The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-02-01

love. From that precise second BlllyS
preserve was as safe from encroach-
ment by his friend as would be bale
Of Confederate currency in an arm0r-
steel vault on the three.thousand-foot
level of Il !water.filled 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 it should prove
worth while, he would finance it and
put the property on paying basis;
after which he would see to it that
the very best doctors In the city Of
Buenaveptura 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 off 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 a siesta
after luncheon.
Webster leaned over and slapped
Billy Geary's knees affectionately.
"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? I'm anxious to get that
property on a paying basis, so can
get out Of the country"
"Why, Johnny" the amazed Billy
declared, II thought you would stay
and help run the mine"
Indeed! Well, why do you sup
pose I spent so much time teaching
you how to run a mine, you young
idiot, if not against just such a time
as this? You found this concession
and tied it up; I'll finance it and help
you get everything started; but after
that, I'm through, and you can man
age it 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 it the double-O;
then, if I can o. X. the property, we'll
cable for the machinery ordered just
before I left Denver, and get busy.
We ought to have our first cleanup
within ninety days."
Gosh, but you're in hurry" Billy
murmured. lie disliked exceedingly
the thought of having his courtship
interrupted on a minutes notice.
you know me, son. I'm hustler
on the job" Webster reminded him
brutality; $50 the sooner you start, the
sooner you can get back and accumu-
late more malaria. What accommoda-
lions have you up therc?"
"None, Jack"
"Then you had better get some,
Billy. I think you told me We have
to take horses at San Miguel de
Padua to ride in to the mine!" Billy
nodded. "Then you had better buy
tent and bedding for both of us, ship
the stuff up to San Miguel de Padua,
60 up with it and engage horses, a
good cook, and couple of reliable
mozos. When you have everything
ready telegraph me and I'll come up"
"Why can't you come up with me?"
Billy demanded.
Il have to see man, and write
some letters and send cablegram
and wait for an answer. I may have
to loaf around here for two or three
days. BY the way, what did you do
for that friend sent to you with the
letter Of introduction?"
Exactly what you told me to do,
Johnny"
"Where is he now?"
AT FL Buen Amigo-the same place
where I'm living"
"All right. When you get back to
your hostelry, you might tell my
friend shall expect him over to dine
with me this evening, if he can man.
age it."
For an hour they discussed various
subjects; then Billy, declaring the
siestd was almost over and the shops
as a consequence, an
nounced his intention Of doing his
shopping. said goodbye to Dolores and
Webster, and lugubris:c:y departed
on the business in hand.
"Why are you in such hurry, Mr..
Webster?" Dolores demanded. "You
haven't been in Buenaventura six
hours until you've managed to make
me perfectly miserable"
I'm terribly sorry. I didn't mean
to-"
Didn't you know Billy Geary is my
personal property"
mo, but I suspected he might be.
Bills generous that way. He never
hesitates to give himself to a charm
ing woman"
This was a case Of mutual self
defense. Billy hasn't any standing So
cially, you know: When old Mrs. Cen
eral Maldonado lectured me (the
dear. aristOcratic soul conceived it to
be her duty) on the improperly OF
on the Malecon with Billy
and my guardian, who happens to be
Billy's landlady. l tried to explain our
American brand of democracy. but
failed. SO ! haven't been invited any
where since. and life would have been