Mexico Missouri message., 1906-10-18
Copyright, by LOthrOp Publishing Company
CHAPTER XX.-CoNT1NUED.


reserved decision. Mr.. Arledge has to
buy so many gold cigarettes and vint-
ages and trouserings, and belong to
so many clubs, that he wants the court
to help him chouse a poor grocer out
or his money. Say, Billy that Judge
could fine me for contempt of court,
right now, fur reservin' his decision.
You bet Mr.. Arledge would "a got my
decision right hot on the griddle. l d
"a told him: You're the meanest kind
of a crook l ever heard of fur wantin'
to lie down on your fat back and
whine out of payin' fur the grub you
put in your big gander paunch,' I'D tell
him, ard now you march to the lock-
up till you can look honest folks in
the face I'd tell him. Say, Billy,
some crooks are worse than others.
Take Nate Leverson out there. Nate
set up night and day for six years in
ventin' q process fur sweatin' gold into
ore; finally he gets It; how he does it,
nobody knows, but he sweat gold IS
inches into the solid rock. The first
few holes he sailed he gets rid of all
right, then of course they catch him,
and Mates dom time now. But say,
got respect fur Nate since readin'
that piece. There's a good deal of
man about him, or about any common
burglar or sneak thief, compared to
this duck. They take chances, say
nothin' of the hard work they do.
This fellow won't take a chance and
won't work a day. Billy, that's the
meanest specimen of crook ever run
against, bar none, and that crook is
produced and tolerated in a place
that's said to be the center of culture
and refinement and practical achieve
ment' Billy, he's a pill"
That's right" said Billy Brue,
promptly throwing the recalcitrant
Arledge overheard.
"But it amt none of my business.
What l do spleen again, is havin' a
grandson of mine Twin in a commun-
1ty where a man that'll act like that
is actually let in their houses by hon
est folks. Think of a son of Daniel
]. Bines treatin' folks like that as If
they was his equals. Say, Danl had a
line of faults, all right-but, by God!
he'd trammed ore fur two twenty
five day any time in his life rather'n
not pay a dollar he owed. And think
of this lad making his bed in this kind
of place where men are brought up
to them ways; and that name; think
of husky, two-fisted boy like him let
sin himself be called by a measly lit
tie gum-drop name like Percival, when
he's got right to be called Pete
And he's right in with em. He'd be
test as bad-give him a little time;
and Pishy engaged to a damned for
tune-hunting Englishman into the bar
gain. It's all Higbee said it was, only
1t goes double. Say, Billy, been
thinkin this over all night"
"'Tis mighty worryin', amt it,
Uncle Peter?"
"And l got it thought out"
Sure, you must a. got it down to
eases"
Billy, listen now. There's a fellow
down in Wall street His name is
Shepler, Rulon Shepler. He's most the
biggest man down there"
"Sure! l heard of him"
Listen. I'm goin' to bed now. I
can sleep since l got my mind made
mp. But | want to see Shepler in pri-
vate tomorrow. Don't wake me up
In the morning. But get up yourself,
and go find his ofice-look in a di-
rectory, then ask a policeman. Shep-
1er's busy man. You tell the clerk
or whoever holds you up that Mr.. Peter
Bines wants an ap. ointment with Mr..
Shepler as soon as he can make it
Mr.. Peter Bines, of Montana City. Be
there by $3.50 SOS to get him as soon
as he comes. He l.nows me; tell him
want to see him on business soon
as possible, and find out when he can
give me time. And don't you say to
anyone else that 1 ever seen him or
sent you there. Understand? Don't
ever say word to anyone. Remem-
Der, now, be there at $3.50, and don't
tet any clerk put you OF, and ask him
what hourll be convenient for him.
Now get what sleeps comm to you.
It'R five o'clock"
At noon Billy Brue returned to the
hotel to find Uncle Peter finishing q
hearty breakfast.
II found him all right, Uncle Peter.
The lookout acted suspicious, but
saw the main guy himself come out
of a door-like I'd seen his picture In
the papers, so l Just called to him and
said: Mr.. Peter Bines wants to see
you like that He took me right into
his office, and / told him what you
said, and he'll be ready for you at two
o'clock, He knows mines, all right,
out our way, don't he?-and he crowd
ed a handful-of these tin-foil cigars
on to me, and acted real socIable.
Told me to drop in any time, Say,
he'd run purity high in the yellow stun
all right"
at two O'Clock. You say?"