The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-01-29
Continued From Last Issue)

'Im going ashore, if it's the last act
OF my life, and when get there I'm
going to interview the cable agent {;
then I'm going to call at the steam
ship office and scan the passenger list
OF the last three north-bound steam
ers, and if do not find Henrietta Will
kins' name on one Of those passenger
lists I'm going up to Gale de Con-
c0rdia No. 49,"
II surrender uncOndiGonally,"
groanel Billy. "1'm a liar from be-
ginning to end. overlooked my hand.
beg Of you to believe me, however,
when I tell You that I only told you
those whoppers because I was in
honor bound to tell them. Personally,
I don't want you to go away-at least.
not until I'm ready to go away, too!
Miss Ruey, my nose is in the dust.
There is fever in my brain and
misery in my heart"
"And contrition in your face" she
interrupted him laughingly. 'You're
forgiven, Mr.. Geary one condi-
tion."
"Name It," he answered.
"Tell me everything from beginning
to end"
So Billy told her. II would much
rather have been visited with'a plague
or boils, like our old friend, the late
Job, than have to tell you this, Miss
Ruey," he concluded his recital. "AIan
proposes, but God disposes, and you're
here and bound to learn the truth
sooner or later. Mother isn't a lady
and she knows it. but take it from
me, Miss Ruey, she's grand old
piece Of work. Shes Il scout-a ring
tailed sport-a regular individual and
game as a gandcr."
"And mustn't call at Ell Bucn Ami
50, Mr.. Geary:'
"perisl the thought! Mother must
call on you. Ell Buen Amigo is what
YOU might term a hotel for tropical
tramps Of the masculine sex. Nearly
all OF Mothers guests have past,
you know. They're the submerged
white tenth of Sobrante.
''Then my bcnefactor must call to
sec me here?" Billy nodded. "When
will you bring her herc?"
Billy reflected that Mother jerks
had been up rather late the night be-
fore and that trade in the cantina
Of Ell Buen Amigo had&een unusually
brisk; so since he desired to exhibit
the old lady at her best, he concluded
it might be we'll to spar for wind.
Tomorrow at 49," lie declared. Do
lores inclined her head. Something
told her she had better leave all future
details to the amiable William.
II remember YOU inquired for your
friend. Mr.. Webster, when you came
aboard the steamer"
II remember it. too" Billy countered
ruefully. II can't imagine what's be-
come OF him. Miss Ruey, did you
ever go to meet the only human being
in the world and discover that for
some mysterious reason he had failed
to keep the appointment? Miss Ruey.
you'll have to meet old John Stuart
the minute he lights in Buenaventura.
He's some boy"
"Old John Stuart?" she queried.
"How old?"
ooh, thirtynine or forty on actual
count, but one Of the kind that will
live to be thousand and then have
to be killed with an axe. He's COM
ing to SObrante to help me put over a
mining deal"
"How interesting. Mr.. Geary! No
wonder you We're disappointed"
The last sentence was a shaft DELHI
erately launched; to Dolores delight
it made a keyhole in Billy Geary's
heart.
Don't get me wrong, Miss Ruey,"
he fastened to assure her. II have a
good mine. but I'd trade it for hand
shake from Jack! The good Lord only