Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1921-01-14

/ MkulA VIII fuGNAcu ut13tuFS FFOTu MIN.
but then It was worth ten dollars to
know for certainty whether she was
perfect or possessed Of 4 slight flaw !;
50 he silently drew forth q wallet that
would have choked COW and skinned
OFF ten-dollar gold certificate OF the
United States of America.
"l'm game" he mumbled.
''The fat gentleman's initials are e.
p. ID"
"By the twelve apostles Peter.
| Simon" 1850
Don't blaspheme, afr. Webster"
He stood up and shook himself.
'When you order the tea" he said
very distinctly. please have mine
cold. / need a bracer after that. Take
the ten. You've won it,"
asThahks; ever so much,r she an.
swered In q matter-of-fact tone, and
tucked the bill inside her shirtwaist.
II am very poor woman, and--
Every little bit added to what you've
got makes just little bit more, " she
car0led, swaying her 1.-THE, beautiful
body and swapping her fingers like a
cabaret dancer. e
He could have groaned with the
futility Of his Overwhelming desire for
her; It even occurred to him what q
shame 1t was to waste a marvel like
her on callow young pup like Billy,
who had fought so many deadly skirm-
ishes with. Dan Cupid that a post
simpressionlstic painting of the Geary
heart must resemble a plncushion.
Then he remembered that this was an
ungenerous, traitorous thought, and
that he had not paid Tlsesc Cos sher fee.
well. what's the tariffSss he asked.
"You really feel that / have earned
professionals feeg'
Beyond a doubt
"Slnce you have taken Billy away
from me this evening, I. shall make
you take BiIly's place this evening.
After dinner you shall hire an open
victoria with two little white horses
and drive me around the Malecon.
There is band concert tonight"
IF it's the last act OF my wicked
IifeP' he promised fervently. Strange
to relate, in that ecstatic moment no
thought Of Billy Geary marred the per
feet serenity of what promised to be
the most perfectly serene night in his
tory.
They were seated at the tiny tea
table when the sound Of feet crunch
ing the little shell-paved path through
the patio caused Webster and Dolores
to turn their heads simultaneously.
Coming, toward them was an indlvld-
ual who wore upon head of flaming
red a disreputable, cOnicaI-crowned
straw s0mbrer0; a soiIed cotton
camisa with the tails Iowing free of
his equally soiled khaki trousers. and
sandals of the kind known as alpar-
gates-made from the tough fibre OF
plant of the cactus family and worn
only by the very lowllest poems COM
pleted his singular attire.
Zone Of Billys friends and another
reason why he has no social standing"
Dolores whispered. eI believe he's go
Ing to speak to us"
Such evidently appeared to be the
mans intention. He came to the
edge Of the .veranda, swept his ruin
OF hat from his red head and bowed
with Castilian expansiveness.
Eyer pardon, Miss. for appearln' be-
fore you"
She smiled her forgiveness to what
Webster now perceived to be an
alcoholic wreck. He was about to
dismiss the fellow with scant cere-
mony, when Dolores, with that rich
sense of almost masculine hnmor-
a humor that was distinctly American
said sweetly:
"Mr. Webster, shake hands with Don
Juan Cafetero. bon vivant and man
about town. Don Juan, permit me to
present Mr.. Webster, from somewhere
In the United States. Mr.. Webster is
a mining partner OF our mutual friend
Mr.. William Geary.''
A long, sad descent into the Pit had,
however, lmbued Don Juan with a
sense of his degradation; he was In
the presence of Superior, and he ac-
knowledged the Introduction with a
respectful inclination OF his head.
'"Tis you I've called te see, MIisther
Webster, s0r," he explained.
"Very well, old-tiner. In what way
can be OF service to youf"
"Tis the other way around, sor, IL
ye PLACE, an for that same there's no
Charge. SEEM ye're the partner, av
that fine, kind glnleman. MIsther
Geary. Ibid We, whllstlin New Orleans,
have d'alings wit q short, shtout
spiggoty wit a puckered scar undher
his right eye?'
8 John Stuart Webster suddenly sat
up straight and, gazed upon the lost
son Of Erin with grave interest. Eyes"
he replied, - seem to recall such
man.
lis none aY me business, sur. but
would We mind teliin' me Just what ye
did to that spiggoty7'
"Why, to begin, last Sunday morn
ing intarrunte(i this nuck er-avpd fall