Cheyenne record., 1921-02-24
CHAPTER II-ContInued.

-
Webster struck tire upholstery of an
,djacent chair terrific blow with his
,tick-the effect Of which was to cause
everybody in tie room to start and
- conceal Mr.. Webster momentarily
n a cloud Of dust. the while in bel
owing baritone he sang:
Ills father was q hard-rock miner:
He comes from my home town."
tin!" shouted Neddy Jerome. He
swept the cards into heap and wad-
iled across the room to meet this
atest assailant of the peace ald dig
aity of tie Engineers club. "You old.
worthless, ornery, nO-good son of a
lizard! I've never been so glad to see
man that didn't owe me money. I've
.ron combing the whole civilized
yor!d for you, for n month, at least.
Where the devil have you beenf
join. Stuart Webster beamed hap
ply Ipon his friend. "Well, Neddy,
rou cld stocking-knitter," he replied
lnizzically. "since that is the case, I'm
not surprised at your failure to find
ne. You've known me long enough
:" hav. remembered to cOntine your
nnrch to TIE uncivilized reaches
"Wcll, you're here. nt any rate and
IN happy. Now you settle down.
"lInrdly. Neddy. "rm 1ncng yet.
iou know-only forty. St,ll real live
man and not quite ready to degenerate
into card-playing. eat-drink-and-be-
Ill In, ctv,I- tn- nj,
and go-to-h- fireplace spirit!" And
,e prodded Jerome In the short ribs
with n tentative thumb that caused
.hc Old man to vince He permitted
his friend to drag him downstairs 10
the deserted lounge, where Jerome
paused in the middle Of the room and
renewed His query:
"Wlere have you been, I ask?"
-|"Out in Death valley. California, try
Ing to pry loose fortune"
"Did you pry itf'
John Stuart Webster arched his eye
brows in mock reprOach. "And you
cnn soc my new suit. Neddy. my six
,rrndollar, made-to-Order shoes and
any horny hoofs encased In silkcn hose
and ask that question? Freshly
shaved and ironed and almost afraid
% >!t down and get wrinkles in my
n'uS"rs. Smell that" He blew a
-l"ui of cigar smoke into Jerome's
rmIl,nC face. The latter shifted. ut
sinrIlS expensive" he replied.
YES. and you can bet it tastes ex-
,"lsive, too" Webster answered.
cHnhIng his cigar-case to his friend.
I..rn hi hn OF IS f,i nd
'pat dcrisively. "HOw much have you
nudrf" 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"
"Chicken-feed," Jerome retortcd.
Johnny, I've been combing the min
raj belt of North and South America
or you for a month
'Why this sudden belated interest
n mc?'
Il have fine job for you. John"
Kings X" Webster interrupted,
md slrSEed both hands with the fin
.crs crossed. mo plotting against my
,cacs and comfort, Neddy. Haven't
old you I'm all dressed up for the
irst time in three years. that l have
money in my pocket and more In
mnk? Man, I'm going to tread the
primrose path for year before l get
,ack into the harness again"
Jerome waved deprecatory hand,
isurntively brushing aside such feeble
md inconsequential argument. Are
rou foot-loose?" he demanded.
I'm not I'm bound in golden
.hans-"
Married. eh? Great Scott. might
awe guessed it So you're on your
honeymoon. chr"
No such luck, you vichydrinking
conocast. II you had ever gotten far
enough from this club during the past
ifteen years to get breath of real
fresh air. you'd understand why l
want to enjoy civilization for week
r two before l go back to a mine SUI
perlntendent's cabin on some bleak hill.
80, stree Old Jeremiah Q. Work and
[ have had q falling out. Dad burn
vour picture. Neddy, l 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 want Sousa's
band. I've been bathing In tepid, dirty
water in a redwood sluice-box, and
aow I desire q steam room and nee
lle 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 q new deal
III around"
"v"-v well. JACK. Don't excite Jour
rn give - akactly thirty days