Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1921-04-28

iber automatic pistols, and a plen-
tiful supply of ammunition-after
which he returned to the hotel, first
having conducted Don Juan to a bar
Der shop and given him instructions
to report for orders and his midday
drink the instant he should have ac-
quired the outward evidences Of re-
spectability.
At the hotel Webster found two
messages awaiting him. One was from
Billy Geary, up at San Miguel de Pad
ua, advising him that everything was
in readiness for a trip to the mine
the other was a note from Ricardo
Ruey, but signed with his alias of
Andrew Bowers. Webster read:
Dear Friend:
"a certain higher-up has been con-
WINGED that it would be extremely in
advisable to eliminate you now. 1t
has been pointed out to this person
that you are a prom. cit. up in your
neck of the woods and dangerous to
monkey with-personally and because
such monkeying may lead to unpleas-
ant complications with your paternal
government. A far more artistic and
effective way of raising hell with you
has been suggested to this higher-up
individual, and he has accepted it. In
deed, the plan pleased him so much
that he laughed quite heartily. Real
ly, it is quite diabolical, but remem-
Der, he who laughs last laughs best
and I'm the villain in this sketch.
Barring accidents, my dear Web
ster, you are good for at least six
weeks of existence. Beyond that
dare not guarantee you.
"Thine,
ANDREW BOWERS"
"That makes it nice" the recipient
Of this comforting communication So
liloquized. He went up to his room,
packed a duffle bag with such belong
ings as he would find necessary dur
ing prolonged stay in the mountains,
and at luncheon was fortunate enough
to find Dolores in the dining room
when he entered.
'T'm going up to San Miguel de Pad
va this afternoon" he announced as
he took his seat. A look of extreme
anxiety clouded her lovely face, and
he noticed it. "Oh there's no risk"
he FASTENED to assure her. "That
scamp of brother Of yours, through
his friends in high places, has man.
aged to get me a reprieve." He hand
ed her Ricardo's letter.
She looked up, much relieved, from
her perusal. "And how long do you
expect to be gone, Caliph?"
quite a while. I'll be busy around
that drafted concession for a couple
of weeks, surveying and assaying and
what-all; then, while waiting for our
machinery and supplies to arrive from
the United States, shall devote my
spare time to hunting and fishing and
reforming Don Juan Cafetero. The
cool hills for mine."
''What a selfish. unsociable pro-
!" she reflected. II wonder if
it will occur to him to come down
here once in a while and take me for
a drive on the Malecon and talk to
me to keep me from dying of ennui
before l meet Ricardo. I'll wait and
see if he suggests it."
However, for reasons best known to
himself and the reader, Mr.. Webster
made no such interesting suggestion;
so she decided that while he was ire
mendOusly nice, he was, nevertheless,
very queer man and thoroughly eX-
asperating.
Just before the train pulled out
Tnhn rf JUohcNor
hand. "Good-by, Seeress," he said
very sOberly. 1.-The trail forks here
for the first time-pOssibly the last,
although I'll try to be on hand to
make good on my promise to present
you to your brother the day he Oc-
| cupies the palace. However If !
shouldn't be in town that day, just
go up and introduce yourself to him.
It's been wonderful to have met you
and known you, even for such a brief
period. l shall never forget you and
the remarkable "a hours just passed."
II shall not soon forget them my
self, Caliph-nOr you" she added.
Haven't you been a busy little cup
of tea, Caliph! Within "a hours after
landing, you have changed your mind
three times, lost the best job in the
world, had your fortune told, been
marked for slaughter, acquired new
found friend and commenced actively
and with extraordinarily good results
the work Of reforming him, soused a
gentleman in the fountain, spurned
another with the tip of your boot,
rode with me around the Malecon and
listened to the band concert, bundled
poor Billy off to San Miguel de Pad
ua, discovered my brother presumed
to be dead and received a reprieve
from your enemies, while they per-
feet new plans for destroying you.
Really, you are quite a caliph."
"Oh, there's a dash of speed in the
old horse yet, Miss Ruey," he assured
her laughingly. "Now listen; don't tell
anybody about your brother, and don't
tell Billy about my adventures since
he left for San Miguel de Padua."
But Pm not liable to see Billy"