Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1921-01-07

slowly, that you're good picker, Bill.
She's my ideal Of fine young woman,
and my advice to you is to marry her.
I'll grub-stake you. BIZ, this stiff col
lar is choking me; wish you'd walt
here while so 20 my room and rustic
up soft one"
In the privacy Of his room John
Stuart Webster sat down on HIS bed
and held his head in his hands, for he
had Just received blow In the solar
plexus and was still groggy. Present
ly, however, he pulled himself together
and approaching the mirror looked
long at his weather-beaten counte-
nance.
"Too old" he murmured, 'too old to
be dreaming dreams"
He changed to a soft collar, and
when he descended to the patio to Join
Billy once more he was, to all outward
appearances, his usual unperturbed
self for his was one Of those rare ma
lures that can derive certain comfort
from the misery Of self-sacrilce-an
in that five minutes alone in his room
John Stuart Webster had wrestIed
with the tragedy Of his life and won.
He had resolved to give Billy the
right of way on the highway to happi-
ness.
In Mr.. WebsteF's, own whimsical
phraseology, his clock had been fixed,
on the instant he recognized in the OBJ
ject of his youthful partners alteration
the same winsome woman he had en-
thrOned In his own secret castle of
love- From that precise second BiIly's
preserve was as safe from encroach-
ment by his friend as would be bale
of Confederate currency in an armor-
steel vault on the three-thousand-foot
level of water-flled mine.
John Stuart Webster had unanimously
resolved upon the course he should have
pursued in the first place. He would
investigate Billy's mining concession
Immediately; provided 1t should prove
worth while, he would finance 1t and
put the property on paying basis !;
after which he would see to 1t that
tie very best doctors In the city of
Buenaventura should inform Billy, I'M
officially and in the strictest conf
dence, that If he desired to preserve
the life of Senior Juan Webstaire be
should forthwith pack that rapidly dis
migrating person of to a more salu-
brious climate.
Having made his decision, John
Stuart Webster Immediately took heart
Of hope and decided to lead trumps.
Dolores rejoined them for siesta
after luncheon.
/ Webster leaned over and slapped
Billy Geary's knees affectlonately.
"Well, Bill, you saffron-colored old
wreck, how long do you suppose it
will take for you to pick up enough
strength and courage to do some ac-
tive mining? Pm anxious to get that
property on paying basis, SO / can
get out Of the country"
"Why. Johnny" the amazed Billy
declared, 81 thought you would stay
and help run the mine."
"Indeedi Well, why do you sup
pose ! spent so much time teaching
| -
idiot, IL not against just such time
as this7 You found this concession
and tied 1t up; I'll finance it and help
you get everything started; but after
that, I'm through, and you can man
age 1t on salary and name the salary
yourself. You have greater inter
est in this country than i, William
and SO with your kind permission
we'll hike up to that concession to
morrow and give 1t the double-O
then, IL can 0. K. the property, wei
cable for the machinery ordered just
before left Denver. and get busy
We ought to have our first cleanup
within ninety days."
"Gosh, but you're In hurry" Billy
murmured. He disliked exceedingly
the thought Of having his courtshiI
interrupted on a minutes notice.
"You know me, son. I'm a hustler
on the job" Webster reminded hin
brutally; $50 the sooner you start, tht
sooner you can get back and accumu
late more malaria. What accommoda
lions have you up thereT'
"None, Jack"
"Then you had better get some
Billy. I think you told me we hav,
to take horses at San Miguel d,
Padua to ride In to the mine" Bill!
nodded. .Then you had better buy /
tent and bedding for both of us. shil
the STUFF up to San Miguel de Padua
go up with it and engage horses, I
good cook, and a couple of reliabl,
. mOzos. When you have everything
ready telegraph me and I'll come up
why can't you come up with me z
Billy demanded.
| 81 have to see man. and writ
, some letters and send a cablegra1
: and wait for an answer. 1 may hav
! to loaf around here for two or tire
days. BY the way. what did you d
for that friend ] sent 20 you with tn