Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-02-25


he came up the companion, the purser
recognized him.
"HOwdy, Bill" he called.
"HeIO, Yourself" Mr.. William
Geary replied, and Dolores knew him
for an American. do you happen to
have as a passenger this trip large.
interesting person, by name John Stu
art Webster?" added Billy Geary.
81 don't know, Billy. I'll look over
the passenger list" and together they
moved off toward his office. Dolores
followed, drawn by the mention or
that magic name Webster, and paused
in front of the purser's office to lean
over the rail, Ostensibly to watch the
cargadores in their lighters clustering
around the great ship, but in reality
to learn more Of the mysterious Web
ster.
'Blast the luck" Billy Geary
growled, "the old sinner isn't here. BY
the way, do you happen to have a
Miss Dolores Ruey aboardT'
Dolores prlcked up her little ears
What possible interest could this
stranger have in her goings or COM
ings2
"You picked a winner this time,
BILL" she heard the purser say
"Stateroom sixteen, boat-deck, star
board side. You'll probably find her
there, packing to go ashore"
Thanks" Billy replied and stepped
out of the purser's Office. Dolores
turned and faced him.
IT am Miss Ruey," she announced.
"T heard you asking for me-" Her
eyes carried the query she had not put
into words: "Who are you, and what
do you want?" Billy saw and under
stood, and on the instant a wave OF
desolatlon surged over him.
So this was the vision he had volun-
teered to meet aboard La Estrellita,
and by speclous lie and hypocrltic
mlen, turn her back from the portals
of Buenaventura to that dear old
United States, which, Billy suddenly
recalled with poignant pain, Is a siz-
able country in which a young lady
may very readily be lost forever. With
the quick eye of youth, he noted that
Dolores was perfectly wonderful in a
white flannel skirt and jacket, white
buck boots, white panama hat with
gorgeous puggaree, a mannish little
linen collar, and a red four-in-hand
tie. From under that white hat peeped
a prOfusiOn of crinkly brown hair with
a slightly reddish tlnge to 1t; her eyes
were big and brown and wide apart,
with golden hecks in them; their
glance met Billy's hungry gaze simply,
directly, and with a curiosity there
was no attempt to hide. Her nose
was patrician; her beautiful short up
per lip revealed the tips of two per-
feet, milk-white front teeth: she was,
Billy Geary told himself, a goddess
before whom all low, worthless, ornery
fellows like himself should grOvel and
die happy, if perchance she might be
so minded as to walk on their faces !!
He was aroused from his critical In
ventory when the houri spoke again:
"YOu haven't answered my question,
sir"
mo" said Billy, 81 didn't. Stupid
of me, too. However, come to think
of it, you didn't ask me any question.
You looked It, My name is Geary-
William Fl. Geary. by profession a
mining engineer and by nature an
ignoramus, and have called to de-
liver some disappointing news teg,,.1-
ing Henrietta wilkins"
sis She"
"She is. Very much alive and In ex-
cellent healthier rather was, the last
time it was my pleasure and privilege
to call on the dear lady. But she isn't
in Buenaventura now" Mentally Billy
asked God to forgive him his black
hearted treachery to this winsOme girl.
He loathed the task he had planned
and fOlsted upon himself, and moth
ing but the memory of Mother jerks