Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-12-31

John stuart Webster's neck came
out Of his cellar with the audiences
| of turtle swapping ut Hy; he drew
himself up beside the top berth until
his face was on level with his unbid-
den guests, upon whom he bent lOOk
of mingled emotions.
"WhO the devil are your" he de-
manded.
II regret have no card, but even IL 4
had 1t would be no kindness to infiict
upon an American gentleman the cog
nsmen my parents hoROred me with,
for 1t is long and many-jointed, like 4
peanut, and embodies the names of all
the saints In the calendar. Moreover,
just at present am travelling Inder
an alias / am known as Mr.. Andrew
Bowers"
"And your occupatIon?" Webster
managed to artieulate.
'Valet de chambre to that prince Of
gentlemen, Mr.. John s. webster the
other replied with mischlevOus CLEAN
in his dark eyes.
/. Mr.. Webster sat down Imply on the
settee. He was undecided whether to
roar with laughter or shrek with rage;
while he struggled for q decision An
drew Bowers blew smoke rings at the
ceiling.
Haven't / seen you before" Web
ster queried presently.
II wouldn't be surprised. drove
you down to the steamer in taxi half
an hour ago. You will recall that the
taxi driver carried your luggage
aboard"
Webster gazed around the stateroom.
Where have you hidden your lIveryr
he demanded.
II wrapped 1t In newspaper; then,
seeking a moment when the deck out
side was deserted, / stepped forth in
MY beg your pardon, your paiamas
and tossed 1t overheard"
"But apparently you did not bring
aboard with you suit Of clothes to
take the place of your llvery?"
Quite Fundamentally SO, MIR.
Webster. Perhaps you will accept my
desperate need as an excuse for Dor
J rowing your pajamas. notice you
have another suit OF them. Fortunate
J man,
4
! haps thirty years, five feet ten inches
| tall. and apparently in excellent health.
He might have weighed hundred and
! seventy pounds and he was undeniably
. handsome.
While Webster was wondering
whether his companion was merely a
t high-class tramp or an absconding
5 bank cashier, knock sounded on the
I stateroom door. He opened 1t and the
9 purser stood In the entrance.
8 Ticket, pleasefa he announced.
Q Webster surrendered both tickets,
Z receiving in turn two seat checks for
the dining saloon, and the purser
/ passed on to the next cabin.
e Andrew Bowers smiled small. pre-
}. scient smile, but said nothing, and
e presently John Stuart Webster broke
4 the silence, WELL he ordered. ''sing
e the song or tell the story"
i 81 noticed you surrendered my ticket
to the purser," the young man an
y swered irreleyantly. land | am glad Of
& that l take 1t as prima facie evidence
that you have made UP your mind t.
d accept my company"
y you're too Internally cool and cock
IS sure. my friend Webster warned hin
testify. II pride myself on sense OF
70 humor sand dearly love a joke rnti
Ii It's carried too far. but be dvised IL
n time young man. and don't try to PLAY
+ horse with me. My acceptance or non
a acceptance of you Is a subject for fn
:: ture discussion. since at present W.
have some fidueiary matters before us
a, You owe me fifty dollars for your tick
" ct, Andrew Bowers, and In view of tn,
5, fact that never saw you before 70
sr day, suppose we start the voyage b!
squaring the account"
lie Andrew Bowers sat up in the bert
a. and let his legs drape over the side
Of MIR. Webster" he began seriously I'll
le prior to the arrival of the purser TO col
h lect the tickets, you had handed m
I'd ticket to me. saying: Here Is you
he ticket, Mr. Bowers. Be kind enOug
o. to reimburse me to the extent of flft
to dollars should have been compelle
n to admit then. as ! do now, that
haven't fifty dollars. Fortunately 70
|" me. however. you surrendered the ticl
e- ct TO the purser before acquaintin
ur yourself with the state of my fol
tunes; the voyage has commenced an
ed whether you like IL or not my dear 81
ar am your guest from now until W
reach San Buenaventura. Rather a
n interesting situation. don't you think
John Stuart Webster was of scotc
e." ancestry. He had hereditary II
III gard for baubees. He was a bushes
on man. Prodigai spender though he wa
i'd and generous TO a fault, the fact r
All NAMED that he always made 1t poll
thy to get value received, and he was pro,
eil igal with his own money he preferrs
that the privilege Of prodigality wit
ex- the Websterian funds should rema
II an lnalienabIe prerogatlve Of the so
w. snarsirinnt rnernhar az the Wehsfar far