The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-02-17

Webster g%rinned at him tantalIzingly
That decided him. No Latin-AmeTi.
can, with the exaggerated ego Of his
race. can bear V e a suspicion OF
ridlcule. The officer walked ~fercely
toward Webster and swung his arm
toward the Iatter's face In an effort
to land q slap that was "meant."
Webster merely threw back his head
and avoided the blow; his long left
Sobrantean's guard; then Webster's
right hand closed around the officers
collar. "Come to me thou insOlent
little one" he croOned, and jerked his
assailant toward him, gathered him
up 10 his arms. carried bin, kicking
and screaming with futile rage, out
into the patio and soused him In the
fountain.
Nov, then, spltfire, that viii cool
your hot head, ! trust" he admonish-
ed his unhappy victim, ana returned
TO the hotel. At The desk I've paused.
"WhO was that person ! just bath
edT" he inquired of the excited clerk.
"Ah, senior, you shall not long be
kept in ignorance" that f~unctionary
Informed him. THAT is the terrible
Captain Benavides-".
ado you know, | had a notion it was
he?" Webster replied ruminatively.
"Well, | suppose I'm in for IA duel
now" he added to himself as he
climbed the stairs to his room. -
think that will be most interesting"
John Stuart Webster changed INTO
dry clothing ana descended TO the
dining room. Miss ltuey WAS already
seated at her table and mOtioned. him
to the seat opposite her. and AS he
sat down with a cOntented little sigh.
she gazed at him with a newer and
more alert interest.
81 hear you've becn having adven-
lures again" she challenged. "lhe
news is all over the hotel. heard II
from the head waiter"
Coffee and pistols for two at day
light" he answered cheerily. "By the
way, | have made my will, just to be
on the safe side. VIII you be good
enough to take charge Of II until after
the funeralg You can turn It over to
Billy then"
She fell readily into the bantering
spirit with which he treated this Sc
rious subject. Indeed, II was quite i'm.
possible 90 do otherwise, for John
Stuart Webster's personality radiated
such Il feeling Of security, of absolute,
u%nbounded confidence In the future
and diSdain for whatever of 1000
fortune or III the future might entail,
that Dolores found 1t impossible not
to asslmilate his mood.
AT seven-thlrty, after a delightful
dinner, the memory of which Mr..
Webster was certain would linger I'M
der his foretop long after every other
memory had departed, he escorted
her to he open carriage he had
ordered, and for two hours they cir
cled the Malecon with the elite OF
~Buenaventura. listening to the music
Of the band, and, during the brief in
termiSsions. to the sound of the wave
tapping the beach at the foot of the
broad driveway.
"This," said John Stuart Webster, as
he said goodnight to Dolores in the
lobby, "is the end Of a perfect day
1t wasn't, for at that precise mo
ment a servant handed him a card,
and indicated a young man seated in
an adjacent lounging-chair, at the
same time volunteering the informa-
ton that the visitor had been await
ing Senior Webster's return for the
past hour.
Webster glanced at the card and
strobe over to the young man. ~ an
Mr.. Webster. sir" he announced
civilly In Spanish. "And you are
Lieutenant A~rredondoT"
The visitor rose, bowed low and in
dicated he was that gentleman. ~
have called, Mr.. Webster" he stated
In most excellent English, "in the in
terest Of my friend and comrade,
Captain Benavides."
"Ah, yesl The fresh little rooster
j ducked In the fountain this evening.
Well, what does the little squirt want
now? Another duckingT"
Arredondo flushed angrily but re-
membered the dignity Of his mission
and controlled his temper. captain
Benavldes has asked me to express to
you the hope that you. being doubtless
a man of honor"
"Stop right there, Lieutenant. There
Is nc doubt about II. | am a man Of
honor. and unless you are anxious to
be ducked In the fountain, you will be
more careful In your choice of words.
Now then: You are about to say that,
being a man of honor"
"You would accord my friend the
satisfaction which one gentleman
never fails to accord another"
"That lets me out amigo" Webster
laughed. "Benavides isn't q gentle
man. He's a cutthroat, a numbering
little observation-disclosures. DO l I'M
derstand he wants me to fight a duel
with himf'
Lieutenant Arredondo could not
trust himself to speak. and SO he