Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1921-02-17

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said:
"Well. Jack, just to celebrate the
discovery Of your old pal, TIL tell you
what I'll do. I'll o. K. your voucher
for the expense Of bringing young |
Geary back to the o. s. A., and when
we get him here, it will be up to you
to find a snug berth for him with Col
orado Consolidated"
'Neddy," said John Stuart Webster,
''by my halidom, l love thee. You're
a thoughtful, kindly old stick-in-the
mud"
emo IFS nor butts. Pm your boss,'
Jerome interrupted, and waddled |
away to telephone the head waiter at
his favorfte restaurant to reserve
table for two.
Mr.. Webster sighed. He disliked
exceedingly to disappoint old Neddy,
but He shrank from seeming to
think overwen Of himself by declin-
ing a twenty-five housand- dollar4a-
year job with the biggest mining com
pany in Colorado, but
Rotten luck" he soliloquized. ut
runs that way for a while, and then
1t changes, and gets worsei"
When Jerome returned to his seat,
the serious look in Websters hitherto
laughing eyes challenged his immedi-
ate attention.
"Neddy," said John Stuart Webster
gently, "do you remember my cross
ing my fingers and saying Kings X
when you came at me with that propo-
sition of yours2 It just breaks my
heart to have to decline It, but the
fact Of the matter is, think you'd
better give that Job to your brother,
after all. At any rate, I'm not going
to take it."
'Why?" the amazed Jerome de-
manded. Johnny, you're crazy in the
head. OF course you'll take it."
For answer Webster handed his
friend the letter he had just received.
"Read that, old horse, and see If you
can't work up circulation" he sug-
gested.
Jerome adjusted his spectacles and
: read:
, SCALE de ConcOrdia 10, Buenaventura,
Z "Sobrante, 9. A.
'Dear John: / would address you
as dear friend john did but pos
. sess sufficient courage. In my heart
Il of hearts you are still that, but after
. three years Of silence, due to my stu
: pidity and hardness Of heart, it is, per
y haps, better to make haste slowly.
y 'To begin, I should like to be for
. given, on the broad general grounds
that 1 am most almighty sorry fol-
what went and done Am forglv-
= en-? l seem to see your friendly old
= face and hear you answer Aye and
= with this load of my chest at last
believe I feel better already.
"Jack, you poor, deluded old piece
, Of white meat, do you think for mo-
4 ment that 1 held against you your
. testimony for the operators in Cripple
=. Creek? 1 thought you believed the
charges and that you testified in Q
- firm belief that was the guilty man
: as all of the circumstantlal evidence
- seemed to indicate. I thought this fol
. three long, meagre years, old friend
and I'm sorry. After that, I suppose
there isn't any need for me to say
= more, except that you are an old foo
for not saying you were going t
= spend your money and your time and
- reputation trying to put my halo bacl
~ on straight! 1 doubt If I was wortl
:, it, and you knew that; but let it pass
= for we have other fish to fry.
ie "The nubbin of the matter is this
There is only one good gold aIine lief
In this weary world--and / have II
- It's the sweetest wildcat ever struck
= and we stand the finest show in tn
- world Of starving to death If w
tackle 1t without sufficient capital t
= go through. It will take at least thirt
thousand dollars, and we ought t
- have double that to play safe. / d
-, not know whether you have, or cal
~ raise, sixty cents, but at any rate
~ am going to put the buck up to yo
and you can take a look.
- 'This is a pretty fair country, JAG
If you survive long enough to &c
Ia used to it. At first you think it's Pal
IT, adlse; then you grow to hate 1t an
know it for hell with the lid off; an
ISL finally all your early love for it n
'u- turns and you become what l am no
TO- "a tropical tramp! There is only on
W. social stratum lower than mine, an
nt' that's the tropical beachcomber.
er. am not that-yet; and will not be
ed my landlady will continue to listen
no my Establishments, She is a swe'
ne soul, with a divine disposition. and
am duly grateful.
81 would tell you all about the geo.
dy raphy, topography, fora and fauna
re Sobrante, but you can ascertain tn;
A in detail by consulting any stan,
at ard encyclopedia. Goyernmentally II
country is similar to its sister r
ny publics. It's a cold day indeed whe
," two patriots, two vivas and coup
nd Of old Long Tom Springfield rifle
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