Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-12-17

| Gu HIS unhappy Victiiii, anu TctuTneu
to the hotel. At the desk he paused
! "Who was that person / just bath.
edf'' he inquired Of the excited clerk
"Ah, senior. you shall not long be
kept In ignorance" that functlonary
Informed him. "That is the terrible
Captain Benavides--"
"Do you know, had a notion 1t was
he?" Webster replied rumnatlvely.
"Well, / suppose I'm In for a duel
now" he added to himself as he
climbed the stairs to his room. II
think that will be most interesting
John Stuart Webster changed into
dry clothing and descended to the
dining.room. Miss Ruey was already
seated at her table and motioned him
to the seat opposite her, and as he
sat down with cOntented little aigh,
she gazed at him with a newer and
more alert interest.
II hear you've been having adyen-
lures again." she challenged. "The
news is all over the hotel. heard 1t
from the head waiter"
Coffee and pistols for two at day
light" he answered, cheerily. "By the
way, have made my will, just to be
on the safe side. VIII you be good
enough to take charge of 1t until after
the funeral? You can turn 1t over to
Billy then"
She fell readily into the banterlng
spirit with which he treated this Sc
rious subject. Indeed, 1t was quite I'm
possible to do otherwise, for John
Stuart Websters personality radiated
such a feeling of security. of absolute,
unbounded confidence In the future
and disdaln for whatever Of good
fortune or III the future might entail,
that Dolores found 1t impossible not
to assmiate his mood.
AT seven-thirty. after a delightful
dinner, the memory Of which Mr..
Webster was certain would linger un-
der his foretop long after every other
memory had departed, he escorted
her to the open carriage he had
ordered. and for two hours they cir
cled the Malecon with the elite Of
Buenaventura, listening to the music
Of the band, and, during the brief In
termissions, to the sound Of the waves
tapping the beach at the foot Of the
broad driveway.
"This," said John Stuart Webster, as
he said goodnight to Dolores In the
lobby, lis the end Of perfect day."
1t wasn't, for at that precise mo-
ment a servant handed him a card,
and indicated young man seated In
an adjacent lounging-chair, at the
same time volunteering the informa-
ton that the visitor had been await
Ing Senior Webster's return for the
past hour.
Webster glanced at the card and
strobe over to the young man. II am
Mr.. Webster, sir" he announced
civilly In Spanish. "And you are
Lieutenant Arredondo?"
The visitor rose, bowed low and In
dlcated he was that gentleman. ~
have called, Mr.. Webster" he stated
in most excellent English, "ln the in
terest of my friend and comrade,
Captain Benavides."
"Ah, yes The fresh little rooster
I ducked In the fountain this evening.
Well. what does the little squirt want
now? Another duckingf"
Arredondo flushed angrily but re-
membered the dignity Of his mission
and controlled his temper. Captain
Benavldes has asked me to express to
you the hope that you, being doubtless
a man of honor"
"Stop right there, Lieutenant. There
is no doubt about 1t. am man Of
honor, and unless you are anxious to
be ducked in the fountain, you will be
more careful in your choice Of words
Now then: You are about to say that
being a man of honor"
"You would accord my friend the
satisfaction which one gentleman
never falls to accord another"
"That lets me out, amigo" Webster
laughed. "Benavides isn't a gentle
man. He's a cutthroat, a numbering
little Observation-Disclosures. Do I I'M
derstand he wants me to fight duel |
with him?'
Lieutenant Arredondo could not
trust himself to speak, and so he
bowed profoundly.
every well, then, Lieutenant" Web |
ster agreed. "rll fight him."
Tomorrow morning at FIVE o'clock
give minutes from now If you say
So"
/. Captain Benavides will be grateful
for your willing spirit, at least" the
second replied bitterly "You realize,
Of course, Mr.. Webster, that as the
party, the choice Of weap-
ons rests with YOU"
certainly. I wouldn't have risked
a duel If the choice lay with the other
fellow. with your permission. my
dear sir, wen fight with Mauser rifles
at thousand yards, for the reason
that I never knew Greaser that could
hit the broad Side of brewery at any
range over two hundred and fifty
Yards" Webster chuckled 1endIshly
Lieutenant Arredondo bit his lips In
anger and vexation. II cannot agree
70 such an extraordinary duel" he
s"It is the custom In J