The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-02-10

force me into the open. Oh, dear, I'm
helpless" Aloud she said: ION the
train In Death valley last month, Mr..
Webster"
Webster shook his head slowly, as II
mystified. 81 fear you're mistaken,
Miss Ruey. | wasn't on the train in
Death valley last month. | was In
Denver-so you must have. met some
other Mr.. Webster"
She flushed f%uriOusly. 81 didn't
think l could be mistaken" she an
swered a trifie coldly.
at Is my misfortune that you were,"
he replied graciously. Certainly, had
we met at that time, | should not have
failed to recognize you now. Some
how, Miss Ruey, l never have any
luck"
She was completely outgeneraled,
and having the good sense to realize it,
submitted gracefully. Hes perfectly
horrible" she told herself, "but at least
he can lie like a gentleman-and l al
ways did like that kind Of man."
So they chatted on the veranda until
luncheon was announced and Dolores
left them to go to her room.
"Well?" Billy queried the moment
she was out Of earshot. what do you
think, Johnny"
u Think" said John Stuart Webster,
slowly, that you're a good picker, Bill.
ST & my ideal of a fine young woman,
.-.. M a6,riaa RI rn,, ic RI n,arry hnr
I'll grub-stake you. Bill, this stiff col
lar is choking me; l wish you'd wait
here while l 60 to my Don and rustic
up a soft one"
In the privacy Of his room John
Stuart Webster sat down on his bed
and held his read in his hands, for he
had Just received a blow in the solar
pleXus and was still groggy. Present
~, however, he pulled himself together
and approaching the mirror looked
long at his we~ather-beaten counte-
nance.
TOO DID," he murmured, too old to
be dreaming Dreams"
He changed to a soft collar, and
when he descended to the patio to Join
Billy once more he was, to all outward
appearances, his usual unperturbed
self for his was one of those rare ma
lures that can derive a certain comfort
from the misery of self-sacrifice-and
In that five minutes alone in his room
John Stuart Webster had wrestled
with the tragedy of his life and wOn
He had resolved to give Billy the
right of way on the highway to happi-
ness.
In Mr.. Webster's own whimsical
phraseOlogy, his clock had been fixed,
on the instant he recognized in the OBJ
ject Of his youthful partners alteration
the same WinSOme he had en-
thrOned in his own secret castle of
love. From that precise second Billy's
preserve was as safe from eucroach
ment by his friend as would he Il bate
OF Confederate currency IN an arunor-
steel vault on the MISREPRESENTATION
level of n water-tilled 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 a paying basis;
after which he would see to it that
the very best doctors in the city Of
Buenaventura should inform Billy, un-
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
integrating 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
otter luncheon.
Webster leaned over and slapped
Billy Geary's knees a~ffectionately.
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? Pm 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 l spent sc much time teaching
you how to run a mine, you young
idiot, If not against just such a time
as ills? 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 a greater inter-
est In this country than l, William +;