Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-03-18

ohCldlly anu Ill Lne SlTlCleSl COnu-
dence, that If he desired to preserve
the life of Senior Juan Webstaire be
should forthwith pack that rapidly dis
integratng person off to more salu-
brlous climate.
Having made his decision, John
Stuart Webster Immediately took heart
of hope and decided to lead trumps.
Dolores rejoned them for a siesta
after luncheon.
Webster leaned over and slapped
Billy Geary's knees affectiOnately.
"Well, Bill, you saffron-cOlOred old
wreck, how long do you suppose it
will take for you to pick up enough
strength and courage to do some ac-
tive mining? I'm anxious to get that
property on a paying basis, so can
get out Of the country"
"Why, Johnny" the amazed Billy
declared, 81 thought you would stay
and help run the NINE"
Indeed Well, why do you sup
pose l spent so much time teaching
you how to run mine, you young
idiot, if not against just such time
as this? You found this concession
and tied it up; I'll finance it and help
you get everything started; but after
that, I'm through, and you can man
age it on salary and name the salary
yourself. You have a greater inter
est in this country than l, william;
and so with your kind permission
Wen hike up to that concession to-
morrow and give it the dOuble-O;
then, if l can o. X. the property We'll
cable for the machinery l ordered just
before I left Denver and get busy.
We ought to have our first cleanup
within ninety days"
Gosh, but you're in a hurry" Billy
murmured. He disliked exceedingly
the thought of having his cOurtshlp
interrupted on a minutes notice.
"YOu know me, son. I'm hustler
on the job" Webster reminded him
brutally; $50 the sooner you start, the
sooner you can get back and accumu-
late more malaria. What accOmmoda-
lions have you up there?"
"NOne, Jack"
"Then you had better get some
Billy | think you told me we have
to take horses at San Miguel de
Padua to ride in to the mine" Billy
nodded. "Then you had better buy
tent and bedding for both of us, ship
the stuff up to San Miguel de Padua,
go up with it and engage horses, a
good cook, and couple of reliable
mozos. When you have everything
ready telegraph me and I'll come up"
"Why can't you come up with me|
Billy demanded.
81 have to see a man, and write
some letters and send cablegram
and wait for an answer. may have
to loaf around here for two or three
days. BY the way what did you do
for that friend | sent to you with the
letter of Introduction
Exactly what you told me to do,
Johnny"
"Where is he nOwY
"At FL Buen Amigo-the same place
where I'm living"
"All right. When you get back to
your hOstelry, you might tell my
friend shall expect him over to dine
with me this evening, If he can man
age it."
For an hour they discussed various
subjects; then Billy, declaring the
siesta was almost over and the shops
reOpenlng as consequence, an
nOunced his intention of doing his
shopping, said goodbye tG Dolores and
Webster, and lugubris>~y departed
on the business in hand.
"Why are you in such hurry, Mr..
Webster?' Dolores demanded "YOu
haven't been in Buenaventura six
hours until you've managed to make
me perfectly miserable"
I'm terribly sorry. didn't mean
to-"
Didn't you know Billy Geary is my
personal property"
"NO, but | suspected he might be.
Bits generous that way. He never
hesitates to give himself to a charm
ing woman"
"This was a case of mutual self
defense. Billy hasn't any standing So
cially, you know. When old Mrs. Cen
eral MadOnadO lectured me (the
dear, aristOcratic soul conceived it to
be her duty on the improperly of
appearing on the Malecon with Billy
and my guardian, who happens to be
Billy's landlady, | tried to explain our
American brand Of democracy, but
failed SO l haven't been invited any
where since and life would have been
very dull without Billy. He has been
a dear-and you have taken him
away"
Webster laughed. "Wel, be pa
tient, Miss Ruey, and I'll give him
back to you with considerable more
money than he will require for your
Joint comfort Billy i'm financial dis