Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-10-22

and climbed aboard the train. The
instant he disappeared in the vesti-
bule, however. Neddy Jerome waddled
rapidly down the track to Car 8,
climbed aboard, and made his way to
Lower g. The young lady in the green
tailor-made suit was there, looking
idly out Of the window.
"Young lady" Jerome began, "may
presume to address you for mo-
ment on matter of great Importance
to you? Don't he afraid of me, my
dear. I'm old enough to be your fa-
Their, and besides. I'm one of the incest
old men you ever met"
She could not forbcar a smile.
Every well, sir" she replied
Neddy Jerome produced pencil and
card. "Please write your name on this
card" he pleaded, "and III telegraph
what want to say to you. There'll
be man coming through this car in
n minute, and don't want him to see
me here. Please trust me, young
lady"
The young lady did not trust him,
however, although she wrote on the
card. Jerome thanked her and fled
as fast us his fat old legs could car
ry him. Under the station arc he
read the card.
Henrietta wilkins" he murmured
by the gods, one would never sus-
pect a name like that belonged to a
face like that. BY lingo, it would be
strange If that mailman persuaded her
to marry him. | hope he does. II
I'm any Judge of character, Jack Web
ster won't be cruel enough to chain
that vision to Sobrante; and besides,
she's Liable to make him decide who's
most popular with him-llenrietta or
Billy Geary. If she does, I'll play
Geary to lose. Well! Needs must
when the devil drives And he en-
tered the station telegraph office and
commenced to write.
An hour later Miss Dolores Ruey,
alias Henrietta wilkins, was handed
this remarkably verbose and truly
candid telegram:
Miss Henrietta wilkins, Lower 8,
Car 8, on board train "a.
"Do you recall the bewhlskered,
ragged individual you met on the s.
p, l.. A. & S. l.. train In Death val
ley ten days ago? He lifted his hat
to you tonight, and you almost killed
him with look. 1t did not occur to
him that you would not recognize him
disguised as a gentleman, and he lift
ed his hat on impulse. Do not hold it
against him. The sight of you again
set his reason tottering on its throne,
and he told me his sad story.
This man, John Stuart Webster, Is
wealthy, single, forty, fine and crazy
as a March hare. He is in love with
you. You might do worse than fall in
love with him. He Is the best mining
engineer In the world and he is now
aboard the same train with you, en-
route to New Orleans, thence to take
the steamer to Buenaventura, Sobran-
te, c. A., where he Is to meet another
lunatic and finance hole in the
ground. do not want him to 90 to
Sobrante. If you marry him, he will
not. If you do not marry him, you
still might arrange to make him listen
to reason. If you can induce him to
come to work for me within the next
90 days, whether you marry him or
not, / will give you $1,000 the day he
reports on the job. Please bear In
mind tina. he does not know ! am do
ing this. If he did he would kill me-
but business Is business, and this Is n
plain business proposition. ! am put
ting you wise, so you will know your
power and can exercise 1t II you care
to earn the money. If not, please for.
get about it. At any rate, please do
me the favor to communicate with me
on the subject. If at all interested.
Edward p. Jerome, President Colo
RADIO Consolidated Mines, Ltd, Care
Engineers Club"
The girl read and reread this tele-
gram several times, and presently a
slow little smile commenced to creep
around the corners of her adorable
mouth
81 believe that amazing old gentle
man is absolutely dependable was
the decision at which she ultimately
arrived, and calling for telegraph
blank, she wired the old schemer:
"Five thousand not enough money.
Make it $4,000 and | will guarantee
TO deliver the man within 80 days. |
stay on this train to New Orleans.
"HENRIETTA."
That telegram arrived at the Engl-
neers' club about midnight, and pur-
suant to instructions, the night bar
keeper read 1t and 'phoned the con-
tents to Neddy Jerome, who prompt
ly telephoned his reply to the tele-
graph office, and then sat on the edge
of his bed, scratching his toes and
medltatlng.
"Thats remarkable young wom-
an" he decided, "and business to her
finger tips. Well, I've done my part,
and it's now up to Jack Webster to
protect himself in the clinches and
breakaways."
About daylight black hand passed
Neddy Jerome's reply through the
berth curtains to Dolores Ruey. She
read:
Accept. When you deliver the
,ASIS OF FUEL