Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-11-19
wen. forget IT, Jack. It's all over

Wen, forget It, Jack. Its all over
long ago, and forgotten
'Tt wasn't all over 80 long ago as
you seem to think. / suppose you
knew the Holman gang was after
ward sent to the penitentiary for
those same high-grade operations7
Billy Geary's acQuittal didn't end my
interest in the case-not by a jugful I
fought the case against the friends
Of the Holman crew among the mine
owners themselves; and 1t cost me my
good job, my prestige as mining en-
.gineer. and thirty thousand dollars OF
money that I'd shaved to get together.
OF course you never knew this, Neddy,
and for that matter, neither does
Geary. wish he did. We were good
friends once. certainly was mighty
fond of that boy Me
He drew the letter from the en-
velope and slowly opened 1t.
"And you never heard what became
Of Geary2"
"Not word. / was too busy won
dering what was to become OF me. 1
couldn't get a job anywhere in Colo
RADIO. and moved to Nevada. Made
a million in Goldfield. dropped it in
the panic Of 1907, and had to start
again"
'sWhat have you been doing lately7''
"Borax. Staked a group OF claims
down in Death valley. Bully ground,
Neddy. and was busted when To-
Gated them. Had to borrow money to
pay the filing fees and Incorporation,
and did my own assessment work.
Look!" Webster held up HIS hands,
still somewhat grimy and calloused.
The Borax trust knew was busted,
but they never could quite get over
the fear that I'd dig up some backing
and give them run-so they bought
me ont"
Somebody told me Geary had gone
to Rh0desia," Jerome continued mus
ingly, cor maybe 1t was Capetown. II
know he was seen somewhere in South
Africa"
HE left the Greek Immediately
after the conclusion Of his trial. Poor
boyl That dirty business destroyed
the lad and made tramp Of him,
guess. tell you. Neddy. no two men
ever lived who came nearer to loving
each other than. Billy Geary and his
old -pardner. We bucked the
marts Of men and went to sleep to-
gether hungry many a time during
our fiye-year partnership. Why. Bin
was Ike my own boy. Jerome. curse
the day took that boy out from UNI
derground and put him In. the assay
office to learn the business. How
could l know that the Holman gang
had cached the stun in his shaek7"
"WeIl. It's too bad" Jerome am
swered duly. he was quite wiling
that the subject OF conversation should
be changed. 'I'm glad to get the right
dope on the boy. anyhow. Have an
other drink" A
'sNot until I read this letter. Now,
who the dickens knew I was headed
for Denver and the Engineers club2
didn't tell soul, and only ar
rived this morning"
He turned to the last page to ascer-
tain the identity Of his correspondent,
and his facial expression ran the
gamnt from surprise to a Joy that was
good TO see.
John Stuart Webster read the letter
deliberately, after which he sat In 81
lent contemplation of the design OF the
carpet for fully minute before reach
ing for the bell. A servant responded
Immediately.
Bring me the timetables OF all
roads leading to New Orleans" he
ordered. also . cable blank"
Webster had reread the letter be-
fore the servant returned with the
timetables. a.s,.ss.. ,.
August, yon SO out TO the desk.
like good fellow. and ask the secre-
tary to arrange for compartment for
me to New Orleans on the Gulf States
limited. leaving at 10 o'clock tomor-
row night" He handed the servant
his card. Now wait a minute until
! write something" He seized the
cable blank, helped himself. unin-
yited. TO Neddy Jerome's fountain pen,
and wrote: 9sat
william n. Geary. Gale de concordia
No. 10. Buenayentura, Sobrante,
G. A.
"Salute. you young jackassl Just
received your letter. Cabling thou
sand for emergency roll first thing to-
morrow. sNNilI order machinery. I.eav-
Ing for New Orleans tomorrow night,
to arrive Buenaventnra first steamer.
Your letter caught me with hundred
thousand. We cut it two ways and
take our chances. Keep a light In the
window for your old
"JACK-PARDNER."
That's a windy cablegram.n Neddy.
Jerome remarked as the servant bore
It away. ''Why all this garrulity7 A
cablegram anywhere generally costs at
least dollar a word"
That's my delight or q shiny
night. In the season Of the YEAR I"
quoted John Stuart Webster. sand