The Little River news. (Ashdown, Little River County, Ark.) 1897-current, 1920-11-10


her hysteria.
"Come, come, buck up," Webster
soOthed her, and helped himself to a
long Whit of her fragrant hair. "Old
man Webster had one leg in the grave,
but they've pulled it out again."
Still she sobbed. ~
"Now, listen to me, lady" he COM
manded with mock severity. "You
1ust stop that. You're wasting your
sympathy; and while. of course, I en-
Joy your sympathy heap, just pause
to reflect on the result IL those salt
tears should happen to drop into one
Of my numerous wounds"
."I'm so sorry for you. Caliph," she
murmured brokenly. "You poor, harm
less boy! don't see how any one
could be so fiendlsh as to hurt you
when you were so distinctly a non-com-
blatant"
"Thank you. Let us forget The
Hague conference for the present, how
ever. Have you met your brother?"
he whispered.
"NO, Caliph."
"RicardO."
eyes, Jack"
"Come here. Rick, you scheming,
INSCRIPTIONS, blood-thirsty adventurer,
I have a tremendous surprise in store
for you. The sweetest girl in the world
and she's right here"
Ricardo laughingly held up his hand.
"Jack, my friend" he interrupted.
"youre too weak to make a speech.
Don't do 1T. Besides, you do not have
to-" He turned and bowed gracefully
to Dolores. II can see for myself she's
the sweetest girl in the world, and that
she's right here" He held out his
hand to her. Jack thinks he's going
to spring SURPRISE" he continued ma
liciously, "quite forgetting that a good
soldier never permits himself to be
taken by surprise. know all about
his little secret. because I heard you
mourning for him when you thought he
was dead" Ricardo favored her with
a knowing wink 81 am delighted to
meet the future Mrs. Webster. quite
understand why you fell in love with
him, because, you see. love him my
self and SO does everybody else"
With typical Castilian couttIiness he
took her hand, bowed low over 1t, and
kissed 1t. 81 am Ricardo Luiz Ruey,"
he said, anxious to spare his friend the
task Of further exhausting converse
ton. "And you are"
you're cOnsummate jackass ~
groaned Webster. "I'm only dear old
family friend, and Dolores is going to
marry Billy Geary. You impetuous
idiot! She's your own sister, Dolores
Ruey. She, Mark Twain. and have
ample cause for common complaint
against the world because the reports
Of our death have been grossly exag-
gerated. She didn't perish when your
fathers administration crumbled. Miss
Ruey, this Is your brother. Ricardo.
Kiss her you damn fool-forgive me,
Miss Ruey-Oh, Lord, nothing matters
any more. He's gummed everything
up and ruined my party. wish were
dead"
Ricardo stared from the outraged
Webster to his sister and back again.
slack Webster" he declared. "you
aren't crazy, are your"
"Of course, he is-the old DEAR" Do
lores cried happily, "but I'm not" She
arms went around his neck ooh,
Rick" she cried, "Tm your sister. Tru-
ly, am"
Dolores. My little lost sister, Do
lores7 Why, 1 can't believe It'll"
"Well. you'd better believe it." John
Stuart Webster grOwled feebly. "Of
course, you can doubt my word and
get away with 1t, now that I'm fiat on
my back, but If you dare cast asper-
siops on that girls veracity, I'll MUIR
der you a month from now"
He closed his eyes, feeling instinc-
lively that he ought not spy on such
sacred family scene. When, however,
the affecting meeting was over and Do
lores was ruffling the Websterian fore
top while her brother pressed the Web
sterian hand and tried to say all the
things he felt, but couldn't express.
John Stuart Webster brought them
both back to realization of present
conditions.
"Don't thank me. SIR" he piped in
pathetic imitation Of the small boy Of
melodrama. II have only done me
duty, and for that cannot accept this
purse Of gold. even though my father
and mother are starving"
''Oh, Caliph. do be serious" Dolores
pleaded.
He looked up at her fondly. "Take
your brother out to Mother jerks and
prove your case, Miss Ruey," he ad-
vised her. "And while you're at it.
| certainly hope somebody will remem-
Der I'm not accustomed to reposing on
a center table. Rick. II you can per-
suade some citizen to put me to bed
I'd be obliged. I'm dead tired. old
horse. I'm-ah-sleepy-"
!. His head rolled weakly to one side
for he had been playing a part and
had nerved himself to finish it grace
fully, even In his weakened condition
He sighed. mOaned slightly, and
slipped Into inconsistencies. 1