Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-02-25


stick-the effect Of which was TO cause
everybody in tie room to start and
TO conceal Mr. Webster momentarily
In cloud Of dust the while in bel
lowing baritone he sang:
His father was a hard-rock miner:
lie comes from my home town"
4 'sTck Webster The devils own
kin8 shouted Neddy Jerome. He
swept the cards into a heap and wad-
ldldd across the room to meet this
latest assailant Of the peace ald dig
ANy Of tie Engineers club you old,
worthless, ornery, no-good son Of
lizard I've never been so glad to see
man that didn't owe me money. I've
been cOmbing the whole civilized
world for. you, for n month, at least
Where the devil have you been?
JOha Stuart Webster beamed hap
PLY upon his friend. "Well, Neddy.
you old stocking-knitter," he replied
auizzlcally, "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 c0nfine your
search 70 TIE uncivilized reaches"
well, you're here, at any rate and
I'm happy Now you settle dow1."
Hardly Neddy. I'm young yet,
you know-only forty. Still real live
man and not quite ready to degenerate
into a card-playlng, eat-drink -and-be-
merry die-of-inanition, sink to-obllvlol
and go-to-h-- fireplace spirit" And
ne prodded Jerome in the short ribs
with tentative thumb that caused
me old man to vince He permitted
MS friend to drag him downstairs 70
the deserted lounge. where Jerome
paused In the middle Of the room and
renewed his query:
Where have you been, | ask?"
out in Death valley, California, try
ing to pry loose fortune"
did you pry it?"
John Stuart Webster arched his eye
brows in mock reproach. "Andayou
can see my new suit, Neddy. my six
teen-dollar, made-to-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 thatl" He blew a
cloud Of cigar smoke into Jerome's
smiling face The latter shifted. 1T
smells expensive" he replied.
yes, and you can bet II tastes ex-
peasive. too" Webster answered. I
BANDING his cigar-case to his friend.
Jerome bit the end of his cigar and
'pat derisively. "How much have you
nader he demanded bluntly. :
Its none of your business, but I'll ,
ell you because l love you, Neddy. I've
made one hundred thousand dollars" 4
"Chieken-feed." Jersme retorted. 3
Johnny I've been comblng the min
raj belt OF North and South America '
or you for a month";" Y
'why this sudden belated interest g
1 me2 y
Il have fine job for you. John"
Kings X" Webster interrupted, q
nd showed both hands with the fin r
Prs crossed. "No plotting against my $
eace and comfort. Neddy. Haven't | Fl
I'D you I'm all dressed up for the k
rst time In three years. that l have n
oney in my pocket and more in N
mkt Man, I'm going TO tread the
1mrose path for year before l get o,
lex into the harness again" 81
Jerome waved a deprecatory hand, b,
brushing aside such feeble G
ID inccnsequential argument. Are .,
"a foOt-loose?" he demanded. .,
I'm not. I'm bound In golden
aims" -,
Married, eh7 Great Scott. I might Y,
We guessed II. SO you're on your st
neymcon, chr re
'No such luck, you vichy-drinI<ing
'noclast. II you had ever gotten far hs
ough from this club during the past II
teen years to get breath of real kr
'sh air, you'd understand why I az
mt TO enjoy civilization for a week at
two before go back to mine SUI on
cabin on some bleak hill qu
, Stree. Old Jeremiah Q. Work and
ave had a falling out. Dad burn sti
lr picture, Neddy. / want some co,
ISL I've been listening to a daco gir
ft-boss playing the ACCORDION for ito
ee years-and he could only play wa
ee tunes. Now / want Sousa's cir
d. I've been bathing in tepid, dirty an
ier IN redwood sluice-box. and me
: desire steam room and nee sw
shower and an osteopath. I've been fro
sing Greasers and Italians and was sar
ed 10 learn their language to get mo
rs, and now want to speak my ha.
her tongue 70 my old friends BY uni
ifer iin going 70 have new deal act
aroHrd yor
Jac'E Don't excite your bel
-e'r oxoetiy thirty dave ! eoc