Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-10-29

before she found hout. I've got
hanuerism In my cart, Willie, 50 the
surgeon on the mail boat tells me- an
wen 90, I'll go llke--that!' Mother
jerks snapped her cigarette-slaiheu
fingers. I'm iifty-seyen, wine, an
since my sainted Emery passed away,
| 'aven't been no bloomin' hange''
She wrung her hands. "Oh. wy III ell
couldn't them harterles ave busted IN
time to save my lamb the 'umiliatlh
knowledge that she's be'oldin 10 the
likes o me for wOt she's got--ah o"
got 1t for err"
Billy Geary had bright idea
"Well,' he said, "why not die-telh'
porarily-if you feel that way ABOUT
1t? You could come back from the
grave after she's gone"
But Mother jerks shook her head.
"No," she declared "While Dolores Is
self-supportln now, still, If anythlnK
'appened an she was to need 'e'p'
'elp Is somethln' no ghost can give.
Think again, Willie. Cor, lad, were's
yer brains"
well" Billy countered thought
fully, apparently there's no way OF
heading her off before she takes the
steamer at New Orleans, so we'll take
II for granted she'll arrive here In due
course. About the time she's due,
suppose you run up to San Miguel de
Padua for a couple of weeks ana
leave me to run FL Buen Amigo in
your absence. I'll play fair with yon'
Mother, so help me. I'll account FOR
every centayo. I'll borrow some de-
cent clothes from Leber the day the
steamer gets in; then I'll 90 aboard
and look over the passenger list anu
II she's aboard, I'll tell her you closed
your house and started for California
TO visit her on the last north-bound
steamer-that her cablegram arrived
lust after you had started; that the
cable company, knowing I am friend
of YOURS showed me the message ana
that took 1t upon myself to call ana
explain that as result Of your tie
parture for the United States 1t Will
be useless for her to land-useless
and dangerous. because cholera Is
raging in Buenaventura, although the
port authorities deny it"
"Willie," Mother jerks interrupted
impressively, n ghost Of her Old deb
OMAR spirit shining through her
tears. Eyer don't owe me a bloomln
sixpence! Yer've syved the day, syved
my reputation, an syved lydys
peace o. mind. Kiss me, yer precious
byby."
So Billy kissed her-gravely and
with filial reverence, for he had long
suspected Mother jerks of being a
pearl cast before swine and now he
was certain Of 1t.
an send her back to the Unitei
States and promise to cable you tt
await her there" Billy continued. "Oi
course. we can't help 1t If you and the
cablegram miss connections, and once
the Young lady Is back in the United
States. dare say she'll have to sta,
there n couple of years before she car
save the price Of another sea voyage
And in the meantime she may
marry"
"Or that haneurism may ave turned
fine trick before that" Mother Jenk'
suggested candidly but joyously. I'll
course she'll he disappointed, but theI
disappointment never lays 'eayy on
Young cart, WILLIE an bein' disnp
pointed at not seem person yol
amt really acquainted with amt a
bad as some disappointments."
"I guess I know" Billy Geary re
piled bitterly. "If that cablegram ha,
only been for me Mother, If my oil
partner could, by some miracle man
age to marry this Dolores girl, you
arteries and your aneurisms nigh
bust and be damned, but the gil
would be safe"
"M'yhe," Mother jerks suggeste
hopefully, Eyer might fix It up for he
wen I'm gone. From all haccount
'e's no-end gentleman"
Hes herman" Mr.. Geary dt
, clared with conviction. He sighet
"John Stuart Webster, wherever 20
l are, please write or CABLE" he mul
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