The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1921-01-07


"Gosh, but you're in a hurry" Billy
murmured. He disliked exceedingly
the thought of having his courtship
interrupted on a minutes notice.
"You know me, son. I'm a hustler
on the job" Webster reminded him
brutality; $50 the sooner you start, the
sooner you can get back and accumu-
late more malaria. What accommoda-
tons have you up there2"
"None, Jack"
"Then you had better get some,
Billy. I think you told me we have
to take horses at San Miguel de
Padua to ride in to the mine" Billy
nodded. "Then you had better buy a
tent and bedding for both of us, ship
the STUFF up to San Miguel de Padua,
go up with It and engage horses, a
good cook, and a couple Of reliable
mozos. When you have everything
ready telegraph me and Til come up"
"Why can't you come up with meT
Billy demanded.
Il have to see q man, and write
some letters and send a cablegram
and walt for an answer. may have
to loaf around here for two or three
days. By the way, what did you do
for that friend sent to you with the
letter Of Introductory"
"Bxactly what you told me to do,
Johnny"
"Where is he now?'
"At ri Buen Amigo-the same place
where I'm living"
"All right. When you get back to
your hostelry, you might tell my
friend shall expect him over to dine
with me this evening, II he can man
age it."
For an hour they discussed various
subjects; then Billy, declaring the
siesta was almost over and the shops
reOpening as a consequence, an
nounced his intention Of doing his
shopping, said goodbye to Dolores and
Webster, and lugubriously departed
on the business in hand.
'Why are you in such hurry, Mr..
Webster?" Dolores demanded, "You
haven't been In Buenaventura six
hours until you've managed to make
me perfectly miserable"
''I'm terribly sorry. didn't mean
to-"
didn't you know Billy Geary is my
personal property
mo, but 1 suspected he might be.
Bills generous that way. He never
hesitates to give himself to a charm
ing woman"
'"This was a case of mutual self
defense. Billy hasn't any standing So
cially, you know. When old Mrs. Cen
eral Maldonado lectured me (the
dear, aristocratic soul conceived 1t to
be her duty on the improperly Of
appearing on the Malecon with Billy
and my guardian, who happens to be
Buly's landlady, / tried to explain our
American brand of democracy, but
failed. So I haven't been invited any
where since, and life would have been
very dull without Billy. He has been
a dear-and you have taken him
away"
webster laughed. "well, be pa
tient, Miss Ruey, and I'll give him
back to you with considerable more
money than he will require for your
Joint comfort. Billy in financial dis
tress is a Joy forever, but Billy in a
top hat and frOck coat on the sunny
side Of Easy street will be absolutely
irresistible"
"He's a darling. Ever since my ar
rival he has dedicated his life to keep
| ing me amused" She rose. "Despite
your wickedness, Mr.. Webster, l am
going to be good to you. Billy and
always have FIVE o'clock tea here in
the veranda. Would you care to come
to my tea-partyT
"Nothing could give me greater
pleasure" he assured her.
She nodded brightly to him. "Pm
going to run up to my room and put
some powder on my nOse," she ex-
planned.
"But youT return before Eve
o'clockTp Webster was amazed to hear
himself plead.
"You do not deserve such consldera-
ton. but I'll come back in about
twenty minutes" she answered and
left him.
AS Webster viewed the situation, his
decision to see as little as possible OF
Dolores during his brief stay in
Sobrante was wise one. The less he
saw Of her Che told himself), the bet
ter for his peace Of mind, for he was
forty years old, and he had never
loved before. For him this fever that
burned in his blood, this delicious
agony that throbbed In his heart-and
all on the very ghost OF provOcaton-
were so many danger-signals, heralds
Of that grand passion which, coming
To q man Of forty ranarnllv lasta hin.