The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1916-02-18

Il do not know that. either" re-
sponded Beau-Jean.
Next morning the eight set out to-
gether for the city. Whatever strange
undertaking Pedro was considering.
they would all go along and assist If
possible. And SO. without any idea
save that Of action, they set forth. de-
termined though indefinite.
The coppers of yesterday were all
expended for breakfast. and the first
step toward the beginning Of a day
being accomplished, they betook them
selves to the railroad track and walked
beside 1t. But noon came and passed.
and still no granite towers doomed be-
fore their expectant eyes. Finally. to
rest themselves. they turned from the
wearying. shining vista of rails, and
seated themselves upon the dead grass
beside the mile post that bore the dis
couraging legend:
N. Y. rs M.-Harrison I M.
By this time all we're tired and hun
CRY. Worse yet, the bears were hun.
gry-a condition to be reckoned with
before the need Of the masters.
Let us CO." suggested Pedro. Into
the town which this dusty road leads
to. and dance the bears. pass the hat.
and eat, eh?"
The suggestion needed no second
Ing. With groans and complaints they
got to their feet again. and set of for
the village
But fate was not smiling upon them
Just then. The town was almost de.
serted at this hour. Besides which.
near the end of the performance, Toto.
who was supposed to sing" raised his
voice from his usual growing mono
tone to hungry growl. That sent the
watchers running of in all directions.
Ruefully Old Nita counted the earn.
ings.
"Only seven pennies in ALL" she
complained. Better to have rested
beside the railroad"
1T is not enough to feed one bear,
even," remarked Beau-Jean. land l am
as hungry as two"
NAoaAWuic IcuEO "Ab Talking 10
himself. You got them into this:
otherwise they would have travelled
the regular way. Now you get them
out" Then Pedro noticed a dingy
lunch wagon by the broken curb,
some fifty feet away. At the entrance
to 1t stood a fat man with q dismal,
fabby face. His hands were tucked
beneath an apron whose immaculate
wilderness shone out conspicuously
among the gray surroundings. The
man was motionless, as though he had
become petrifed while waiting for Gus
toners who never came.
"Ah!" said Pedro aloud, II have an
idea! Stay where you are. all of you.
until I beckon."
Then. thrusting his hands into his
pockets, he strolled nonchalantly away
in the direction of the lunch wagon.
1t was a dingy affair. as has been
said. and upon its tawdry sides the
lettering had grown dim. Still. 1t was
easy enough to make out the inscrip-
ton:
The Elite
Pies, Coffee, Milk, FranLfurters
Over the doorway was an invitation
to walk in." and underneath this the
owners name-"Isaac Lovejoy, Prop"
had been printed small. Pedro
sided up to the individual who, it
would seem. bore this name and title.
Business thriving bout here"
asked Pedro conversationally, by way
of an opening.
The man gave him a glance. but
without moving to do SO.
"Nope!" he replied.
What! In a place where travellers
must pass so often?" Pedro exclaimed.
lifting his eyebrows.
"Yep!" said the man. still motion
less.
What is the trouble? Are there
no travelers?"
Travellers. all right" said the fat
man. "but no customers! No one stops
here!"
Whats the trouble. do you Think"
Pedro inquired.
THE lunch-wagon trust!" exclaimed
the man. I'm an independent. l am;
but everywhere go where there
might be good business doin'-say
corner near a factory. or any such
real wide-awake place of them
trust wagons is there before me, ali
shined up an covered with gold paint
an plate glass! A fellow like me
amt got no show"
why don't you spruce up little,
then, eh?" asked Pedro.
why don't you buy somethin' SOS
Ill get the money for to buy the gold
paint within" retorted the other.
Because I have no money" Pedro
replied
Same reason here, in answer to
your first" cried the fat man trium-
phantly.
"SuppcsinR. now" said Pedro "tho+