The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-01-26
CHAPTER !.


When John Stuart Webster, mining
engineer and kGker-up-Of-dustO on dis
tant trails, tagged the S. F., l.. A. &
$. L. Limited ut a blisterel board sta
ton in Death valley, California, he
=, had definitely resolved to do certain
things. 10 begin, he would invade the
dining car at the first call to dinner
and order approximately twenty dol
lars worth Of ham and eggs, which
: provender is. as all who know will
certify, the PINNACLE Of epicurean de-
/ light TO an old sour-dough coming out
Of the wilderness with Il healthy bank
roll. anu Il healthier appetite.
. 80 >---.-- ~
Following the ham anu eggs, Mr..
Webster planned to saturatc himself
from soul to Net7niform apprenticeship
nicotine. which he .purposed obtaining
from tobacco with nicotine in it. 1t
) was a week since he had smoked any
/ thing with an Odor even remotely like
; tobacco, ftr the August temperature in
: Death valley is no respecter of moist
p ure in any man or his tobacco. Upon
arrival in Salt Lake City his spree
> would really begin. Webster designed
chhrtelzng Il taXicab and proceeding
forthwith to a hotel where he would
engage sunny room with bath. fill
the batEtub, climb blithely in and soak
for two hours at least, for it was near
ly eight months since he had had n
regular bath and lie purposed making
the most of his opportunity. His long
drawn abl,rtiOns at length over, he
would don IL silken dressing gown and
slippers, order up a barber and pro-
coed to part with enough hair and
whiskers to upEolster an automobile,
and upon the completion Of his tom
serial adventures he would encase his
person in Il suit of mauve-colored silk
pajamas, climb into bed sand stay
there for forty eight hours. merely walk
Ing long enough to take another bath,
order up periodical consignments of
haih and4 eggs, and incidentally, make
certain that a friendly side-windcr or
blanket with Elm. 4.
SO much for John Stuart Webster's
plans. Now for the gentleman himself.
No one-not even the Pullman porter,
shrewd judge. Of mankind that he was
could llavefdiscerned in the chrysalfs
that tagged the Limited the butterfly
Of fashion that was to be. AS the
ebony George raised the vestibule plat
form. opened the car door and looked
out, he had no confidence in the lean,
sun-baked big man standing by the
train. Plainly the fellow was not Il
tirst-class passenger but wandering
prospectOr, for he was dOg-dirty, q ruin
Of rags and hairy as Il tarantula. The
only clean thing about him was a
heavy-calibered automatic pistol Of the
army type, swinging at his hip:
DAY coach an tourist up in front,Y
TIE knight Of the whiskbroom any
nounced in disappearing tones and
started to close down the platform.
$50 I perceived" John Stuart Web
ster replied blandly. II also observed
that you fuiled to employ the title,
Sir when addressing u white man.
Put that platform back and hop out
here with your little stool, YOU saddle
colored son Of Senegambia, or I'll
make yQu,a hard porter to CATCH"
"Yassah; yassah!" the porter sput-
tered, and obeyed instantly. Mr.. Web
ster. handed him disreputable-looking
suitcase and stepped aboard in state,
only, to be informed that there wasn't
II vacant first-class berth on the train.
ayes, know I'm dirty" the late ar
rival announced cheerfully, :but still,
US Bobby Burns once remarked, Il
mans man for a that'-and I'm not
unsanitary." =.
"I'm very sorry" the conductor re-
piled perfunctorily and e1deavOred to
pass on. but Webster secured a firm
grip on his lapel and frustrated the es-
cape. /
you're not sorry" the ragged wan
. derer declared, mot one little bit.
You're only apprehensive. However,
YOU needn't be. There is no wild life
on ME, brother, assure YOU"
"But tell you, tie train is full up.
lOu nave ~ EOOSI Tic way SOhSh
or the tourist. I'm very sorry-"
Nevertheless, despite your deep grief.
something tells ME you're spOoting, so
while Iemust, Of necessity, accept your
suggestion said acceptance will be but
temporary. In about two hours, young
fellow. you're going to make the alarm
ing discovery that YOU have bats in
your belfry." And with a whiskery grin
which,. under the circumstances, was
charming in it's absolute freedom from
mulice, Mr.. Webster departed for tie
day coach. :.
Two hours later the conductor found
him in the aforementioned day coach.
engaged in mild game Of poker with
Il mule, skinner. Il Chinaman. an aged
prospcctur, and a halfbr indian.
and waited until Mr.. Webster. on Il
hob-t0iled flush. bluffed the ChinamaD
out of a dollar.and-a-halt pot.
Are you Mr.. john S. Webster?"
your assumption that am that
person is SO cminently correct that it
would be n waste Of time for me to
dispute it." Webster replied quizzical-
~. However, just to prove that