The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-01-06


where your pay-check originates; 1t Is
short, sweet and comprehensive, con-
tanning an order which you are going
to obey. 1t reads somewhat as fol-
lows:
"My friend, John S. Webster, wires
me from Blank that he boarded train
at Blank and was refused first-clasS
accommodation because he looked like
a hobo. Give him the best you have in
stock, If you have to throw somebody
off the train to accommodate him.
Signed, Sweeney
DO l hit the target?'
The conductor nodded. You win,
Mr.. Webster" he admitted.
occasionally l lose, old timer.
Well?'
"No offense, Mr.. Webster, no Offense.
I can let you have a stateroom-"
"Ttat's trading talk. I'll take It."
The conductor gave him his receipt
and led him back to the stateroom In
the observation car. At the door Web
ster handed him a five-dOllar bin. "For
you,s son. he said gently, "just to take
the sting out Of what I'm about to tell
you. Now that | possess your receipt
and know that ten men and a boy can
not take it away from me, Pm going to
tell you who Sweeney is"
"Who Is he?" tie conductor Queried.
Already he suspected he had been out
generated.
Sweeney" said Mr.. Webster, "is the
chief clerk In one Of Chicago's most
%prete1tious hotels and a young man
who can find all the tangles of a sit
uation without working it out in loga-
rithms. l wired him the details Of my
predicament he heard the Macedonian
cry and kicked in. Neat, is it not?"
The conductor grinned. II hate to
take your money" he declared.
Don't. Just at present I'm very
flush. Yes, sir, I'm as prosperous as a
yearling burro up to his ears In alfalfa
and the only use l have ever found for
money is to make other people happy
with it, thereby getting some enjoy
ment out Of 1t myself. When I'm broke
I'll make some more"
And Mr.. Webster retired to his hard
won sanctuary, where he removed as
much alkali and perspiration as he
could, carded his long hair AID whisk-
ers, manicured his finger nails with a
jack-knife, changed his shirt, provided
five minutes of industry for George,
with his w~hiskbroOm and brush, and
set himself patiently to await tie first
call to dinner.
Presently a pink-jowled, well
curried, fashily dressed big man, OF
about Webster's age, passed in the cor
ridor, going toward the head of the
train. An instant later a woman's
voice said very distinctly:
II do not know you, sir; l do not
wish to know you, and it is loathsome
of you to persist in addressing me. II
you do not stop your annoying attel-
tons, l shall call the conductor"
"Ah! Beauty in Distress John
Stuart Webster s~oliloquized. II look
so much like an Angora goat 1 might
as well butt in." He stepped to the
door Of his stateroOm. A girl stood in
the veStibule, confronting the man who
had just passed Webster's door. Web
ster bowed.
Madame, or mademoiselle, as the
case may be-" he said, unlike this
other male biped, my sole purpose IN
presuming to address you is to suggest
that there is not the slightest necessity
for taking this matter up with the con
ductor. l am here and very much at
your service"
The girl turned-and John Stuart
Webster's keart Topped twice in rapid
succession, like a trOut newly grassed.
She was as lovely as a royal flush.
Her starry glance began at his miners
boots, travelled up his old soiled, whip
cord trousers, over his light blue cham
bray shirt and found the man behind
the whiskers. She favored him with a
quick, curious scrutiny and a grave,
sweet smile. Thank you so much, sir"
she answered, and passed down the
corridor to the observation car.
"Well, old-timer," Webster greeted
the fellow who had been annoying her,
'how about you? What do you think
we OuSll 10 10 uDOut lllS llltle III
fair?"
1.-The sensible thing would be to do
nothing. You might start something
you couldn't finish"
That's a dare" Webster declared
brightly, land wasn't 1t the immortal
Huckleberry Finn who remarked that
anybody that'd take a dare would suck
eggs and steal sheepY" He was silent
a few seconds, appraising his a II
suppose you commenced operations by
moving into her section and asking If
she would like to have the window
open and enjoy the fresh air. She re-
buffed you, but being a persistent
devil, you followed her into the OBJ
~servation car, and In all probability
you ogled her at luncheon and ruined
her appetite. And just now, when you
met her in this vestibule, you doubt
less jostled her. begged her pardon
and without waiting to be introduced