The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-01-31

hole YOUR responsibility for my death
begins, for I'll be put ashore publicly
Mt San Buenaventura and two hours
later I'll be facing firing squad in the
cemetery at the Cathedral de Ia Vera
Cruz"
"Gosh," John Stuart Webster muir
INJURED dazedly, '1m afraid can't take
a chance like that for fifty dollars. I'm
whipped to a fragile. Any time I'm
sitting in back of a royal flush and the
other fellow bluffs me out Of the pot, 1
always buy the wine. When it arrives
we shall drink to our better acquaint-
ance. Pending it's arrival, please be
advised that you are welcome to my
pajamas, my cigarettes; my book and
my stateroom. You are my guest and
you owe me nothing, except, perhaps,
your confidence, although I do not in
sist upon that point. Where come
from every man kills his own snakes"
And he held up his hand for Andrew
Bowers to shake.
MIR. Webster" the latter declared
feelingly, II am not lord of language.
so cannot find words to thank you. 1
agree with you that you are entitled
to my confidence. My name is"
'Tut, tut, my boy. Your name is
Andrew Bowers, and that Identifies
you sufficiently for the time being.
When suggested that I was entitled
to a measure Of your confidence, 1
meant on few minor points only
points on which my curiosity has been
abnormally aroused.
Every well, my friend. Fire away"
'Are you an American citizen?"
"No, am a citizen Of Sobrante."
"YOu had no money to pay for your
passage to San Buenaventura so you
schemed to make me pay your way.
Hence take it that your presence i'm
the capital of your native country is
matter Of extreme Importance and that
the clerk in the ticket Office Of the
Caribbean Mail line is a friend of
yours"
''Quite true. lie knew my need"
"You were under surveillance and
could not leave New Orleans for San
Buenaventura unless you left secretly.
When purchased both berths in this
stateroon and the ticket clerk knew I
held first-class ticket for valet that
was not, he decided to saw off on Me
a valet that was. Disguised in the liv-
cry of chauffeur and carrying hand
baggage you hoped to get aboard with
out being detected by your enemies
who watched the gangplanl."
Andrew Bowers nodded.
do you think you succecded?' Web
ster continued.
Il do not know, Mr.. Webster I hope
so. If Gid not-wcll, the instant this
steamer drops anchor in, the roadstcah
at San Bucnaventura, she will be
boarded and searched by the military
police, I will be discovered and" lie
shrugged.
Lawn party in the cemetery. eh?"'
Webster Suggested.
Andrew Bowers reached under his
pillow and produced two heavy auto
matte pistols and leathern box con-
tanning five clips Of cartridges. These
he exhibited in silence and then thrust
them back under the pillow.
"I-see, Andrew. In case you're cor
nered, eli? Well, I think would pre-
fer to die fighting myself"
I'm not worried, Mr.. Webster.
Somehow, i think l ran the gauntlet
safely"
But why did you throw your livery
overboard?'
1T was of no further use to me-"
"But you'll have to have, some
clothes in which to go ashore, you
amazing man."
mot at all. The steamer will arrive
In the harbor Of San Buenavent,lr,
late in the afternoOn-too late to be
given pratique that day. After dark I
shall drop overheard and endcavor to
swim ashore, and in view of that plain
clothes would only prove an clnbar-
rasslnent. shall land in r,y OWN coun-
try naked and pcnnilcss, but once
ashore shall quickly find shelter. I'll
have to risk the sharks. Of course"
Man. ga ters?"
THE bay is swarming with Them"
You're breaking my heart" Web
ster declared 'sympathetically. 81 sup
pose you're going to feign illness
throughout the voyage"
mot the kind of illness that will in
terfere with my appetite. I have pre-
scribed for myself a mild attack of in
Aammatory rheumatism, as an excuse
for remaining in bed and having my
meals brought to me. This service, Of
course, will necessitate some slight ex-
pense in the way of tips, but am hop
ing you will see your way clear to talk.
in: care Of that for your guest"
Silently Webster handed Andrew
Bowers ten dollars in silver. THAT
ought to hold YOU" he declared. "For
the rest, you're up to some political
skullduggery in Sobrante, and what it
is and what's your real name are two
subjects in which am not interested.
Let it be understood that you are my
valet, Andrew Bowers. That's all
know about you and that's all care
to know about you. In fact, the less
know about you the less will have
to explain in the event Of your sudden
demise" 49,