The Little River news., 1920-09-08

look your impudence and laugh with you. Now, if you have anything to say, say it quickly, because you're going to go away from herein hurry"
 "1 plead guilty to the indictment, MT. Webster, and submit as an excuse the fact that desperate circumstances require desperate measures. I am not begging my way, neither am I beating 1t, for the reason that both forms of travel are repugnant to me. am merely taking advantage of certain fortuitOus circumstances to force you, an entire stranger, to extend to me a credit of fifty dollars until we reach San Buenaventura, when you will be promptly reimbursed"
 Ut is not my habit" Webster retort- ed stiffly, "to extend credit to stran- gers who demand it."
 T do not demand it. sir. I beg it of you. and because I cannot afford to be refused I took care to arrange matters so that you would not be likely to re- fuse my request. Really. 1 do not mean to be cocksure and impudent, but be- fore you throw me out I'd like to let you in on a secret about yourself"
 "Well?'
 You're 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, I am about to throw you out" And he grasped Andrew Bowers in the grip of a grizzly bear and whisked him out of the top berth.
 "Wait one second" his helpless vic tim cried. q have something to say before you go 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 queried, do your pa- jamas go with me? Does the hair go with the hide?
 'They cost me sixteen dollars in Salt Lake City but-good lord, yes. I can't throw you out mother naked; d-n it, can't throw you out at all.'
 Didn't tell you so? Be a good fel- 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 dig 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 he'll keep you aboard and you'll shove! coal for your passage.
 But Pm Andrew Bowers and the purSer has collected my frst-class ticket"
 "What of it? 1 shall declare--ano with truth--that you are not Andrew Bowers, that you are not my valet and tha. l did not buy the ticket for you. Hare you to face the captain in my pa ialias and prove you aren't a stowa- way."
 You would win on that point" the battling guest admitted but it is a point you will not raise. Why? Be- cause have another trump up my Xii mono" He climbed back into the up- per berth and from that vantage point gaZed down benevolently upon John Stuart Webster. "Im disappointed in you,' he continued sadly. q thought you'd show little normal human curi- osity about me-and you haven't. You do not ask questions or I could ex- plain, while I cannot volunteer infor- nation without seeming 70 seek your pity, and that of course would be re pugnant to me. am hoping you will accept my word of honor that you shall be reimbursed two hours Ofter 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 door. You're doomed to shovel coal or go ashore"
 Listen. If go ashore. your respon- sbility for my life ceases, MT. 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 in the cemetery at the Catedral de Ia Vera Cruz"
 Gosh" John Stuart Webster mur- mured dazedly, "I'm afraid can't take a chance like that for fifty dollars. I'm whipped to a frazzle Any time I'm sitting in back of royal flush and the other fellow bluffs me out of the pot, always buy the wine. When it arrives we shall drink 10 our better acQuaint ance. Pending its arrival, please be advised that you are welcome to my pajanas, my cigarettes, my book and my Stateroom. You are my guest and you owe me nothing, except, perhaps. your confidence. although I do not in- sist upon that point. Where I come fron very man kills his own snakes"
 Anu he held up his hand for Andrew Bowers to shake.
 Mir. Webster" the latter declared feelingly "I am not lord of language, so I 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 Andrew Bowers. and that identifies