The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1920-12-24
CHAPTER iI-Continued.

Webster struck TIE upholstery Of ar
adjacent chair terrific blow with hi.
stick--the effect of which was to cause
everybody in tie room to start ant
to conceal Mr.. Webster momentarily
In a cloud of dust, the while In a bel
lowing baritone he sang:
His father was a handbook miner:
He comes from my home town"
-Jack Websterl The devils OWE
kim shouted Neddy Jerome. He
swept the cards into heap and wad
latest assailant of the peace a1d dig
nifty Of tie Engineers club. you old
worthless, ornery, no-good son OF q
lizard I've never been so glad to see
man that didn't owe me money! I've
been combing the whole civilized
world for you, for a month, at leSst
Where the devil have you been?"
John Stuart Webster beamed hap
PLY upon bis friend. swell. Neddy
you old stocking-knitter," he replied
quizzically, "since that is the case, I'm
not surprised at your failure to find
me. You've known me long enough
to have remembered to cOnfine your
search to tie uncivilized reaches"
well, you're here, at any rate and
Tn happy. Now you settle down."
Hardly, Neddy. I'm young yet,
you know-only forty. Still real live
man and not quite ready to degenerate
into card-playing, eat-drink-and-be-
merry, determination, sink-tO-obliviol
and go-to-h-- fireplace spirit !" And
he prodded Jerome in the short ribs
with tentative thumb that caused
the old man to vince. He permitted
his friend to drag him downstairs to
the deserted lounge, where Jerome
paused in the middle of the room and
renewed tis query:
where have you been, ask?'
"Out In Death valley California, try
ing to pry loose fortune"
"Did you pry TT"
John Stuart Webster arched his eye
brows in mock reproach. "And you
can see my new suit, Neddy. my six
teen-dollar, made-tO-Order shoes and
my horny hoofs encased in silken hose
and ask that question? Freshly
shaved and ironed and almost afraid
to sit down and get wrinkles in my
trousers Smell thatw He blew a
cloud Of cigar smoke into Jerome's
smiling face. The latter shifted. 1T
smells expensive" he replied.
"Yes, and you can bet it tastes ex-
peIsive. too" Webster answered,
landing his cigar-case to his friend.
Jerome bit the end of his cigar and
spat derisively. How much have you
nader" he demanded bluntly.
ITS none Of your business, but I'll
tell you because love you, Neddy. I've
made one hundred thousand dollars"
"Chicken-feed." Jerome retorted
Johnny, I've been combing the min
eral belt Of North and South America
for you for a month"
"Why this sudden belated interest
In mew
81 have fine job for you, John"
"King's X" Webster interrupted,
and showed both hands with the fin
gers crossed. mo plotting against my
peace and comfort, Neddy. Haven't I
told you I'm all dressed up for the
first time in three years, that / have
money in my pocket and more In
bank? Man, I'm going to tread the
primrose path for year before get
back into the harness again"
Jerome waved deprecatory hand,
fguratively brushing aside such feeble
and lnconsequential argument. Are
you foot-loose" he demanded.
"I'm not I'm bound In golden
chains"
Married, ehf Great Scott, I mIghy
have guessed 1t. So you're on your
honeymoon, eh7"
mo such luck, you vichy.drinkine
iconoclast. II you had ever gotten far
enough from this club during the past
fifteen years to get a breath Of real
fresh air. you'd understand why
want to enjoy civilization for weel
or two before I go back to mine su
perintendent's cabin on some bleak hill.
No, stree. Old jeremiah Q. Work and
I have had a falling out. Dad burn
your picture, Neddy, I want some
classl I've been listening to a dago
shift-boss playing the accordion for
three years-and he could only play
three tunes. Now l want Sousa's
band. I've been bathing in tepid. dirty
water in redwood sluice-box, and
now desire steam room and a nee
die shower and an osteopath. I've been
bossing Greasers and Italians and was
forced to learn their language to get
results, and now I want to speak my
mother tongue to my old frienda BY
thunder I'm going to have q new deal
al around"
very wen. Jack. Don't excite your.
~. III Gfvo ~ oncf1y thirty daye