Vernon Parish Democrat., 1921-03-03
CHAPTER lv-continued.

For two months he had existed en-
tirely because Of the leniency Of Moth
-er jerks In the matter of credit. He
could not pay her cash, devoutly as he
hoped to do some day, and he consid-
cred it of the most vital importance
that in the interim he should some
how survive. Therefore, in lieu Of
cash he paid her compliments. which
she snapped up greedily.
An inventive genius was Billy. He
never employed the same defensive
tactics two days in succession, and
when personal hattery threatened to
fail him, a large crayon reproduction
of the late Henry jerks, which hung
over the back bar, was never-failing
source Of inspiration.
This was the "sainted Emery pre-
viously referred to by Mother jerks.
He had been a sergeant in Her Brit
tanic Majesty's Royal Horse artillery,
and upon retiring to the reserve had
hardened to a proposition to emigrate
to Sobrante and accept a commission
as colonel of artillery with the gov
-ernment forces then in the throes Of a
revolutionary attack. The rebels had
triumphed, and as result Emery had
been sainted via the customary ex-
peditious route; whereupon his wife
had had recourse to her early profess
n sion OF barmaid, and 81 Buen Amigo
Mad resulted.
However let US return to our
Sleeps, as Mr.. Geary would have ex-
pressed 1t. Seemingly the effect Of
Billy's compliment was instantly evil
dent, for Mother jerks set out two
glasses and a bottle.
II know yer a trifer, Willy Geary,"
she simpered, ''but if do s'y it as
shouldn't, / was accounted as and
some a barmaid as you'd find in Bris-
tol town. I've lost my good looks,
what with grief an worritin' since
lOsin' my sainted Emery, but was
'andsome oncet."
Il can well believe 1t, Mother
since you are handsome still For my
part" he continued confidentially, as
with shaking hand he filed his brandy
glass, you'll excuse this drunkards
drink, Mother, but need it had the
shakes again last night-for my part,
/ prefer the full-blown rose to the
bud"
Mother jerks fluttered like a debu-
tante as she poured her drink. They
touched glasses, calloused worldlings
that they were.
He tossed off his drink. It wagmed
and strengthened him, after his night
OF chills and fever, and brazenly he re-
turned to the attack.
D Changing the subject from feminine
grace and charm to manly strength
and virtue, I've been marking lately
the resolute poise of your martyred
husbands head on his fine military
shoulders. There was a man, If may
4 Judge from his photograph, that would
fight wildcat"
"Oh, m'ybe e wouldn'tP Mother
jerks hastened to declare. "You know,
Willie. was present wen they shot
I'm, a-waitin' to claim is body. e
kisses me goodbye, an says e: Brace
up, oil girl. Remember your 'usband's
been a sergeant in 'Er Majesty's Royal
'Orse artillery, an don't let the bloody
blighters see yer cry Then e walks
out front, with is fine straight back
10 the wall, draws circle on lis blue
tunic with white chalk an says:
Shoot at that yer yeller-bellied
bOunders, an be id to yer r"
''To be the widow of such a gallant
son. Of Mars" Billy declared, "is a
greater honor than being the wife of a
duke. All. Mother" he added with a
note Of genuine gratitude and sin
cerity, "youve been awfully good to
me. don't know what I'd have done
without you" he laid his hand on her
Fat arm. Mother, one of these days
I'll get mine, and when do I'm going
to stake you to a nice little pub back
in Bristol"
She smiled at him with motherly
tenderness and shook her head. In
concrete niche in the mortuary Of the
Catedral de la Vera Cruz the bones
of her sainted Emery reposed, and
when her hour came she would lie be-
side him.
Eyer a sweet boy, Willie" she told
him, ''an' I'd trust yer for double the
score, s'help me- Ewing knows
'aven't much, but wot ave l shares
freely with them likes"
Mother jerks preceded him into the
shady side Of the yeranda. where or