Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-03-25


the funeral? You can turn 1t over to
Billy then"
She fell readily into the hanternG
spirit with which he treated this Sc
rious subject. Indeed, II was quite Inn
pOSsihle TO do otherwise for John
/ Stuart WehstPr's personality radlated
such feeling Of security, Vt absolute
unbounded confidence In the future
and dlsdain for whatever Of GOOD
fortune or III the future might entail
that Dolores found II impossible not
to asslmilate his mood.
At seven-thirty, after a delightful
dinner, the memory Of which Mr.
Webster was certain would linger I'M
der his fOretop long after every other
memory had departed. he escorted
her to the open carriage he had
ordered, and for two hours they cir
cled the Malecon with the elite OF
Buenaventura, listening to the music
Of the band, and, during the brief in
termissions, to the sound Of the waves
tapping the beach at the foot Of the
broad driveway.
'This," said John Stuart Webster, as
he said goodnight to Dolores in the
lobby, "ls the end of perfect day"
1t wasn't, for at that precise mo
ment a servant handed him a card,
and indicated young man. seated IN
an adjacent lounging-chair, at the
same time volunteering the informa'
ton that the visitor had been await
ing Senior Webster's return for the
past hour.
Webster glanced at the card and
strobe over to the young man. 81 am
Mr.. Webster, sir" he announced
civilly in Spanish. "And you are
Lieutenant Arredondo"
j The visitor rose, bowed low and in
dicated he was that gentleman. VI
have called, Mr.. Webster" he stated
in most excellent English, Sin the In
terest of my friend and comrade'
Captain Benavides,"
"Ah, yesl The fresh little rooster
ducked in the fountain this evening
Well, what does the little squirt want
now? Another duckingT
/ Arredondo flushed angrily but re-
membered the dignity Of his mission
and controlled his temper. captain
Benavides has asked me to express to
you the hope that you, being doubtless
man of honor"
"Stop right there, Lieutenant There
is no doubt about 1t. am a man OF
honor, and unless you are anxious TO
be ducked In the fountain, you will be
more careful In your choice of words.
Now then: You are about to say that,
being a man of honor"
you would accord my friend the
satisfaction which one gentleman
never fails to accord another"
"That lets me out, amigo" Webster
laughed. "Benavides isn't gentle
man. He's a cutthrOat. a numbering
little ck-and-tan-hOund. DO un'
derstand he wants me to fight a duel
with him?"
Lieutenant Arredondo could not
trust himself to speak, and so he
bowed profoundly.
Every well, then. Lieutenant" Web
ster agreed. "Tll fight him"
Tomorrow morning at five o'clock"
give minutes from now If you say
So"
Captain Benavides will be grateful
for your willing spirit, at least" the
second replied bitterly. "YOu realize,
of course, Mr. Webster, that as the
challenged party, the choice of weap-
ons rests with you"
Certainly. wouldn't have risked
duel if the choice lay with the other
fellow. With your permission. my
dear sir. well fight with Mauser rifles
at a thousand yards, for the reason
that never knew Greaser that could
hit the broad side of brewery at any
range over two hundred and fifty
wards" Webster chuckled f1endishly.
Lieutenant ArredOndo bit his lips In
anger and vexatiOn. II cannot agree
to such an extraordinary duel" he
complained. ut is the custom IN
Sobrante for gentlemen to fight with
rapers"
"Oh, dry up, you sneaking muir
derer." Webster exploded. "There
isn't going to be any duel except on
my terms-so you might as well take
straight tip from headquarters and
stick to plain assassination. You and
Benavldes have been sent out by your
superior to kill me-you got your
orders this very afternoon at the en-
trance to the government palace-and
I'm Just not going to be killed. Beat
It, boy, while the going is good" He
pointed toward the hotel door. "Out
you blackguardW he roared. "Vaya y
Lieutenant ArredondO rose and with
dignlfied mlen started for the door
Webster followed, and as his visitor
reached the portal, tremendous kick
well placed, lifted him down to the
sidewalk. Shrfeking curses, he fed
into the night; and John Stuart Web