Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-02-18
CHAPTER XVII.

Three days passed Don Juan Cafe
tero had been buried with all the pomp
and circumstance of a national hero;
Mother jerks too, had gone TO her APP
pointed resting place, and FL Buen
Amigo had been closed forever, Rear
do had issued n proclamation announc-
ing himself provisional president OF
Sobrante; a convention of revolution
airy leaders had been held. and provi-
sional cabinet selected day for the
national elections had been named the
wreckage of the brief revolution had
been cleared away, and the wheels OF
government were once more revolving
freely and noiSelesSly. And while all
Of this had been going on, John Stu
art Webster had lain en- his back, star
ing al the palace ceiling and absolute
~ forbidden to receive visitors. He
was Still engaged in this mild form OF
gymnastics on the third day when the
door Of his room opened and Dolores
looked in on him.
Good evening, Caliph," she called.
aren't you dead YETI
II was exactly the tone she should
have adopted to get the best results,
for Webster had been mentally and
physically III since She had seen him
last. and needed some such pleasantly
as this 10 lift him ont of his gloomy
mood. He grinned at her boyiShly
No, Tn not dead On the contrary,
I'm feeling real chlrpy Won't YOU
come in and visit for a while Miss
Ruey?'
well since you've invited me,
shall accept" Entering. she stood be.
side his bed and took the hand he ex-
tended toward her This Is the first
opportunity I've had Miss Ruey," he
began, TO apologize for the shock
gave you the other day. should have
come back 10 you MS | promised, In
stead Of getting into fight and scar
ing you half TO death. hope you'll
forgive me- because I'm paying for my
fun now-wth interest"
Very well, Callph. I'll forgive you
on one condition"
"Who am | to resist having a condi.
ton imposed upon me1 Name your
terms. shall obey"
I'm weary OF being called Miss
Ruey. | want TO be Dolores-to you"
"By the toe nails Of Moses" he re-
hected, there Is no escape. She's de-
termined 10 rock the boat Aloud he
said "All right, Dolores guess Bill
won't mind"
BILLY hasn't a word to say about It,
she retorted, regarding him with that
calm, impersonal, yet vitality interested
look that always drove him frantic
with the desire for her
well, Of course. understand that"
he countered Naturally, since Bill
Is only a man, you'll have to manage
him and he'll have to take orders
"Caliph. you're a singularIy persist
ent man. once you get an idea into
your head Please understand me, once
for all; Billy Geary is dear, and it's
a mystery to me why every girl In the
world isn't perfectly crazy ABOUT him,
but every rule has its eXceptlons--and
Billy and / are just good friends. I'd
like to know where you got the idea
we're engaged to be married"
"Why-why-well, aren't your
Certainly not"
well, you-er-you ought to be. !
expected-that is, planned mean
Bill told me nd-and-and-er-
never occurred to me you could posi-
bly, have the-er-crust-to refuse
him, OF course you're going to mar
ny him when he asks your
"Of course | am not"
"Ah-h-h-h" John Stuart Webster
gazed at her In frank amazement
Not going to marry Bill Geary" he
cried. highly scandalized.
II know you think | ought to, and
suppose il will appear quite incompre
hensible to you when do not
"Why Dolores, my dear girl This
is most amazing. Didn't Bill ask YOU
to marry him before he left?'
"Yes, he did me that honor, and
| declined him"
you whatw
She smiled at him so materially thai
his hand itched to drag her down Il
him and kiss her curving lips.
"Do you mind telling me just why
you took this extraordinary attitude?'
"You have no right to ask, but II
tell you. refused Billy because
didn't love him enough-that way
What's more never could"
He rolled his head to one side anC
softly, very softly, whistled two bar
of THE Spanish Cavalier" through hi