The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-05-19

itatiOn, seeing winch, Dolores walked
10 the pier glass In the corner, satisfied
herself that her coiffure was Just so
and returned to his side, singing softly
a 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 mio!"
He turned his head and looked up at
her suddenly, searchingly. IT'S there
anybody else in Bits wayT" he de-
business, but"
Eyes, Caliph, there Is some one else"
II thought So" This rather vicious
ly. "Tm willing to gamble 100 to 1,
sight unseen, that whoever he is, he
isn't half the man Bill Is"
That" she replied coldly, SIS a mat.
ter Of personal opinion"
"And Bits clock Is fixed for keeps7"
Eyes, Caliph. And he had a
chance from the start"
"Why mott"
swell, I met the other man first, ca
liph."
ooh! Do you mind telling me what
this other man does for a livingT"
Hes a mining man, like Billy"
"All right Has the son Of a horse
thief got a mine like Bill's? That's
something to consider, Dolores"
ale has a mine fully as good as
Billy's. Like Billy. he own a half
interest In 1t, too"
"Hum-m-m! How long have you
known himT"
"Not very long"
"Be sure you're right-then 90
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 a heap Of difference, my
dear, between sentiment and sentiment.
tally"
"Tm sure Of my man, Caliph."
He was silent again, thinking rapid
~. "Well, Of course" he began again
presently, while there was the slight
est possibility of Bill winning you, l
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 this other man, however, I
hnrn M c,,oL ~NI1 ~.
pretty we'll convinced I'm out Of the
running, but I'll give that lad a race II
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, so why shouldn't
I stake 1t II ! can? But are you quite
certain you aren't making a grave mis-
take In refusing Billy7 He's quite a
boy, my dear. I know him from soul
to ~suspenders, and he'd be awfully
good to you. He's kind and gentle
and conslderate, and he's not a molly.
coddle, either"
81 can't help 1t, Caliph. Please don't
talk about him any more. I know
somebody who is kinder and nobler
and gentler." She ceased abruptly,
fearful of breaking down her reserve
and saying too much.
swell, If Bits case Is hopeless
his hand came cropping for hers, while
he held her with his searching, wistful
glance-"I wonder what mine looks
like. That is. Dolores, IL"
Eyes. JohnY
1--WE played fair with my friend" he
whispered eagerly. "I'm not going to
ask you to marry me, but I want to
tell you that to me you're such a very
wonderful woman I can't help loving
you with my whole heart and SOUL"
II have suspected this, john" she
replied gravely.
II suppose SO. Tn such an obvious
old fool. I've had my dream, and I've
put 1t behind me, but IL just want
you to know I love you; SO long as I
live, I shall want to serve you. When
you're married to this other man, and
things do not break just right for you
both-if I have something he wants,
In order to make you happy, I want
you to know It's yours to give to him.
1-l-l-kueSS tudt y I'LL, bOiOlCS
"Thank you, John. Would you like
to know this man I'm going to
ryT
Eyes, I think I'd like to congratulate
the scoundrel."
"Then I'll introduce you to him, John.
I first met him on a train In Death
valley, California. He was a shaggy
old dear, all whiskers and rags, but
his whiskers couldn't hide his smile,
and his rags couldn't hide his man
hood, and when he thrashed a drum
mer because the man annoyed me, I
Just couldn't help falling In love with
him. Even when he abbed to me and
disputed my assertion that we had met
before"
"Good land Of love-and the calves
get loose" he almost shouted as he
held up his one sound arm to her. my
dear, my dear"
"Oh, sweetheart" she whispered lay
ing her hot cheek against his, ats