Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-03-18

equal TO the TASK or Strengthening out
this concession of yours and making a
hummer out of it, eh?"
The young fellow looked across at
him sheepishly. "Mine?" he jeered.
who's talking about a mine, I'm
thinking of girlw
ooh 1"
"Some girl, Johnny"
81 hope she's not some parrakeet,"
Webster bantered. "Have you looked
up her pedigree"
"Ah-h-h ~ Billy spat over the side in
sheer disgust. "Thls is an American
girl-born here, but white-raised in
the U. S. A. I've only known her
three weeks, but-ah !" And Billy
kissed his hand into space.
"Well, I'm glad find you so happy,
boy. When do you pull off the we'd
ding"
"Oh," said Billy, "that's premature,
Jack. I haven't asked her. How
could until I'm able to support her"
'Look here son." Webster replied.
don't you go to work and be the kind
Of fool was. You get married and
take a chance. A man ought to marry
young, Bill. Hang the odds. l know
what's good for you"
At the hotel Billy sent a note to
Dolores, apprlsing her that John
Stuart Webster had arrlved-and
would she be good enough to receive
them?
Miss Ruey would be that gracious.
She was waiting for them in the veran-
da just off the patio, outwardly calm,
but inwardly a fOment of conflicting
emotions. AS they approached she af
fected not to see them and turning,
glanced in the opposite direction; nor
did she move her head until Billy's
voice, speaking at her elbow, said:
"Well, Dolores, here's my old Jack
partner waiting to be introduced.
Jack, permit me to present Miss Do
lOres Ruey."
She turned her face and rose gra-
ciOusly, marking with secret triumph
the light Of recognition that leaped to
his eyes. lowered there the hundredth
part of second and departed, leaving
those keen, quizzical blue Orbs appraiS-
ing her in the most natural manner i'm
aginable. Webster bowed
"It is a great happiness to meet you,
Miss Ruey," he said gravely.
Dolores gave him her hand. "You
have doubtless forgotten, Mr.. Webster,
but think We have met before"
Indeed" John Stuart Webster muir
INJURED interestedly. $50 stupid of me
not to remember. Where did we meet"
"He has a profound sense of hui
NOR" she soliloquized. "He's going to
force me into the open. Oh, dear, I'm
helpless" Aloud she said: ION the
train in Death valley last month, Mr.
Webster"
Webster shook his head slowly as if
mystified 81 fear you're mistaken,
Miss Ruey. l wasn't on the train in
Death valley last month. | was in
Denver-so you must have met some
other Mr. Webster"
She flushed furiOusly. ~ didn't
think l could be mistaken" she an
swered a trifle cOldly
1T is my misfortune that you we're"
he replied graciOusly. certainly, had
we met at that time, should not have
failed to recognize you now. Some
how, Miss Ruey, never have any
luck"
She was completely Outgeneraled
and having the good sense to realize it,
submitted gracefully. Hes perfectly
horrible" she told herself, "but at least
he can lie like gentleman-and 1 al
ways did like that kind of man"
SO they chatted on the veranda until
luncheon was announced and Dolores
left them to go to her room.
"Well?' Billy queried the moment
she was out of earshOt. "What do you
think, JOHNNY
81 think" said John Stuart Webster
slowly, that you're good picker Bill
She's my ideal of fine young woman
and my advice to you is to marry her
I'll grub-stake you. Bill, this stiff col
lar is choking me | wish you'd wait
here while 60 to my room and rustic
up a soft one
In the privacy Of his room John
Stuart Webster sat down on his bed
and held his head in his hands, for he
had just received a blow in the solar
plexus and was still groggy. Present
ly however, ne pulled himself together
and approaching the mirror looked
long at his weather-beaten cOunte.
nance.
TOO DID," he murmured, "too old to
be dreaming dreams"
He changed to a soft collar, and
when he descended to the patio to join
Billy once more he was, to all outward
appearances, his usual unperturbed
self, for his was one Of those rare ma
lures that can derive n certain comfort
from the misery of self sacrifice-and
in that five minutes alone in his room
John Stuart Webster had wrestled