Vernon Parish Democrat., 1921-06-09


was looking very pale and dispirlted;
for once in his life his whimsical, BAN
tering nature was subdued. His eyes
were closed, and he did not open. them
when Ricardo entered
'WeH, have sarros," the latter de-
clared.
Webster paid not the slightest atten-
ton to this announcement. Ricardo
bent over him. "Jack, old boy" he
queried, "do you know a person Of
feminine persuasion who calls you Ca
liph7"
John Stuart Webster's eyes and
mouth flew wide open. "What the
devil !" he tried to roar. "You haven't
been speaking to her, have your If
you have, I'll never forgive you, be-
cause you've spoiled my little surprise
party"
mo, haven't been speaking to her,
but she's in the next room crying fit
to break her heart because she thinks
you've been killed"
"You scoundrell Aren't you human?
Go tell her it's only couple of pune
lures, not a blowout" He sighed.
isn't it sweet of her to weep over an
old hunks like me" he added softly.
''Bless her tender heart !"
"Who is she2" Ricardo was very
curious.
"Thats none of your business. You
wait and I'll tell you. She's the guest
told you was going to bring to din
ner, and that's enough for you to know
for the present Vaya, you idiot, and
bring her in here, so can assure her
my head is bloody but unbowed. Doc
tor, throw that rug over my shanks
and make me look pretty. I'm going
to receive company"
His glance, bent steadily on the door,
had in it some of the alert, bright wist-
fulness frequently to be observed in
the eyes of terrier standing expec-
tantly before a rat hole. The instant
the door opened and Dolores tear
stained face appeared, he called to her
with the old-time camaraderie, for he
had erased from his mind, for the
nonce, the memory of the tragedy Of
poor Don Juan Cafetero and was con-
cerned solely with the task of Danish
ing the tears from those brown eyes
and bringing the joy of life back to
that sweet face.
"Hel1o, Seeress," he called weakly
''Little Johnnys been fighting again
and the bad boys gave him an ALFRED
walloping"
There was a swift rustic of skirts,
and she was bending over him, her hot
little palms rclasping eagerly his pale.
rough cheeks. "Oh, my dear, my
dearw she whispered, and then her
voice choked with the happy tears and
she was sobbing on his wounded shoul-
der. Ricardo stopped to draw her
away, but John Stuart bent upon him
a look of such frightfulness that he
| drew back abashed. After all, the past
"a hours had been quite exciting, and
Ricardo reflected that Johns inamora-
ia was tired and frightened and prob
ably hadn't eaten anything all day
long, so there was ample excuse for
her hysteria.
"Come, come, buck up" Webster
sOothed her, and helped himself to a
long whiff of her fragrant hair. "Old
man Webster had one leg in the grave
but they've pulled it out again"
Still she sobbed.
snow listen to me, lady," he com
manded with mock severity. "You
| just stop that. You're wasting your
sympathy; and while, of course, l en-
joy your sympathy heap, just pause
to reflect on the result if those salt
tears should happen to drop into one
Of my numerous wounds"
''I'm so sorry for you, Caliph," she
murmured brOkenly. "You poor, harm
less boyl 1 don't see how any one
could be so fiendish as to hurt you
when you were so distinctly a non-com-
batant."
"Thank you. Let us forget The
Hague conference for the present, how
ever. Have you met your brother?'
he whispered.
"No. Caliph."
Ricardo"
Eyes, Jack"
| come mere. RICK, you Scnemlng'
,unscrupulous, blood-thirsty adventurer
I have tremendous surprise in store
for you. The sweetest girl in the world
and she's right here"
Ricardo laughingly held up his hand
"Jack, my friend" he interrupted
you're too weak to make a speech
Don't do it. Besides, you do not have
to-" He turned and bowed gracefully
to Dolores. "I can see for myself she's
the sweetest girl in the world, and that
she's right here" He held out his
hand to her. "Jack thinks he's going
to spring a surprise he continued ma
liciously, "Quite forgetting that good
soldier never permits himself to be
taken by surprise. ! know all about
his little secret, because heard you
mourning for him when you thought he
was dead" Ricardo favored her with
a knowing wink. 81 am delighted tC
meet the future Mrs. Webster. quite
understand why you fell in love with
him, because, you see, love him my
self and so does everybody else"