The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-01-26

john Stuart Webster beamed hap
PLY upon his friend. "Well, Neddy,
you old stocking-knitter," he replied
quizzically, "since that is the case, I'm
not surprised at your failure to find
me. You've known me long enough
to have remembered to confne your
search to tire uncivilized reaches"
"Well, you're here, at any rate and
I'm happy. Now you settle down."
Hardly, Neddy. "Im young yet,
you know-only forty. Still real live
man and not quite ready to degenerate
into card-playing, eat-drink-and-be-
merry, determination, sink-to-obliviol
and go-to-h- fireplace spirit" And
he prodded Jerome in the short ribs
with tentative thumb that caused
the old man to vince. He permitted
his friend to drag him downstairs to
the deserted lounge, where Jerome
paused in the middle of the room and
renewed Ills query:
"Where have you been, ask?"
"Out in Death valley, California, try
ing to pry loose fortune"
Dld you pry' lt|'
John Stuart Webster arched his eye
brows in mock reproach. "And you
can see my new suit, Neddy, my Six
teen!dollar, made-td-order shoes and
my horny hoofs encased in silken hose
and ask that question? Freshly
shaved and ironed and almost afraid
to sit down and get wrinkles in my
trousers! Smell that" He blew a
cloud Of cigar smoke into Jeromes
smiling face. The latter shifted. 1T
smells expensive" he replied.
eyes. and you can bet it tastes ex-
pe1sive, too," Webster answered,
handing his cigar-case to his friend.
Jerome bit the end of his cigar and
spat derisively. ''How much. have you
made?" he demanded bluntly.
cts none of your business, but I'll
tell you because love you, Neddy. I've
made one hundred thousand dollars"
"Chicken-feed," Jerome retorted.
"Johnny, I've been combing the min
eral belt of North and South America
for you for a month"
''Why this sudden belated interest
in meg"
II have fine job for you, john"
Kings *" Webster interrupted,
and showed both hands with the fin
gers crossed. "No plotting against my
peace and comfort, Neddy. Haven't
told you I'm all dressed up for the
first time in three years, that I have
money in my pocket and more in
bank? Man, I'm going to tread the
primrose path for a year before I get
back into the harness again."
Jerome waved a deprecatory hand,
figuratively brushing aside such feeble
and inconsequential argument. "Are
you foot-loose?" he demanded.
I'm not. I'm bound In golden
chains"
Married, Ell? Great Scott, I might
have guessed it. So you're on your
honeymoon, eh?"
'No such luck, you vichy-drinking
iconoclast. If you had ever gotten far
enough from this club during the past
fifteen years to get breath Of real
fresh air, you'd understand why I
want to enjoy civilization for {; week
or two before I go back to a mine ST.
perintendent's'ea on some bleak HILL
No, stree. Old jeremiah @. Work and
I have had a falling out. Dad burn
your picture, Neddy, I want some
class! I've been listening to a dago
shift-boss playing the ACCORDION for
three years-and he could only play
three tunes. Now I want Sousa's
band. I've been bathing in tepid, dirty
water. in a redwood sluice-box, and
now I desire steam room and a nee
die shower and an osteopath. I've been
bossing Greasers and Italians and was
forced to learn their language to get
results, and now want to speak my
mother tongue to my old friends. BY
thunder I'm going to have new deal
all around"
"very well, Jack. Don't excite your
self. I'll give you exactly thirty days
to sicken Of it a1l-and then I shall
come and claim. my, property"
,"Neddy, I'll not work for you. I'm
mad. I won't play"
you're it. just tagged YOU"
Il. require rest-but unfold your
proposition, Neddy. I was born a
poor weak vessel consumed with
curiosity that was ever my -undeing.
I can only protest that this is no way
to treat friend"
"Nonsensel- NY own brother, wants
this job, and I HAVE REFUSED to give it.
to- him. Business is business-ahd I've
saved it for YOU
Jerome. leaned forward and laid his
finger confidentially :, on Webster's
knee; whereat the 'light-hearted wan.
derer carefully lifted the finger,
brushed an imaginary speck Of dirt
from it, and set it down again. 'Be
serious, you ingrate," Jerome pro-
tested. "Listen! I've been working
for two years On a consolidation up
near Telluride, and I've just put it
across. Jack, it's the biggest thing in
the country. Colorado Consolidated
Mines Company. Limited. English
capital, Jack. Pay 'em per cent.
and they'll call you blessed. There's