The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-01-20

shoot up to the landing at the foot OF
the companion-ladder and discharge a
well-dressed. youthful white man. AS
ne came up the companion, the purser
recognized him.
"Howdy, Bill" he called.
"Hello, yourself" Mr.. william
Geary replied, and Dolores knew him
for an American. "Do you happen TO
have as n passenger this trip a large,
interesting person, by name John Stu
art Webster?" added Billy Geary.
81 don't know, Billy. I'll look over
the passenger list" and together they
moved off toward his Office. Dolores
followed, drawn by the mention Of
that magic name Webster, and paused
in front OF the purser's Office to lean
over the rail, Ostensibly to watch the
cargadores in their lighters clustering
around the great ship, but in reality
to learn more Of the mysterious Web
ster.
"Blast the luck" Billy Geary
grOwled, "the old sinner isn't here. BY
the way, do you happen to have a
Miss Dolores Ruey aboardT'
Dolores pricked up her little ears.
What possible interest could this
stranger have In her goIngs or COM
ings?
"You picked q winner this time,
BILL" she heard the purser say.
"Stateroom sixteen, b~Oat-deck, star
board side. You'll probably find her
there, packing to go ashore"
Thanks" Billy replied and stepped
out Of the purser's Office. Dolores
turned and faced him.
81 am Miss Ruey," she announced.
81 heard you asking for me-" Her
eyes carried the query she had not put
into words: "Who are you, and what
do you want?" Billy saw and under
stood, and on the instant a wave Of
desolatlon surSed over him.
SO this was the vision he had volun-
teered to meet aboard La Estrellita,
and by specious lie and hypocritic
mien, turn her back from the portals
Of Buenaventura to that dear old
United States, which, Billy suddenly
recalled with poignant pain, Is a siz-
able country In which a young lady
may very readily be lost forever. With
the quick eye Of youth, he noted that
Dolores was perfectly wonderful In a
white flannel skirt and jacket, white
buck boots, white panama hat with a
gorgeous ~puggaree, n mannish little
linen collar, and a red fourth hand
tie. From under that white hat peepcd
n profusion of crinkly brown hair with
a slightly reddish tinge to It her eyes
were big and brown and wide apart,
with golden flecks In them; their
glance met Billy's hungry gaze simply,
directly, and with a curiosity there
was patrician her beautiful short up
per lip revealed the tips Of two per-
feet, milk-white front teeth: she was,
Billy Geary told himself, a goddess
before whom all low, worthless, ornery
fellows like himself should groyel and
die happy. If perchance she might be
so minded as to walk on their faces!
He was aroused from his critical in
ventory when the houri spoke again:
"You haven't answered my question,
sir !"
"No," said Billy, 81 didn't. Stupid
Of me, too. However, come to think
Of IT, you didn't ask me any question.
You looked 1t. My name is Geary-
William II. Geary, by profession q
mining engineer and by nature an
ignoramus. and ! have called to de-
liver some disappointing news regard.
ing Henrietta wilkins"
us She"
"She Is. Very much alive and in ex-
cellent healthier rather was. the last
time 1t was my pleasure and privilege
to call on the dear lady. But she isn't
In Buenaventura now" Mentally Billy
asked God to forgive him his black
hearted treachery to this winsome girl.
He loathed the task he had planned
and foisted upon himself, and moth
Ing but the memory of Mother jerks
manifold klndnesses to him in a day,
thanks to Jack Webster, now happily
behind him, could have induced him
to go through to the finish.
"Why, where Is shers Dolores
queried. and Billy could have wept at
the fright In those lovely brown eyes.
He waved his hand airily. "Quien
sabef" he said. "She left three weeks
ago for New Orleans to visit you. I
dare say you passed each other on the
road-here. here. Miss Ruey. don't
cry"
sHe took a recess Of three minutes,
while Dolores dabbed her eyes and
went through sundry other motions Of
being brave. Then he proceeded with
his nefarious recital.
when your cablegram arrived. Miss
Ruey. naturally Mrs. wilkins was not
here to receive II, and as I was the
only person who had her address, the
cable agent referred 1t to me. Under
the circumstances, not knowing where
] could reach you with a cable inform
Ing you that Mrs. wilkins was headed
for California to see you, I had 40
other alternative but to let matters
take their course. I decided you might