Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-11-19
IT think you're too cool, young man"

| you SlOuiu nor DC uuJHuEtu II Cuu, anu
do not like cads and must decline TO
permit one to occupy the same state
room at my expense, You are clever
and amusing ana laughed at you, but
at the same time my sense of hunor Is
not 50 great us to cause me to over
look your impudence and laugh with
you. Now, If you have anything to
say, say II quickly, because you're
going to go away from herein a
hurry
II plead guilty to the Indictment
Mr.. Webster, and submit as an excuse
the fact that desperate circumstances
require desperate measures. an not
begging my way neither am beating
ii, for the reason that both forms Of
travel are repugnant to me. | am
merely taking advantage Of certain
fortutous circumstances TO force you,
m entire stranger, to extend to me n
credit OF fifty dollars until we reach
san Buenaventura, when you Val be
promptly reimbursed
at Is not my habit" Webster retort-
cd stiffly, ito extend credit to stran-
gers who demand IT,"
~ do not demand It, sir. beg It OF
you, and because cannot afford TO he
| refused took care TO arrange matters
so that you would not be likely to re.
fuse my request. Really, do not mean
to be cocksure and lmpudent. but be-
fore you throw me out I'd like 10 let
you in on a secret about yourself"
"Well?'
"You'fe not going to throw me out"
"Why not?'
Because you can't"
THAT'S fighting talk. Now, Just to
prove to you the depth Of error in
which you founder, young man, | am
about to throw You out" And he
grasppd Andrew Bowers In the grip Of
Il grizzly bear and whiSked him out Of
the top berth.
"Weit one second" his helpless vic
lllil VI f'ls lluNf Nblii'iiAlAS W say
before you 20 any further"
SAY IT," Webster ordered, Your
tongue Is the only part of you that
cannot control"
when YOU throw me out on deck.
Andrew Bowers querleJ, "do your pa
jamaS 60 with me? Does the hair 20
with the hide?"
'Thev cost me sixteen dollars in Salt
Lake city, hut-good lord. yes. | cant
throw you out mother naked d--n 1t, !
can't throw you out at ALL"
Didn't tell YOU 500 BE good fell
low and turn me loose"
"Certainly--for the time being.
You'll stay locked in this stateroom
while | have talk with the captain,
He'll probably dlg up a shirt, pair of
dungarees and some old shoes for you
and set you ashore before we get out
OF the river. If he doesn't do that hell
keep you aboard and you'll shovel coal
for your passage
But I'm Andrew Bowers and the
purser mas collected my tirst-class
ticket"
"What OF It? I shall declare-and
with truth-that you gre not Andrew
Bowers, that you are not my valet. and
that ! did not buy the rcket for you. l
dare you TO face the captain In my pa
jamas and prove you aren't stowa-
way
You would win on that point" the
battling guest admitted, but it Is
point you will not raise. Why? Be
cause have another trump up my XII
mono.n He climbed back into the up
per berth and from that vantage point |
CaZed down benevolently upon John |
Stuart Webster. I'm disappointed In
YOU" he continued sadly. Il thought |
you'd show little normal human curl |
Osity about me-and you haven't. You |
do not ask questions or | could ex-
plain. while | cannot volunteer infor-
nation without seeming TO seek your |
pity, and that Of course would be re-
pugnant TO me. am hoping You will
accept my word OF honor thar you
shall he reimbursed two hours Otter
You land in san Buenavatura.
New music to your song, my friend,
but the same old words" Webster re-
torted, and stepped TO the stateroom
i al ,,IANal cal
90 ashore
Listen II go ashore, your respon-
sibility for my life ceases, Mr., Web
ster. but If the chief engineer happens |
to be short one coal-passer and the
captain sends me down to the stoke
hole, your responsibility for my death
begins, for I'll be put ashore publicly |
at San Buenaventura and two hours |
later I'll be facing firing squad III the
cemetery ut the Cathedral de Ia Vera
Cruz"
Gosh" John Stuart Webster muir |
INJURED dazedly, I'm afraid can't take |
a chance like that for fifty dollars. I'm
NlliiUtu W llhHHiNs my N''hN az
sitting in back of royal flush and the |
other fellow bluffs me out Of the pot.
always buy the wine. When II arrives
we shall drink TO our better acquaint-
ance. Pending its arrival please be
advised that you are welcome TO my
najamas, my cigarettes, my book and
NY st.teroom You are my guest and
you owe me nothing except, perhaps.
your confidence, although ! do not In
sist upon that point. Where ! come
from every man kills his own snakes"
And he held up his hand for Andrew
Bowers to shake.
"Afr. Webster" the latter declared
feelngly, II am not n lord Of language
so | cannot find words TO thank you. |
agree with you that you are entitled
to my confidence. My name is"
"Tut, tut, my boy. Your name Is