Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1907-01-09
CHAPTER XIX

one day In December Peter Bines of
Montana City, dropped in on the fam
ily-came with his gaunt length of
limb, his kind, brown old face with
eyes sparkling shrewdly far back I'M
der his grizzled brows, with his rough.
resonant, musical voice, the spring of
youth in his step, ana the fresh, con-
fident strength OF the big hills in his
bearing.
He brought Billy Brue with him. a
person whose exact social status some
OF Percival S friends were never able To
fix with any desirable certainty. Thus
Percival had presented the old man
the morning after his arrival. to no
less person than Herbert Delaney
Livingston, with whom he had smoked
cigar of unusual excellence in the
cafe OF the Hightower hotel.
III you fancy that weed. Mr.. Bines."
said Livingston, graciously, to the old
man. I've spare couple OF hundred
I'd like to let you have. The things
were sent to me. but find them
rather stiffish. II your mans about
tae hotel I'll give him a card to my
man, and let him fetch them
MY man." queried Uncle Peter.
and, sighting Billy Brue at that mo.
ment, why, yes, here's my man, now.
Mr.. Brue, shake hands with Mr.. Liv-
ingston. Billy, go up to the address
he gives you, and get some of these
se-gars. You'll relish 'em as much as
do. Now don't talk to any stran-
gers. don't get run over, and don't
lose Yourself"
Livingston had surrendered a way
ering and uncertain hand to the warm,
reassuring clasp of Mr.. Brue
He amt much fur style, Billy
amt" Uncle Peter explained when
that person had gone upon his errand,
he amt mite gaudy, but he's got
friendly feelings"
The daZed scion OF the Livingstons-
had thereupon made a conscientious
tour OF his clubs in public hanson,
solely for the purpose of relating this
curious adventure to those best quail
fled to marvel at it.
The old mans arrival had been quite
unexpected. Not only had he sent no
word of his coming, but he seemed.
indeed, not to know what his reasons
had been for doing a thing so unusual
Thought Id Just drop in on you all
and say 'howdy,'" had been his first
avowal, which was lucid as far as it
went. Later he involved himself in
explanations that were both obscure
and conflicting. Once it was that he
had felt sudden great longing for
the life of a gay city. Then it was
that he would have been content in
Montana City, but that he had under
taken the winter in New York out OF
consideration for Billy Brue.
Just think of it," he said to Per.
cival, that poor fellow amt ever
been east of Denver before now. 1t
want good for him to be holed up
out there in them hills all his life.
He hadn't got any chance to improve
his mind"
He'd better improve his whiskers
first thing he does" suggested Per.
cival. He'll be gold-bricked If he
wears EN- scrambled that way around
this place"
But in neither OF these explanations
did the curious old man impress Per.
cival as being wholly ingenious.
Then he remarked. casually one day
that he had lately met Higbee. who
was on his way to San Francisco.
! Il only had few minutes with him
while they changed engines at Green
River, but he told me all about you
folks what fine time you was hay.
in. yachts and card parties, and all
| like that Higbee said a man ought
to come 20 New York every now and
then. jest TO keep from getting rusty
Back Of this Percival imagined for
a time that he had discovered Uncle
/ Peters true reason for descending
upon them Higbee would have re-
galed him with wild tales of the New
York designations. aud Uncle Peter
had come promptly on to pull him up.
! Percival could hear the story as Hig-
bee would word it, with the improving
moral incident of his own son
snatched az a brand from the Tender
I lOin," TO live a life OF impecunious use
I fulness in far Chicago But when he
/ tried to hold this belief and TO prove
it from his observations, he was bound
20 admit its falsity. For Uncle Peter
had shown no inclination to act the
part Of an evangel from the virtdous
west. lie had delivered no homilies.
no warnings as to- the fate OF people
who incontinenuy cut loose" He
had evinced not the least sign OF any
disposition even 20 criticise.
on the contrary, indeed he appeared
20 Joy immensely in Percival's way OF
life. lie manifested q willingness and