Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-02-18

Sweeney" said Mr.. Webster as tn
chief clerk In one of Chlcago's mos
prete1tious hotels and a young ma
who can find all the tangles of a sill
uation without working It out In loga
rithms. | wired him the details Of m,
predicament he heard the Macedonian
cry and kicked In. Neat, is it not?"
The conductor grlnned II hate t
take your money" he declared.
Don't. Just at present I'm very
flush. Yes sir, I'm as prosperous as O
yearling burro up to his ears In alfalfa
and the only use have ever found for
money is to make other people happy
with 1t, thereby getting some enjoy
ment out of It myself When I'm broke
I'll make some more"
And Mr.. Webster retired to his hard
won sanctuary, where he removed as
much alkali and perspiration as he
could, carded his long hair AID whisk-
ers, manicured his finger nails with
jack-knife, changed his shirt, provided
five minutes Of industry for George,
with his whlskbroom and brush, and
set himself patiently to await the first
call to dinner.
Presently pink jowled, well
curried, flashily dressed big man, of
about Websters age, passed in the cor
ridor, going toward the head of the
train. An instant later a woman's
voice said very distinctly:
Il do not know you, sir; I do not
wish Ennpu nd t.
of you to persist in addressing me. If
you do not stop your annoying atte1-
tons, l shall call the conductor"
"Ahl Beauty in Distress" John
Stuart Webster sollloquized. Il look
so much like an Angora goat might
as well butt In" He stepped to the
door of his stateroOm. A girl stood in
tie vestibule, confronting the man who
had just passed Webster's door. Web
ster bowed.
MADAME. or mademoiselle, as the
case may be-" he said, unlike this
other male biDed, my sole purpose in |
presuming IL address you is to suggest |
that there is not the slightest necessity
for taking this matter up with the con-
ductor l am here and very much at
your service"
The girl turned-and John Stuart
Webster's Eeart Topped twice in rapid
succession, like trout newly grassed.
She was as lovely as a royal flush.
Her starry glance began at his miners
boots Travelled up his old soiled, whip
cord trousers, over his light blue cham
bray shirt and found the man behind
the whiskers. She favored him with a
quick. curious scrutiny and a grave,
sweet smile. Thank you so much, sir"
she answered, and passed down the
corridor to the observation car
well, Old-timer," Webster greeted
the fellow who had been annoying her,
how about you? What do you think
we ought TO do about this little af-
fair?"
THE sensible thing would be to do
nothing. You might start something
you couldn't finish"
THAT'S a dare" Webster declared
brightly, "and wasn't it the immortal
Huckleberry Finn who remarked that
anybody that'd take a dare would suck
Eggs and steal sheep? He was silent q
few seconds, appraising his man. 81
suppose you commenced operations by {
moving into her section and asking If {
he would like to have the window +
pen and enjoy the fresh air. She re- /
uffed you, but being a persistent q
levil, you followed her into the OBJ T
ervation car, and in all probability f
GU ogled her at luncheon and ruined q
er appetite. Aad just now, when you 4
net her in this vestibule, you doubt y
ess jostled her, begged her pardon
nd without waiting to be introduced |,
sked her to have dinner with you this l!
vening." r.
"Well?" the fellow echoed belliger W
ltly. n
IT'S all bad form. You shouldn't n
y to make mash on lady. l don't q
now who she is, of course, but she's OF
)t common and for the sake of the d,
other that bore me l always respect h,
I'd protect good woman and whale OF
- out of those that do not" ST
He reached inside his stateroom and es
essed the bell. Tie porter arrived on fe
e run. no
George said Mr.. Webster, 'Tn ex
W minutes we're due at Smithville ma
my memory serves me Alright. we co
op five minutes for water and or ter
rs" ~,
'Yassah." co,
Remain right here and let me Off as an
On as the train comes to a stop" du
When the train slid to a grinding OBJ
II and the porter opened the car ,nI
Or, Webster pointed. "Out !" he said. ay
his Is no nice place to pull Off a On
APP" an,
See here, neighbor l don't want to wo
We any trouble with you" sta
l know 1t. All the same. you're go lad
to have tor come With me to dis
{ young lady and beg her pardon" 7
All right. I'll apologize" and he> nm,
rted forward as If to pass Webster con
the vestibule, on his way TO the oh &c