The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-12-03
AVENGED At LAST;
Or, a Worldwide Chase.
A STORY OF RETRIBUTION.
BY "WABA@H."
lcoPYRI6HT, 1901
CHAPTER v.

AtA4At EN- W
During the journey TO San Paola on
the following day, Joel Wilcox took the
opportunity to have a good long talk
with Percy Lovel and ascertain what
that young man knew about tho many
transactions which had taken place be-
tween NelasQuez and Crandall.
Sometimes the young Englishman
got very communicative for he was
naturally free open-heartcd sort Of q
fellow, not more than twenty-seven
years OF age, or thereabouts.
Wilcox liked him so we'll that he
asked Lovel to give him o little OF his
: history. Said Lovel: "If tell you my
history you may not think so we'll Of
me after you hear it as you do now"
"oh, dare say, like most young men
who drift TO Frisco, you have led
kinder wild life, but 1t Is evident you
were primod with q pretty good educa-
tion before you started In on 1t" was the
response
"Yes," said tho Englishman, 81 sup
pose that's so, and since left Oxford /
have seen life through the Kaleidoscope
Of many promiscuous journcyings. left
home before was twenty, got through
good pile OF money in Paris and Brus-
sells and then suddenly found myself in
New York. Iplayed the races, gambled
and knocked around from ono job to
another and altogether led Bohemian
life. But feel like sobering up now;
1t isn't necessary for fellow to be avag-
abond all his life, and I'm ready for tho
change. 1t isn't more than three weeks
since ! handled the chips for tho last
time, but have done with II for keeps.
BY tho way, the very last game l sat
down TO vas in the same room that Velas-
quez frequented and he dropped over five
thousand dollars THAI night. IL was the
same evening he sold the mining stock.
He often used TO como TO that den, and
some OF the boys there know good
deal about him, but very much ques-
tion whether any OF them would tell
you much"
''Good," remarked Lovels newly
found friend. I'm glad to hear that
your arc tired Of your wild life, and,
what's more, ] believe you. So from
now on you will please consider yourself
private secretary to Joel Wilcox. /
never did put on airs before, but
Iguess amt too old to begin. Is 1t
go?"
"Why, you astonish me, Mr.. Wilcox;
but will try TO deserve your conf
dence."
"All right; count myself pretty
good Judge OF a man when see ono, and
/ think that SO far as am concerned. l
am safe in engaging you for an unlimi.-
ed period; the salary question wo can
settle as we 60 along" added Wilcox In
jovial manner.
but what" he continued, "was that
you, said about Velasquez being known
by the boys in the gambling housop"
Percy then repeated what he had al
ready recounted, and Mr.. Wilcox said
that the knowledge might be useful In
hunting down the rascal
AS both Mr.. Wilcox and the English
man we're good takers tho conversation
was kept up in q livoly manner, and IL
was not long before Wilcox knew all
about Percy from his childhood up.
As the train pulled up at San Paola
Mr. Wilcox said: "Ahl guess, my boy,
you've been more OF q fool than an In
tentional scamp" tflii
The remark was full OF truth. for
Percy Lovel was never really bad, only
one OF those lads so especially common
among the better English classes who
become utterly reckless in the eager
pursuit of "folly as 1t flies" Yet
through all his ups and downs he was
;nonchaiant. easy-tempered and cool as
an Iced cucumber Always he could
Ahd time TO part his hair In the right
place, no matter II the house was on
fire; but he could also be rolled upon
10 reach the outside safely. And no
matter whore or how deep he would
sink In LIES. turbulent waters, he in-
variablv came to the top again smiling