The Washington herald., 1913-10-19

station. which sheltered the arrival of
Mr.. Cyprus Halloway mildly shepherd
ing Halloway's Hundred Health Pill
grims. For Mr.. Halloway was there to
buy land, and San Bruno had it to sell
IN every quantity from clod to a con-
tinent. Consequently the sellers Of the
soil WED with the hotel runners in their
attentions to the eccentric stranger. They
were all there-all, did I say? Nay;
there was one, Brain Boru Blaney by
name, who languished in hall bedroom
Of the cheapest boarding house in town,
lolled among the pillows anC smoked
cigarettes
Unattended, then, by Blaney or his
thoughts, Mr.. Cyprus Holloway, owlish,
Pickwickian, moderately wealthy leader
OF health cranks, marshaled his be-
draggled hundred up from the depot to
the hotel. AS he advanced through town
he beheId the wonders of booming San
Bruno. which, trading cunningly on her
annual crop of tourists had increased in
three years from a buxom village to an
infant metropolis.
Inc SnO0Qy
Boru BIaney roomed as called the Ma
sestic, and it afforded Brian a sleeping
compartment too small for an extra bu-
reau, but large enough for his expanding
thoughts. We may behold him now.
pajamas-ciad, sitting on the edge of his
golden oak bedstead Red-headed, path-
eticalIy Irish of eye youth seemed TO
proclaim in him the incurable optimist.
And he had good use for his OPTIMISM
this morning, for, being out OF work. he
had everything to expect. His tempera-
mental passion for his home town had
earned for him the local title of the
Little Booster in distinction 20 the
big Booster who was Mr.. Charles W.
Ketchum, OF Ketchum & Sellers, real
estate. Brian had. in fact, been the
valued empIoye OF the aforementioned
from up to last night. when Ketchum had
called the young man into tn. inner
shrine and said:
MY boy, that Peulah Addition scheme
of yours is a stroke. of genius We stand
to lose a hundred thousand by it. You're
fired
As the auburn youth dangIed bare toes
and reviewed in his mind the details. of
this uItimatum, Mrs. Meecham. the land
lady, coughed menacingly outside the
door and slid two envelopes through the
crack One Brian recognized as a state
ment of board three weeks in arrears.
The other, of a more prosperous sta
tionery, he opened hastily, and uttered a
whistle of reviving hope as he read:
Dear Sir: Charles w. Ketchum tells me
you are the biggest fool in or out of the
real estate business. 1 am preparing to
launch a deal requiring the talents of
such an one. Can you meet me at the
Grand Hotel bar at 10 o'clock? Yours
truly, WARNER Z. HISSUP.
''state Senator Hissup!'' thought Brian
Boru BIaney, with a sanguine flush, as
he read and reread the mysterious note.
Gee! It's lucky I'm open to PROPOSE
tions this morning.
Hope @amed roster than his hair as he
proceeded with his dressing. process
which, with Brian, included the adjusting
of much gaudy raiment. First he rolled
back his mattress and removed there
from a pair of yellow-brown trousers
pressed by slumber's simple process to q
fine edge. A pleated coat of the type
known to the SIS trade as Norfolk
swung from the back Of chair. His
shirt was pink, his tie was green, his
mercerized socks were a combination of
both colors.
Senator HissUp can offer lots of
things" he repeated to himself. as he
buttoned on his knob-toed shoes, and
strode forth to adventure.
Leaning against the mahogany of the
Grand Hotel bar Brian observed State
Senator Hissup. champion of oppressed
corporations. fat-faced person with the
profile of a toy spaniel.
Good morning, Mr.. Barney" said the
statesman, extending fabby paw.
..BIaney," corrected the Little Booster.
sarhe r. is silent, as in beam"
Hum" growled the doggish State Sem
ator. my cars outside. Wen go look
at the tract. Maybe you don't want to
handle such fool proposition"
I'm the softest Of my family" chirped
Brian Boru. my brains watery waste,
and every drop of it at your service.
What's your proposition?'
They mounted a white touring car out
side and went rolling westward.
where is your FL DoradoT' asked
Brian cheertully.
ssT1xer hes rd nf Slatlghter-house Gulch ?'
''Holy aIkali.' whistled the young man.
''Now I understand why Ketchum rec
commended me! Slaughter-house Gulch Is
Hopes jumping-off place. It's the rattle
snakes Waterloo"
"And mine" supplied the State Sena-
tor, sadly. "Ten years ago politics gave
me chance to buy the tract at 80 cents
per acre. Last year tried to give 1t back
TO the city as site for q poor farm
'rhe poor saw you first" said Brian.
'9Sice bit o. landp'
The car stopped at depressing forma-
ton among the hills They plowed
through the greasewocd TO slight bump
ON the landscape.
THE oceans there" said Hissup, point
ing to tiny distant speck Of blue