Cheyenne record., 1921-04-07

think, JOHNNY"
II think" said John Stuart Webster.
slowly, "that you're good picker. Bill
She's my ideal Of a fine young woman,
and my advice to you is to marry her
I'll grub-stake you. Bill. this stiff col
lar is choking me; wish you'd wait
here while I go to my room and rustic
up a soft one"
In the privacy of his room John
Stuart Webster sat down on his bed
and held his head In his hands, for he
had just received blow In the solar
plexus and was still groggy. Present.
ly, however, he pulled himself together
and approaching the mirror looked
long at his weather-beaten cOunte-
nance.
"Too old" he murmured. "too old to
be dreaming dreams"
He changed to soft collar, and
Billy once more he was. to all outward
appearances, his usual unperturbed
self. for his was one Of those rare ma
lures that can derive.a certain comfort
from the misery of elfsacrifice-and
In that five minutes alone In his room
John Stuart Webster had wrestled
with the tragedy Of his life and won.
He had resolved to give Billy the
right Of way on the highway to happi-
ness.
In Mr.. Webstef's own whimsical
phraseOlOgy, his clock had been Fixed.
on the instant he recognized In the OBJ.
ject of his youthful partners alteration
the same winsome woman he had en-
throned in his own secret castle Of
love. From that precise second Billy's
preserve was as safe from encroach-
ment by his friend as would be bale
Of Confederate currency In an armor-
steel vault on the three-thousand-foo
level Of a water-filled mine.
John Stuart Webster had unanimously
resolved upon the course he should have
pursued In the first place. He would
investigate Billy's mining concession
Immediately; provided 1t should prove
worth while. he would finance 1t and
put the property on a paying basis:
after which he would see to 1t that
the very best doctors in the city Of
Buenaventura should inform Billy, un-
officially and In the strictest conf
dence. that II he desired to preserve
the life Of Senor Juan Webstaire be
should forthwith pack that rapidly dis
integrating person of to q more salu.
brious climate.
Having made his decision, John
Stuart Webster Immediately took heart
Of hope and decided to lead trumps.
Dolores rejoined 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 1t
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 I can
get out Of the country"
"Why, Johnny" the amazed Billy
declared. II thought you would stay
and help run the mIne."
"Indeed! Well, why do you sup
pose spent SO much time teaching
you how to run u mine. you young
idiot. II not against just such time
as this? You fouLd this concession
and tied 1t up; I'll finance 1t and help
you get everything started; but after
that. I'm through, and you can man.
age 1t on salary and name the salary
yourself. You have a greater inter-
est In this country than I, william !;
and SO with yonr kind permission
we'll hike up to that concession to-
morrow and give 1t the double-O; !;
then, II can o. X. the property. we'll
cable for the machinery ordered just
before l left Denver. and get busy.
We ought to have our first cleanup
within ninety days"
"Gosh, but you're In hurry" Billy
murmured. He disliked exceedingly
the though: Of having his courtship
interrupted on a minutes notice.
"You know me, son. I'm a 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-
t1OnS nave you up thereT
"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 a
tent and bedding for both Of US, ship
the stun up to San Miguel de Padua.
go up with 1t 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 mer'
Billy demanded.
II have to see q man, and write
some letters and send cablegram
and wait for an answer. I 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 Introductory"
Exactly what you told me to do,
Johnny"
"Where IA he nowfs