Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-02-25

name It. ne answered.
"Tell me everything from beginning
to end"
So Billy told her. ~ would much
rather have been visited with a plague
Of bois, 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 lady
and she knows 1t, but take 1t from
me, Miss Ruey, she's grand old
piece of work. She's scout-a ring
tailed sport-a regular individual and
game as q gander."
"And l mustn't call at Ell Buen Ami
go, Mr.. Geary2"
"Perlsh the thought Mother must
call on you. FL Buen Amigo is what
you might term a hotel for tropical
tramps Of the masculine sex. Nearly
all Of Mothers guests have past
you know. They're the submerged
white tenth of SObrante.
"Then my benefactor must call to
see me here?" 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 FL Buen Amigo had been unusually
brisk; so since he desired to exhibit
the old lady at her best, he concluded
1t might be we'll 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 amlable William.
81 remember you inquired for your
friend, Mr.. Webster, when you came
aboard the steamer"
81 remember it, 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 StuartT 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 CON-
ing to Sobrante to help me put over
mining deal"
"How interesting, Mr.. GearyI No
wonder you were disappointed"
The last sentence was a shaft DELHI
erately launched; to Dolores delight
1t made a keyhoIe In Billy Geary's
heart.
Don't get me wrong, Miss Ruey,"
he FASTENED to assure her. 81 have
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 despairlng, the pOssessOr of
q concession on q fortune, but with
out a centavo in my pockets to buy
banana, when was q veritable beach
cOmber and existing on the charity of
Mother jerks, managed finally to
communicate with old Jack and told
him where | was and what had.
There's his answer, Miss Ruey, and
I'm not ashamed to say that when |
got it | cried like a kid" And Billy
handed her John Stuart Webster's re-
markabe cablegram, the receipt OF
which had, for Billy Geary, trans
formed night into day, purgatory into
paradise. Dolores read 1t.
mo wonder you love him." she de-
clared, and added artlessly: His
wife must simply adore him."
"'He has no wife to bother his life,
so he paddles his own canoe Billy
recited. 81 don't believe the old sour
dough has ever been In love with any
thing more charming than the goddess
of fortune He's wOman-prOOf."
about Mrs. jerks" Dolores cOntin-
ued, abruptly changing the subject.
How nice to reflect that after she
had trusted you and believed in you
when you were penniless, you we're
enabled to justify her faith"
you bet" Billy declared. 81 feel
that can never possibly hope to
catch even with the old Samaritan,
although l did try to show her how
much | appreciated her"
81 dare say you went right out and
bought her an impossible hat" Dolores
challenged roguishly.
mo, I didn't, for very sufficient
reason. Down here the ladies do not
wear hats. But I'll tell you what | did
buy her, Miss Ruey-and oh, by
George, I'm glad now | did it. She'll
wear them tomorrow when | bring her
to see you bought her a new black
silk dress and an Old-lace collar, and
gold breast pin and a tortoise shell
hair comb and hired an open carriage
and took her for an evening ride on
the Malecon to listen to the band con-