Vernon Parish Democrat., 1921-03-10

lar" Billy gasped. "Why II came
out to warn him of the grass, too"
Dolores walked a step closer to Billy
and eyed him disapprovingly. "I'm so
sorry I can't believe that statement"
she replied. "It happens that was
standing by the companion-ladder
when you came aboard and spoke to
the purser; when you asked him If Mr..
Webster was aboard, your face was
alight with eagerness and anticipation,
but when you had reason to believe he
was not aboard, you looked so terribly
disappointed / felt sorry for you.
''I'm 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 viii
kins' name on one of those passenger
lists I'm going up to Gale de Con-
cordia No. 10"
"I surrender Internationally"
groaned Billy. ''Pm a liar from ne
ginning to end. I overlooked my hand.
I beg of you to believe me, however,
when l tell you that / only told you
those whoppers because was in
honor bound to tell them. Personally,
l 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 on one condi-
ton"
Name it," he answered.
''Tell me everything from beginning
to end"
So Billy told her. 81 would much
rather have been visited with plague
of bOlls, like our old friend, the late
Job, than have to tell you this, Miss
Ruey," he concluded his recital. MAN
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 a grand old
piece Of work. She's a scout-a ring
tailed sport-a regular individual and
game as gander."
Sand mustn't call at Ell Buen Ami
go, Mfr. GearyT
Perish the thought! Mother must
call on you. El Buen Amigo is what
you might term a hotel for tropical
tramps of the masculine sex. Nearly
AZ Of Mothers. guests have past,
you know. They're the submerged
white tenth Of Sobrante.
"Then my benefactor must call to
see me hefeP Billy nodded "When
will you bring her here?"
Billy reflected that Mother jerks
had been up rather late the night be-
fore and that trade in the cantina
of El Buen Amigo had been unusually
brisk; so since he desired to exhibit
the old lady at her best, he concluded
it might be well to spar for wind.
Tomorrow at TO-" he 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"
''I remember 1t, 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 Stuart7" she queried.
"How old?"
"Oh, thirty-nine or forty on actual
count. but one of the kind that will
live to be a 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 were disappointed"
The last sentence was a shaft delib-
erately launched; to Dolores delight
it made a keyhole in Billy Geary's
heart.
Don't get me wrong, Miss Ruey. .
he hastened to assure her. II have a
good mine, but I'd trade it for hand
shake from Jack The good Lord only
published one edition of Jack, and
limited the edition to one volume
then the plates were melted for the
junk we call the human race. Two
weeks ago, when was sick and pen
niless and despairing, the possessor OF
a concession on a fortune but with
/ out a centavo in my pockets to buy a
banana, when was a veritable beach.
cOmber and existing on the charity OF
Mother jerks, managed finally tO
communicate with old Jack and 1old
him where l was and what had
There's his answer, Miss Ruey and
I'm not ashamed to say that when
got 1t / cried like a kid" And Billy
handed her. JOHN Stuart Webster's re
markable cablegram, the receipt Of
which had, for Billy Geary, trans
formed night into day, purgatory into
paradise. Dolores read II.