The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1921-03-25
CHAPTER XVIII.

Three days passed. Don Juan Cafe
terO had been buried with all the pomp
and circumstance Of a national hero ;
Mother jerks, too, had gone to her APP
pointed resting place, and Ri Buen
Amigo had been closed forever. Ricar-
do had issued a proclamation announc-
ing himself provisional president Of
Sobrante; a convention of revolution
airy leaders had been held, and provi-
sional cabinet selected. A day for the
national elections had been named; the
wreckage Of the brief revolution had
been cleared away, and the wheels Of
government were once more revolving
freely and noiselessly. And while all
of this had been going on, John Stu
art Webster had lain on his back, star
ing at the palace ceiling and absolute
ly forbidden to receive visitors. he
was still engaged In this mild form Of
gymnastics on the third day when the
door of his room opened and Dolores
looked In on him.
"Good evening, Caliph," she called.
"Aren't you dead yeti"
1t was exactly the tone she should
have adopted to get the best results,
for Webster had been mentally and
physically Ill since she had seen him
last and needed some such pleasantly
as this to lift him out Of his gloomy
mood. He grinned at her boyishly.
mo, I'm not dead. On the contrary,
I'm feeling real chirpy. Won't you
come In and visit for while, Miss
Ruey2"
"WeH, since you've invited me,
shall accept" Entering, she stood be-
side his bed and took the hand he ex-
tended toward her. "This Is the FIRST
opportunity I've had, Miss Ruey," he
began, ito apologize for the shock !
gave you the other day. 7 should have
come back to you as I promised, in
stead of getting into a fight and scar.
ing you half to death. hope you'll
forgive me, because Pm paying for my
fun row-with interest"
"Very we'll, Caliph. I'll forgive you
-on one condition"
''Who am to resist having a cOndI,
ton imposed upon me7 Name your
terms. Ishall obey"
'Tm weary Of being called Miss
Ruey. want to be Dolores--to you"
"By the toe nails Of Moses" he re-
flected, "there is no escape. She's de-
termined TO rock the boat" Aloud he
said: "All right, Dolores. guess Bill
won't mind"
"BiIly hasn't word to say about It, "
she retorted, regarding him with that
calm, impersonal, yet vitality interested
look that always drove him frantic
with the desire for her.
"Well, Of course, understand that,
he countered. Naturally, since Bill
is only a man, yod'n have to manage
him and hen have to take orders"
"Caliph, you're a singularIy persist
ent man. once you get an idea Int
your head. Please understand me, once
for all Billy Geary is a dear, and it'i
mystery to me why every girl in thG
world isn't perfectly crazy about him
but every rule has it's exceptions-ant
Billy and are just good friends. II
like to know where you got the idel
we're engaged to be married"
'Why-why-well. aren't yOu3"
"Certalnly not"
"WelI, you-er-you ought to be.
expected-that Is, planned--I NEAR
BIZ told me nd-and-and-er-
never occurred to me you could p0ssl
bly, have he-er-crust--tO refuse
him. OF course, you're going to mar
~ him when he asks your
"Of course am not"
"Ah-h-h-hl" John Stuart Webster
gazed at her In frank amazement