Marble Hill press., 1920-12-02

81 his unhappy victim, Hhi fF'"'"FN
10 the hotel. AZ the desk he paused
"Nho was that person ! just hath
rdY' he inquired 10 the excited CLERK
"Ah. svnor. you shall not long be |
k.pt In Ignorance" that functlonary |
Informed him. That Il the terrible |
Captain n,nayldcs-"
"po yuu know. had u notion II was
hey Webster replied ruminatlNelE,
-wrll. | suppose I'm In Tor a ru"l
noW be added @ himself ns be
climbed the stairs TO his ro"m, y
,hiuk that viii be mos, Interesting
John stuart Webster changed into
dry clothing aud descended 10 the
dining room. Miss Ruey Vas already
SEATED at her table and usntionsSi him
10 the seat opposite her. and as he
sat down with n ccnien'ei little sign.
she CARED at him with a newer and
NOR. alert Interest,
"I hear you've been having adNcn'
lures again" she challenged, The
new. Is all over the hotel. heari u
from th. head walter"
4 faHNN MAlA AANANAN NFA WV - HH"e
fight" h. answered checrily. "By tbs
Vay have made my viii. just to 10
an IN. SAT. side. VIII you be good
enough 20 take charge of Il until after
IN. funeraIf You can turn Il over to
Bnly then"
She fell readily Into the haniering
splri, With which he treated this se
rious subject. Indeed. Il was quite in'
nosslbl. 10 do otherwise. for John
Stuart websiers personality radlated
such a feeling of security. OF absolute.
unhounded confidence In the future
and dlsdaln for whatever OF good
fortune or III the future might entail.
that Dolores found Il impossible not
TO asslmilate his mood.
At seven-thirty. after q deightfui
dinner. the memory OF which MI
Webster was certain would linger un'
der his foretop long after every other
memory had departed, he escorted
her 20 the open carriage he had
ordered. and for two hours they CIR.
cled the Malecon with the elite OF
Ruenaventura, listening 70 the music
" the band. and. during the brief IN
termlSsions. TO the sound OF the waves
lappIng the beach at the foot OF the
broad driveway.
This" said John Stuart Webster as
= he said goodnight to Dolores In ths
T lobby, sis the end Of perfect day.
IL wasn't. for at that precise mo
l. | kaaA.kA him n fQrTf
e and Indicated a young man seated II
d an adjacent Iounging- chair, at th'
i same time volunteering the informa
g tIon that the visitor had been await
II ing Senior webster's return for th'
past hour.
= Webster glanced at the card an'
strobe over to the young man. i an
J. Mr.. Webster sir" he announces
r. civilly in Spanish. And you ar
q Lieutenant Arredondof'
u The visitor rose. bowed low and In
y dlcated he was that gentleman.
+ have called. Mr.. Webster" he state
Is In most excellent English, "in the IL
't terest OF my friend and comrad'
" Captain Benavides."
ID "Ah. yes The fresh little rooste
RI ducked In the fountain this evening
Well. what does the little squirt waf
10 now7 Another duckingT
II Arredondo flushed angrily but n
ne membered the dignity of his missio
and controlled his temper. Capital
Benavides has asked me TO express
you the hope that you. being doubue'
l. a man OF honor"
", "Stop right there, Lieutenant. The'
iii ia no doubt about II. | am man
1b honor. and unless you are anxious
N he ducked In the fountain, you will
N more careful in your choice OF word
n Now then: You are about to say tins
fl being a man of honor"
Il You would accord my friend u
y satisfaction which one gentlem'
never fails TO accord another"
THAT lets me out. amigo" Webst
laughed. "Benavides isn't a gent
man. He's a cutthroat. murderii
little black nd-tan-hound. DO ]
| derstand he wants me to fight du
with him7"
4 Lieutenant Arredondo could n
= trust himself to speak, and so
:, bowed profoundly.
every well. then. Lieutenant" We
, ster agreed. "I'Il fight him."
Tomorrow morning at flve o'clocl
give minutes from now II you
!, So"
captain Benavides will be gratei
for your willing spirit, at least
second replied bitterly. "You reall
OF course. Mr.. Webster. that as
challenged party. the choice of wei
ons rests with you"
certainly. / wouldn't have risk
n duel if the choice lay with the oti
fellow. with your permission.
.r's dear sir, wen fight with Mauser rif
.r's at thousand yards, for the reas
ent that never knew Greaser that cor
his hit the broad side Of brewery at
lin, range over two hundred and Il
t.. / ~I- yuahasor ~huekiad ffandtct