The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-04-07
CHAPTER VI.

The ancient bromide to the effect
that man proposes but God disposes
was never better exemplifed than in
the case Of John Stuart Webster, who,
having formulated certain daring
plans for the morrow and surrendered
himself to grateful slumber I'm his
stateroom aboard the Gulf States Lin
tied, awoke on that momentous morn
70 distinct apprehension that all was
not as 1t should be with him. His
mouth reminded him vaguely Of a
bird-and-animal store and riot and in
surrection had broken out I'm the
geometric center OF his internal
economy
Webster was sufficient Of a jack,leg
doctor to suspect he was developing
splendid little case of ptomaine
poisoning. He decided to go into ex-
ecutive session with the sleeping car
conductor, who wired ahead for doc
tor to meet the train at the next sta
tion. And when the sawbones came
and paved Jack Webster over. he
gravely announced that If the patient
had the slightest ambition to vote at
the next presidential election, he
should leave the train at st. Louis and
enter hospital forthwith. To this
heart-breaking program Webster en-
tered not the slightest objection, for
wnen man is seriously i'll, he is in
much the same position as a politician
-to-wit: He is in the hands of his
friends.
However, life had the habit of 90.
Ing hard with Webster so frequently
that fortunately he was trained to the
minute, and after three days of heroic
battling the doctor awarded Jack the
decision. Thereafter they kept him In
the hospital ten days longer. feeding
him up as the patient expressed it
at the end Of which period Webster,
some fifteen pounds lighter and not
quite so fast on his feet as formerly,
resumed his journey toward New or
leans.
In the meantime, however, several
things had happened. To begin, Do
lores Ruey spent two days wondering
what had become Of her quondam
knight Of the whskers-at the end
OF which period she arrived in New
Orleans with the conviction strong
upon her that while her hero might be
as courageous as wounded lion when
dealing with men, he was the pos
SCISSOR, when dealing with women, Of
about two per cent less courage than
cottontail rabbit Being a very hu-
man young lady, however, she could
not help wondering what had become
Of the ubiquitous Mr.. Webster al
though the fact that he had mysteri-
ously disappeared from the train en-
route to New Orleans did not perturb
her one-half so much as 1t had the dis
appearee. She had this advantage
over that unfortunate man. Whereas
he did not know she was bound for
Buenaventura, she knew he was;
hence, upon arrival in New Orleans
she dismissed him from her thoughts.
serene in abiding faith that sooner or
later her knight would appear, like
little Bo-Peep's lost sheep, dragging
his tail behind him, so to speak
Dolores spent week in New Or
leans renewing schoolgirl friendships
from her convent days in the quaint
old town. This stop-over together
with the one in Denver, not having
been taken into consideration by Mr..
William Geary when he and Mother
jerks commenced to speculate upon
the approximate date Of her arrival in
Buenaventura. resulted In the prema-
ture flight of Mother 5enks to San
Miguel de Padua. q fruitlcSS visit on
the part Of Billy aboard the CaciQue,
of the United Fruit company'S line,
followed by hurry call to Mother
jerks to return to Buenavcntura until
the arrival Of the next steamer.
This time Billy's calculations proved
correct, for Dolores did arrive on that
steamer The port doctor came
aboard, partook Of his customary
drink with the captain, received
bundle of the latest American news
papers and magazines. nosed around,
asked few perfunctory questions.
and gave the vessel pratique.
Dolores observed gasoline launch
shoot up to the landing at the foot Of
the cOmpanion-ladder and discharge n
well-dressed. youthful white man. As
he came up the companion. the purser
recognized him.
"Howdy, Bill" he called
Hello, yourself" Mf. William
Geary replied, and Dolores knew him
for an American. "Do you happen to
have as passenger this trip large.
interesting person, by name John Stu
art Websterf" Qdded Billy Geary.
81 don't know, Billy. I'll look over
the passenger list" and together they
moved off toward his Office. Dolores
(To be continued on last page)