Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1920-12-03
shure, Mlsther Geary do be the flne

spirit, Dolores could have wept for
Don Juan Cnfetero, for In that su.
preme moment the derelict's soul was
bare, revealing something pure and
sweet and human. for all his degrade
ton. How did Jack Webster know?
wondered Dolores. And why did he
so confidently give an order TO this
human notsam and expect 1t to be
obeyed? And why did Don Juan
Cafetero come whining to her for
strength to help him obey 1t?
THAT wouldn't be playing the
game she told him, 81 can't help
you deceive him. You are the first Of
your breed
"Don't say It," he cried. Didn't
he tell me wanst?'
"Then make the fight, Don--Mr,
Cafferty." She lowered her voice
II am depending On you to stay sober
and guard him. He needs faithful
friend so badly, now that Mr.. Geary
Is away" She patted the grimy hand
and left him staring at the ground.
Presently he sighed, qulvered horribly,
and shambled out of the patio on TO
the flrlng-line. And when he reported
to Jack Webster at nine o'clock next
morning, he was sober, shaking hor'
rlbly and on the verge of delirlum
tremens, but tightly clasped in his
right hand he held that fve-dollar
piece. Dolores, who had made II her
business to he present at the inter-
view, heard John Stuart Webster say
heartily:
I'VE finest thing about terrible
fight, friend Caf'erty is that If 1t Is
worthwhile battle, the spells OF vic
tory are exceedingly sweet. You are
now about TO enjoy one fourth of the
said spols--a large jolt of aguard-
lente You must have II to steady
your nerves. Go TO the nearest can
tina and buy one drink; then come
back with he Change. by that time
shall ha,s NT'Nlifasted and you and
| will then 90 Shopping. At noon you
shall have another drink at four
o'clock another; and just before re-
firing you shall have the fourth and
last for this day. Remember. CAT
ferty: one j0lt-no more--and then
back here with the exact change"
As Don Juan scurried for salvation,
Webster turned to Dolores. Hell fail
me now, but that will not be his fault
but mine. I've set him too great a
task in his present condition. Never
theless, to use cOlloquial expression,
| have the Cafferty goat-and I'm go
ing to keep it,
Webster went Immediately TO his
room, called for pen and paper, and
proceeded at once to do that which he
had never done before-to wit. pre-
pare his last will and testament.
a few brief paragraphs he made a
will and split his bank
roll equally between the two human
beings he cared for most--Billy Geary
and Dolores Ruey. "Bills gambler
like me-" he ruminated; $50 I'll play
safe. The girl is conservative, and
after Bits wad is gone, he'd be boiled
In oil before he'd prejudice hers"
Having made his will, Webster
made copy of it. The copy lie placed
in an envelope marked: For Jack.
Not to be opened until after my
DEATH" This envelope he then enclosed
in larger one and mailed 10 Billy nj
Gale de Concorda No. 10.
Having made his few simple pre-
partitions for death. Mr.. Webster next
burrowed In his trunk, brought forth
his big army-type automatic pistol
and secured II In holster under his
arm. for he deemed 1t unwise and pro-
vocative of curiosity to appear in i'm
maculnte ducks that bulged at the
right hip. Next he filed two spare
clips with cartridges and slipped them
into his pocket, thus completing his
few simple preparations for life.
He glanced out the window at the
sun. There would still be an hour Of
daylight: so he descended to the lobby,
called carriage and took short
lrive.
Returning to the hotel he dismissed
The carriage, climbed the three short
steps TO the entrance and was passing
through the revolving portal. when
from his rear some one gave the
loor a violent shove, with the result
that the turnstile partition behind him
,ollided with his back with sufficient
force to throw him against the parti.
lion in front. Instantly the door
ceased to pivot, with Webster locked
neatly In the triangular space be-
tween the two sections Of the revol.
wing door and the jamb.
He turned and beheld in the sec
ion behind him an officer OF the
Sobrantean army. This individual,
he was under Webster's
scrutiny, scowled and peremptorily
notloned 10 Webster TO proceed
which the latter did, with suth vio
ence that the door. continuing to re-
solve, caught up with the Sobrantean
md subjected him to the, same In
dignity to which he had subjected
Webster.