Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-04-01

Vaccinations; and, the good Lord and
the jlggers willing, I shall yet CLEAN
nights sleep"
He shook hands all around and took
his departure.
Mother jerks was waiting for Web
ster at the foot Of the stairs. He
paused on the Threshold
"Nrs. jerks" he said, BILLY tells
me you have been very kind to him.
want to tell you how much | appre-
clate it and that I stand willing to re-
ciprocate any time you are in need"
Mother jerks fingered her beard and
reflected. "'Ave you met Miss Dolores
Ruey. sir?" she queried.
"YOur ward? Yes"
"'Ow does the lamb strike you, Mr..
Webster?"
81 have never met many women;
have known few intimately; but
should say that Miss Dolores Ruey
Is the marvel of her sex. She is as
beautiful as she is good, and is as in
telllgent as she can be"
"She's a lydy, sir" Mother jerks
affirmed proudly. IAN | done it. You
can see with arr a heye wot | am,
but for all that, I've done my dooty
by her. From the day my sainted
'Enery-'e was a colonel O hartillery
under President Ruey. Dolores father
-hescaped from the burnin' palace
with 'er an told me to raise 'er lydy
for the syke of her father, as was the
finest gentleman this rotten cOuntryll
ever see, she's been my guldin' star.
She's seIf-suppOrtin' now, but still l
amt done my whole dOoty by her. |
want to see 'er married to a gentle
man ASH maintain er like lydy."
well Mrs. jerks, | think you will
live to see that worthy ambition at
taned. Mr.. Geary Is head over heels
in love with her"
AYE. Wille's a nice lad-l could
wish no better; but wOt 'e's got e
got from you, an where'll e be If is
mine doesn't ply big? Now, with you,
sir it's different. You're a bit older'n
Billy, an more settled an serious;
you've made yer fortune, so Willie
tells me- an not to go beatin' about
the bally bush, sly, wot's the matter
with you an her steppin' over the
broomstick together? You might go a
bloomin sight farther an fare wuss."
TOO old, my dear schemer, too
oldw John Stuart replied smilingly.
"And she's In love with Billy. Don't
worry. If he doesn't make go OF
this mining concession, I'll take care
of his finances until he can do so him
self. l do not mind telling you, In
strictest confidence, that l have
made my will and divided my money
equally between them"
cord bless you, for sweet kind
gentleman" Mother jerks gulped,
quite overcome with emotion.
Hastily Webster babe Mother jerks
good night and hurried away to es-
cape a discussion on such a delicate
topic with Billy's blunt and single
minded landlady. His mind was in
tumult. SO it was that he paid no at
tention to a vehicle that logged by him
with the cochero sagging low in his
seat, half asleep over the reins, until
a quick command from the closed in
terror brought the vehicle to an
abrupt halt. half a block in advance
of Webster.
Save for an arc light at each end
of the block, the Gale de COncordia
was dim; save for Webster, the car
riage and the two men who piled hur-
riedy out at the rear of the convey
ance the Gale de COncOrdia was de-
void of life Webster saw one of the
men hurriedly toss a coin to the coch-
erO; with a fervent "Graclas, mi cap
itan," the driver clucked to his horse
turned the corner into the Gale Eli
condo and disappeared, leaving his late
passengers facing Webster and calmly
awaiting his approach. He was within
90 feet of them when the taller of the
two men spoke.
"Good evening, my American friend.
This meeting is pleasure we scarce
ly hoped to have so soon. For the
same we are indebted to Lieutenant
Arredondo, who happened to look
back as we passed you, and recog-
nized you under the arc light"
Webster halted abruptly; the two
sobrantean officers stood smiling and
evidently enjoying his discontinue.
Each carried a service revolver In
closed holster fastened to his sword
belt. but neither had as yet made a
move to draw-seeing which, Webster
felt sufficiently treasured to accept the
unwecome situation with a grace
equal to that of his enemies.
"What? You two bad little boys
up this late I'm surprised" he replied
in Spanish. He folded his arms,
struck an attitude and surveyed them
as might an indignant father You
kids have been up to some mischief
he added. as his right hand closed over
the butt of his automatic, where it lay
snuggled in the open holster under his