The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1921-10-14
Chapter II Continued

Chapter II Continued
"YOu just said a minute ago you'd
turned the forty-year post" Jerome
warned him. "And you're now going
to lose a year or two more in which
you might better be engaged laying
up a foundation Of independence for
your old age. For Heavens sake. man,
don't be a fool"
"Oh, but will be a fool" John Stu
art Webster answered; and possibly,
by this time. the reader has begun to
understand the potency Of his middle
name-the Scotch are VIGOROUSLY pig
headed. and Mr.. Webster had just
enough oatmeal In his blood to have
come by that center fire name honest
ly. "And you. you poor old horse,
you could not possibly understand
why. II you lived to be million years
old"
He got up from his chair to the full
height of his six-feet-One, and
stretched 100 pounds of bone and mus
Gle.
"And so shall go to Sobrante and
lose all Of this all-important money,
shall II" he jeered. "Then by all the
gods Of the Open Country, l hope I
may. Dad burn you, Neddy. I'm not a
Methuselah. want some fun in life.
I want to fight and be broke and 60
hungry and then make money for the
love Of making 1t and spending it, and
l want to live a long time yet. I want
to see the mirage across the sagebrush
and hear 1t whisper: 'Hither, John
Stuart Webster! Hitler, you fool,
and I'll hOrnswOggle you again, as in
an elder day hornswoggled you be-
fore.'"
Jerome shook his white thatch hope
lessly.
Il thought you were a great mining
engineer, john" he said sadly, "but
you're not. You're poet. You do
not seem to care for money"
"Well." Webster retorted humorous
ly. at isn't exactly what you might
term ruling passion. like to make
1t. but there's more fun spending It.
I've made 100000. and now want
to 10 blow it-and I'm going to. Do
not try to argue with me. I'm luna
tic and will have my way. If I
didn't go tearing off to Sohrante and
join forces with Bill Geary. there to
play the game, red or black, I'd feel
as II I had done something low and
mean and small. The boys appealed
to me, and l have made my answer.
If / come back alive but broke. you
know In your heart you'll give me the
best job you have"
you win," poor Jerome admitted
Hold the job open 80 days. AT
the end of that period I'll give you a
definite answer, Neddy.
81 sniff excitement and adventure
and profit in Sobrante aud I've Just
got to look-see. I'm like an old burro
staked out knee-deep in alfalfa Just
now. l won't take kindly to the
pack"
And like an old burro, you won't
be happy until you've sneaked through
a hole in the fence to get out into a
stubble-field and starve." Jerome
swore half-heartedly and promulgated
the trite prOverb that life Is just one
blank thing after the other-an in
chOate mass of liver and disappoint-
ment!
do you find It 500" Webster queried
alphabetically.
Suspecting that he was being
twitted. Jerome looked up sharply,
prepared to wither Webster with that
glance. But no, the man was abso-
lutely serious; whereupOn Jerome
realized the futillty Of further argu.
ment and gave John Stuart Webster
up for total loss. Still. he could not
help smiling as he reflected how Web
ster had planned a year of quiet en-
joyment and Fate had granted him
one brief evening. He marveled that
Webster could be so light-hearted and
contented under the circumstances.
Webster read his thoughts. Good
bye. old man." he said. and extended
his hand. Don't worry about me.
Allah Is always kind to fools, my
friend; sorrow Is never their portion
In answering Billy's call have feel
ing that am answering the call OF
n great adventure"
He did not know how truly he spoke
of course, but if he had. that knowl.
edge would not have changed his an,
swer.