The L'Anse sentinel., 1921-04-22

ence the while he pondered this most
incredible state Of affairs.
II see 1t all now. It's as clear as
mud" he announced finally. "You re-
fused poor old Bill and broke his
heart, and so he went away and hasn't
had the courage to write me since. I'm
afraid Bill and both regarded this
fight as practically won-all over but
the wedding march, as one might put
1t. I might as well confess I hustled
the boy down from the mine Just so
you two could get married and light
out on your honeymoon. / figured Bill
could kill two birds with one stone
have his honeymoon and get rid Of his
malaria. and return here In three or
four months to relieve me, after had
the mine in operation. Poor boy. That
was frightful song-and-dance you
gave him."
II suspected you were the match
maker in this case. must say think
you're old enough to know better. Ca
liph john"
"You did, ehf Well. what made you
think so7''
She chuckled. "Oh, you're very OBJ
vious-to woman"
'T forgot that you reveal the past
and foretell the future"
"You are really vcfy clumsy, Caliph.
You should never try to direct the des-
tiny of any woman"
"T'm on the sick list he pleaded.
1and II isn't sporting Of ySu to discuss
me. You're healthy-so let us discuss
you. Dolores, do you figure Bills case
to be absolutely ffDpelessT
Absolutely, Caliph.''
"Hum-m-m!"
Again Webster had recourse to med
itation, seeing which, Dolores walked
to the pier glass in the corner, satisfied
herself that her coiffure was just so
and returned to his side, singing softly
q little song that had floated out over
the transom of Webster's room door
into the hall one night:
A Spanish cavalier
Went out to rope a steer,
Along with his paper cigar-r-roi
"Caramba" said he.
'Manana you will be
Mucho bueno carne por miov'
He turned his head and looked up ut
her suddenly, searchingly. "Is there
anybody else in Bill's wayT he de-
manded. II admit it's none of my
business, but"
Eyes, Caliph, there is some one else"
II thought So" This rather vicious
ly. "Pm willing to gamble 100 to I,
sight unseen, that whoever he is, he
isn't half the man Bill is"
"That," she replied coldly, sis mat
ter Of personal opinion"
"And Bill's clock Is fixed for keeps"
Eyes, Caliph. And he never had a
chance from the start"
"why not"
"well, met the other man first, Ca
liph."
"Ohi Do you mind telling me what
this other man does for livingf"
"He's a mining man, like Billy"
"Al right Has the son Of a horse
| thief got a mine like Bill's7 That's
something to consider, Dolores"
"He has mine fully as good as
Billy's. Like Billy, he owns half
interest In 1t, too"
"Hum-m-mlk How long have you
known himT
mot very long"
'rBe sure you're right-then go
ahead" John Stuart Webster warned
her. "Don't marry In haste and repent
| at leisure, Dolores. Know your man
before you let him buy the wedding
ring. There's heap Of difference. my
dear, between sentiment and sentimen-
tality."
:, "Tm sure Of my man, Caliph."
He was silent again. thinking rapid
ly. "well, Of course" he began again
presently. "while there was the slight
est possibility Of Bill winning you.
would have died before saying that
which I am about to say to you now,
Dolores, because Bill is my friend. and
I'd never double cross him. With ref
erence to thissother man, however.
have no such code tc consider. I'm
pretty well convinced I'm out Of the
running, but I'll give that lad race If
| It's the last act of my life. He's a
stranger to me, and he isn't on the Job
| to protect, his claim, 90 why shouldn't
| I stake It II I can7 But are You quite
certain you aren't making grave mis-
take in refusing Billyf He's quite a
boy, my dear. / know him from soul
| to suspenders, and he'd be awfully
| good to you. He's kind and gentle
and considerate. and he's not a molly
1 coddle, either"
II can't help II, Caliph. Please don't
talk about him any more. know
somebody who is kinder and nobler
and gentler." She ceased abruptly.
| fearful Of breaking down her reserve
| and saying too much.
swell, II Bits case Is hopeless
| his hand came cropping for. hers, while
| he held her with his searching. wistfuA
| glance-T wonder what mine looks
| like. That is. Dolores -
'Yes. Johnr
sTve played fair WIN my friend" he
whispered eagerly. I'm not going to
| ask you to uarry me. but I want to
| tell you that to me you're such q very
wonderful woman / can't help loving
| You with my Wh0oe heart and soul"