The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-04-21
Continued from last week)
CHAPTER TX.

Prior to leaving New Orleans, Web.
ster had cabled Billy Geary that he
was taking passage on La Estrellita
and stating the approximate date Of
his arrival at San Buenaventura-
which information descended upon
that young man with something of the
charm of gentle rainfall over O hith-
erto arid district. he had been seeing
Dolores Ruey at least once a day ever
since her return to Sobrante. He was
quick, therefore, to seize upon Web
'ster's cablegram as an excuse to call
upon Dolores and explain the mystery
surrounding his friends nonappear.
unce
well, Dolores" he began, in his ex-
element calling her by her first name
for the first time. "Tve heard from
Jack Webster"
whats the news, Bill2" Dolores in
quired. From the first day of their nc.
quaintance she had been growing in
creasingly fond of Geary; for nearly
week she had been deSirous of calling
MN Bill, which is a comfortable name
and. to Dolores way of thinking. ne
cuiiarly appropriate cognomen for
such a distinctly American young man.
AT mention of the beloved word he
glanced down at her pleasurably.
THANK you" he said "I'm glad you
got around to Il finally. Those that
love me always call me Bill"
you called me Dolores"
II move we make it unanimous. I'm
foe to formality."
Second the motion, Bill. So am /
when ! care to be-and i'm our case
your formality is spelling our comrade-
snip. And now, with reference to the
extraordinary Senor Webster"
why, the poor old horse has been
down with ptOmaine poisoning. They
carried him off the train at st. Louis
and stood him on his head and pumped
him out. and just did manage to cancel
his order for n new tombstone. He
says he's feeding regularly again and
mas booked passage on La Estrellita,
30 we can look for him on the next
steamer arriving"
"Oh. the poor fellow Dolores mur-
mured-so fervently that Billy was on
the point Of hurling his heart at her
feet on the instant.
The thousand dollars Webster had
cabled Billy "for a road-stake" had
been dwindling rapidly under the stim-
ulus or one continuous opportunity to
spend the same In quarter where II
was calculated to bring the most Joy.
Mr.. Geary was absolutely begged In
the quagnire of his first love affair
but until his mining concession should
amply Justify m avowal of his passion,
an instructive sense of the eternal fit-
ness cf things reminded Billy of the
old proverb that closed mouth
catches no flies. And in the meantime
(such is the optimism of youth) he de-
cided there was no need for worry, for
when girl calls fellow Bill, when
she tells him he's scout and doesn't
care whoop for any society except
hIs-caramba It's greatl
wireless from Webster warned
Billy Of the formers imminent arrival.
Just before sunset Billy and Dolores.
riding along the Malecon, sighted a
blur Of smoke far out to sea-a blur
that grew and grew until they could
make out the graceful white hull of La
Estrellita. before the swift tropic night
descended and the lights of the great
vessel shimmered across the harbor.
"Too late to clear quarantine to-
night" Billy mourned, as he and Do
lores rode back to her hotel. "All the
same, I'm going to borrow the launch