Mexico Missouri message., 1918-05-23

tive; there was something almost the
atrical in his greeting.
swell, my boy, you made a flzzle OF
It, didn't you" The tone was almost
complimentary.
'Yes, sir, I'm a bright and shining
failure"
snow, don't yes, sir me. We're
friends, aren't we7 Goodl Under
| stand, don't blame you in the least
It's that idlotic revolution that spoiled
our business. You did splendidly, I'M
der the circumstances"
'They have reason enough to re-
volt-oppression, tyranny, corruption"
o'Reilly mumbled the familiar words
in numb paralysis at Mr.. Carriers 10
vial familiarity.
"All Latin countries are corrupt"
announced the lmporter--"always have
been and always will be. They thrive
under oppression. However, dare say
this uprising won't last long,"
Johnnie wondered why the old man
didn't get down to cases. Its more
than an uprising, sir" he said. 1.-The
rebels have overrun the east end of
the island. and when left Maceo and
Gomez were sweeping west"
Bah 1t takes money to run war"
"They have money" desperately ar
gued O'Reilly. "Marti raised more
than a million dollars, and every Gu
ban cigar maker in the United States
gives a part of his wages every week
to the cause. The best blood Of Cuba
is In the fight. Spain is about busted;
she can't stand the strain"
II predict they'll quit fighting as
soon as they get hungry. The govern
ment is starving them out. However,
they've wound up our affairs for the
time being, and" Mr.. Carter care
fully shifted the position of an inkwell,
a calendar and a paper knife-"that
brings us to a consideration of your
and my affairs, doesn't it2 Ahemi
You remember our bargain2 I was to
give you a chance and you were to
make good before you-er-planned
any-er-matrimonia foolishness with
my daughter"
Eyes, SIR" O'Reilly felt that the
moment had come for his carefully re-
hearsed speech, but, unhappily, he
could not remember how the swan
song started. Mr.. Carter, too, was In-
accountably silent. Another moment
dragged past, then they chorused.
II have an unpleasant"
Each broke Off at the echo of his
own words.
whats thatT inquired the i'm
porter.
'No-nothing. You were saying"
II was thinking how lucky 1t Is that
you and Elsa waited. Hm-mI Very
fortunate" Again Mr.. Carter rear
ranged his desk fittings. eve some
times differ, Elsa and 1, but when she
sets her heart on a thing 1 see that
she gets It, even II 1 think she oughtn't
to have 1t. What's the use of having
children If you can't spoil 'em, eh?"
He looked up with a sort f resentful
challenge, and when his listener aD-
peared to agree with him he sighed
with satisfaction. early marriages
are silly-but she seems to think other
wise. Maybe she's right. Anyhow
she's licked me. I'm done. She wants
to be married right away, before we
go west. That's why / waited to see
you at once. You won't object, will
you? We men have to take our medi-
cine"
Its quite out of the question: "
stammered the unhappy O'Reilly.
Come, comet It's tough on you,
| Co.
vision of himself being dragged unwll'
lingly to the altar. ELISA is going to
have what she wants, If have to break
something. If you'll be sensible I'll
stand behind you like a father and
teach you the business. I'm getting
old, and Ethelbert could never learn
it. Otherwise" The old mans Jaw
set; his eyes began to CLEAN angrily
"Who is-EthelbertP family In
quired O'Reilly.
"Why, dammit He's the fellow I've
been telling you about. He's not sc
bad as he sounds; he's really a nice
boy
ELISA is in love with another mani
Is that what you meanT
"Good Lord, yesl Don't you under
stand English? didn't think you'd
take 1t so hard-I was going to make
place for you here in the office, but
Of course if SayI What the deu1t
ails your"
Samuel Carter stared with amaze
ment, for the injured victim of hi
daughters fickleness had leaped to hi'
feet and was shaking his hand vigor
ously, meanwhile uttering unintelli
gible sounds that seemed to signify
relief, pleasure, delight-anything ex