The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1921-09-30
Chapter | Continued)

John Stuart Webster passed rest
less night. Sleep came to him in hour
ly i1stallments. from which he would
rouse to ask himself whether it was
worth while to continue to go through
the motions of living, or alight at the
next station, seek a lonely and unfre-
quented spot and there surrender to
outrageous fortune. 1t was altogether
dalnnable. In careless moment, Fate
had accorded him glimpse of the
only woman he had ever met and de-
sired to meet again-fOr Webster was
essentially a mans man, and his pro-
fessiOn and environment had initiated
against his opportunities for meeting
extraordinary women; and extrsOrdi
nary women were the only kind that
could hope to challenge his serious Mt.
tentiOn. Fate had accorded him signal
opportunity for knighty combat In the
service of this extraordinary womdn.
and In the absence of formal intro
ductiOn, what man could desire finer
opportunity for getting acquainted II
only their meeting had but been de-
layed two weeks, ten days, week +!
Once free of his ugly cocoon of rags
and wtiskers, the butterfly Webster
would not have hesitated one brief in
slant to inform himself of that young
lady's address. following his summary
disposal of her tOrmeltor.
But in all things there is limit,
and John Stuart Webster's right eye
constituted a deadline beyond which.
as gentleman, he dared not venture;
so with heavy heart he bowed to
the inevitable. Brilliant and mysteri-
Gus as meteorite she had flashed
once across his horizon and was gone.
In the privacy of his staterOom Web
ster had ham and eggs for breakfast.
He was lighting his second cigar when
the porter knocked and entered with
an envelope.
"Lady In the Observation-car asked
me to deliver this to you. sah." he an
nounced Importantly.
1t was a note, freshly written on the
train stationery. Webster read:
"The distressed lady desires to
thank the gentleman in staterOOm A
for his chivaIry of yesterday. She is
profoundly sorry that In her service
the gentleman in staterOOm A was so
unfortunate as to acquire a red eye
with blue trimmings"
JOkn Stuart Webster swore his
mightiest oath. "By the twelve apos-
ties, Simon Peter, Andrew. James
John. Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew
Thomas. James, Jude and Simon, and
not emitting Judas Iseariot, the scaly
scoundrel who betrayed his Lord and
Master!" He searched through an old
wallet until he discovered fairly
clean professional card, across the bot
tom of which he wrote, "Thank you
j. S. W." and sent it to the no-longer
distressed lady.
1.-THE most signal adventure of my
life is now over" he sOliloquized ant
turned to his cigar. For the sake Of
my selfrespect, l had to let her know
I'm not a hobo! And now to the tasl
Of framing up scheme for futur,
iuuSI IL hCI
and destination; so as a preliminar!
I'll Interview the train conductor"
He did and under the ameliOratin,
influence of a five-dollar bill the con
| ductOr bent respectful ear to tn
| Websterian message
"In Car Seven" he began. "ttere 1
| young lady. do not know what sec
| ton she occupies neither do l know
her name and destination. I onl
know what she looks like"
The conductor nodded. "And 70,
want to ascertain her name and des
tinatiOn?"
| 81 do"
"All right. I have the unused POI
ton of her transportation to retur
to her before we hit Salt Lake; he
name Is on the ticket and tire tickle
indicates her destination. I'll make
mental note Of both as soon as Nv
identified her ticket"
| A few hours later the cOnducto
came to Websters stateroom an
handed him card upon which wa
written:
Dolores Ruey. From Los Angelo:
via San Pedro, Los Angeles & Sal
Lake, to Salt Lake City. Denver & ri
Grande to Denver. Burlington to S
Louis, Illinois Central to New Orlean!
Stop-over ut Denver"
John Stuart Webster studied tn
name after the conductor withdrew
"Ttat's a Spanish name," he sOlilt
Quized, "but for all that, she's not
parakeet. All things considered,