The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-03-31
Continued from last weekly
CHAPTER n,

abandoned the beefsteak on his dam
aged eve for two business!ike leeches,
which quickly reduced the nocturne
effect around his orb, enabling him,
the third day, to saunter forth among
his fellowmen. BY the end Of the
week he was being rei1carnated, and
30 he packed huge new wardrobe
trunk with his latest purchases and
1ourneyed on to Denver. Coincident
with his arrival there, we again take
up the thread Of our story.
One hour after his trunk arrived the
gentleman from Death Valley might
have been observed standing before
cheval glass looking long and
earnestly at the reflection Of his mid
dle-aged person, the while he marked
the fit of his new raiment. John
Stuart Webster was all dressed up for
the first time In three long, labor-rid-
den years, and was tremendously glad
or 1t. He lighted cigar and stepped
forth into Seventeenth street, along
which he strOlled until he came to a
certain building into the elevator OF
which he entered and was whisked to
the twelfth floor, where he alighted
and found himself before wide porta
which bore in gold letters the words:
"Engineers' Club"
The Engineers club was the closest
approach to a home that John Stuart
Webster had known for twenty years,
and save for the slight job of kali
somining which Father Time had done
on the edges of the close-cropped Web
sterian mustache, tie returned prodI-
gal might have stepped out of the club
but yesterday. He would not have
taken the short end of modest bet
that even fresh log had been placed
on the fire or that the domino players
over against the wall had won or lost
drink or two a1d then resumed play
ing-although perchance there were n
rev more gray hairs In the thickIy
matched head Of old Neddy Jerome,
sitting In his favOrite seat by the
window and turning the cards in his
eternal game of solitaire. In hlissful
ignorance that John Stuart Webster
stood within the portals Of home and
awaited the ratted calf.
Webster struck tie upholstery Of an
adjacent chair terrific blow with his
stick effect OF which was to cause
everybody In tie room to start and
to conceal Mr.. Webster momentarily
In cloud Of dust, the while In a bel
lowing baritone he sang:
"His father was a hard-rocs miner;
He comes from my home town"
"Jack Webster! The devils own
kin" shouted Neddy Jerome. He
swept the cards into heap and wad-
died across the room to meet this
latest assailant Of the peace and dig.
nifty OF TIE Engineers club. "YOu old,
worthless. ornery. nO-good son Of
lizard! I've never been so glad to see
q man that didn't owe me money. I've
been combing the whole civilized
world for you, for month, at least.
Where the devil have you been?"
John Stuart Webster beamed hap
PLY upon his friend. "Well, Neddy,
you old stocking-knitter," he replied
qulzZically. "since that Is the case, I'm
not surprised at your failure to find
me. You've known me long enough
to have remembered to cOnfine your
search to tie uncivilized reaches"
"Well, you're here, at any rate and
TIN happy. Now you settle down."
Hardly, Neddy. "Tm young yet,
you know-only forty. Still real live
man and not quite ready to degenerate
into a card-playing. eat-drink- -and-be-
merry, die-of-inanition, sink -to-Obllvioa
and go-to-h-- fireplace spirit !" And
ne prodded Jerome In the short RIBS
with a tentative thumb that caused
the old man to vince. He permitted
his friend to drag him downstairs to
the deserted lounge. where Jerome
paused In the middle Of the room and
renewed tis query:
Where have you been, ask?"
"Out In Death valley, California, try
Ing to pry loose fortune"
did you pry it?"
John Stuart Webster arched his eye
brows In mock reproach. "And YOU
can see my new suit, Neddy, my six
teen-dollar. made-to- order shoes and
my horny hoofs encased In silken hose
and ask that question? Freshly
shaved and lroned and almost afraid
to sit down and get wrinkles I'm my
trousers Smell that!" He blew a
cloud OF cigar smoke into Jerome's
smiling face. The latter shifted. ut
smells expensive" he replied
Yes, and you can bet It tastes OK.
pe1sive, too," Webster answered.
handing his cigar-case to his friend.
Jerome bit the end of his cigar and
spat derlslvely. "How much have you
madef" he demanded bluntly.
IT'S none of your business. hut III
tell you because love you, Ncddy. I'VE
nude one hundred thousand dollars"
"Chicken-feed," Jerome retorted
Johnny, I've been combing the min.
eral belt Of North and South America
for you for month";"
why this sudden belated interest
In me?"
81 have a fine Job for you. John"
Kings X" Webster interrupted,
and showed both hands with the fln.
gers crossed. "No plotting against my
peace and comfort, Neddy. Haven't