Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1895-01-12
CHAPTER V.


During the journey to San -Paola on
the following day. Joel Wilcox took the
opportunity to have good long talk
with Percy LoSel and ascertain what
that young man knew about the many
transactions which had taken place be-
tween velasqucz and Crandall.
Sometimes the young Englishman
got very communicative for he was
naturally free open-hcarted sort Of
fellow, not more than twenty-scven
years OF age, or whereabouts.
Wilcox liked him SO well that no
asked Lowell to give him little Of his
history Said Loyol: III tell you my
history you may not think SO we'll OF
me after you hear II rs you do now"
'Oh, I dare say, like most young men
who drift to Frisco, you have led
kinder wild life, but 1t Is evident you
were primed with pretty good educa-
tion before you started in on It," was the
response.
"Ycs," said the Englishman, II sup
pose that's SO, and since loft Oxford I
have seen life through the Kaleidoscope
OF many promiscuous journeyings I left
home before was twenty. got through
q good pile OF money in Paris and Brus-
sells and then suddenly found myself In
New York. played the races, gambled
and knocked around from one job TO
another and altogether led q bohemian
life But ! fecl like SOLDERING up now;
1t isn't necessary for fellow to be vag-
abond all his life, and I'm ready for the
change. IL isn't more than three weeks
since handled the chips for the last
time, but have done with 1t for keeps
by the way, the very last game ] sat
down 10 was in the same room that Velas-
quez ircqucntcd and he dropped over five
thousand dollars that night II was the
same evening he sold the mining stock.
lie often used TO come TO that den. and
some OF the boys there know good
deal about him, but very much ques-
ton whether any OF them would tell
you much "
Good" remarked I.ovel's newly
found friend. I'm glad to hear that
your are 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 dill put on airs before. but
guess amt too old to begin. Is II
go?"
"Why, rou astonish me. Mr.. Wilcox;
but | will try to deserve your conf
dcnce."
"All right; count myself pretty
good Judge OF man when see one. and
] think tina, so far as am concerned. ]
am safe in engaging you for IN unlim.t
ed period: the salary question we car
settle a. we go along" added Wilcox In
jovicl manner.
.But what" he continued, 'was that
you said about vclasqucs being known
b. the boys in the gambling house?"
Percy then repeated what he had al
ready rrcounted. and Mr.. Wilcox said
that the knowledge might be useful In
hunting down the rascal.
As both Mr.. Wilcoz and the English
man were good takers tho conversation
was kept up in o lively manner. and II
was not long before Wilcox knew all
about Percy from his childhood up.
Az the train pulled up ct San Paola
Mr. Wilcox said: "Ah! guess. my boy.
you've bccn more Of fool than an in
tcIiional scamp"
Tho remark was full OF truth. for
Percy Lovel was never really bad. only
ono Of those lads so especially common
among tho better English classes who
become utterly reckless in the eager
pursuit OF folly as II flies" Yet
through all his ups and downs he was
nonchalant. easy-tcmpcrcd and cool as
an iced cucumber Always no could
find time to part his hair in the right
place. no matter II tho house was on
ilro: but he could also be relied upon
TO reach tho outside safely. And no
matter whero or how deep ho would
sink In life's turbulent waters, he In
variably came to tbs top again smiling.