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER !.
But why don't you do some
thing, Bill?" demanded Sam Pres
colts pretty daughter.
Bill Wingo looked at Miss Pres
colt in injured establishment do
something's" he repeated What
do you want me to dor
You make me tired, Bill. Here
you've got claim and a little
bunch of cows. Instead OF working
like a man you loaf like IA"
Like a loafer," he prompted.
Bill, can't you understand that
like you, and"
LASTLY" he grinned "Of course
you ike me. You'll have to marry
me, I'm afraid, Sally Jane"
II will, will L? And you're afraid,
are you? You big, 0vergrown, lazy
lummox. 1 wouldn't marry you
ever"
Il know you mean well, Sally
Jane, and"
And it's none of my business ?
You're quite right, Bill-but can =
you see I'm talking for your own
good?"
Sure, yes. My pa used to talk
just like that before he'd go out be-
hind the corral with a breeching-
! strap in one hand and my ear in the
other. l use to hurt most unplea $
ant for two-three days after Old
times, old times. Now, l take it you
/ were never licked, Sally Jane That
was a mistake You should have
I been What? You don't mean TO
say you're going home? And we
were getting along so nicely, too.
Well, if willful must, she must. I'll
hold your horse for you"
He watched her ride away along
the side of Linny's Hill.
The view from Linny's Hill was
all that could be desired. At the
base of the hill the Golden Bar
Hillsville trail led the eye west
ton of toy houses, each one
strangely clear in that rarefed at
mosphere, sprawled along the
further bank of Wagonjack river
! Croker county, 400 miles long
! by 800 miles wide, bounded on the
east by the .Wagonjack. ran well up
into the Medicine Mountains.
Political pickings in Croker
were consistently good Crock ar
| laws, provided the suspected per
| son or persons were friendly with
the county officials, were not ad-
! ministered the undue severity
| Coarse work was never tolerate i,
naturally; but if one were judic-
ious and a good picker, one Ould
! travel far and profitably. Croker
! was, as counties go, fertile ground
| for easy consciences.
Bill Wingo watched the moving
pencil end that was Miss Prescott
Another pencil end was riding the
same trail-away from Golden Bar
Bill Wingo intently scrutinile1
the wayfarer from Golden Bar side
Looks like Jack Murray's SCR
REL" he unused. If they stop, it's
Jack"
The pencil ends drew together at
the lower end of the grove. They
stopped
"Shucks," Mr.. Wingo -1uttered
mildly. 81 never did like that man"
Said the first pencil end to the
second pencil end, Hello, Sally
Jane"
mOTHluS, JdCh
I'll ride along with you"
All right. At times I've known
you to be amusing, Jack"
He spurred alongside and turned
in his saddle to stare at her.
us that all I'm good for-to help
pass the time?"
What else is man good for?
Don't be so flip, Sally Jane. You
know" He stopped short
She waited a moment. Then, q
know what"
you know I've been loving you
a long, long time" he said abrupt
ly. Il didn't want to tell you till
1 had something to offer you be-
sides myself And now I've got
something-Rafe Tuckleton has
promised to make me sheriff"
II thought the voters usually de-
cided such things" said she.
He laughed cynically. Not in
Croker. Well, what do you say ?"