Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1921-02-10

Cl1eI CLERK Al OuS OF CUlCaBOS most
preteatious hotels and a young man
who can find all the tangles Of a sit
uation without working it out In loga-
rtthms. wired him the details Of my
predlcament; he heard the Macedonian
cry and kicked in. Neat, is it not?'
The conductor grinned. II hate to
take your money" he declared.
''Don't. Just at present I'm very
flush. Yes, sir, I'm as prosperous as a
yearling burro up to his ears in alfalfa
and the only use have ever found for
money is to make other people happy
with 1t, thereby getting some enjoy
ment out of it myself. When I'm broke
I'll make some more"
And Mr.. Webster retired to his hard
won sanctuary, where he removed as
much alkali and Precipitation as he
could, carded his long hair a1d whisk-
ers, manicured his finger nails with a
1ack-knife, changed his shirt, provided
five minutes of industry for George,
with his whiskbroom and brush, and
set himself patiently to await the first
call to dinner.
Presently a pink-jowled, well
currted, flashily dressed big man, Of
about Webster's age, passed in the cor
rdor, going toward the head of the
train. An instant later a woman's
voice said very distinctly:
II do not know you, sir; I do not
wish to know you, and it is loathsome
Of you to persist in addressing me. If
you do not stop your annoying atte1-
lions, shall call the conductor"
"Ah! Beauty in DISTRESS" John
Stuart Webster soliloquized. 81 look
so much like an Angora goat 1 might
as well butt In" He stepped to the
door Of his stateroOm. A girl stood in
tie vestibule, confronting the man who
had just passed Websters door. Web
ster bowed.
Madame. or mademolselle, as the
case may be-" he said, unlike this
other male biped, my sole purpose IN
presuming To address you is to suggest
that there is not the slightest necessity
for taking this matter up with the con-
ductor. 1 am here and very much at
your service"
Webster's Heart topped twice In rapid
succession, like trout newly grassed.
She was as lovely as a royal flush.
Her starry glance began at his miners
boots, travelled up his old soiled, whip
cord trousers, over his light blue cham
bray shirt and found the man behind
the whiskers. She favored him with a
OVTfalr
sweet smile. '"Thank you so much, sir"
she answered, and passed down the
corridor to the observation car.
"Well, old-timer," Webster greeted
the fellow who had been annoying her,
chow about you? What do you think
we ought to do about this little af-
fair?"
''The sensible thing would be to do
nothing. You might start something
you couldn't finish"
"That's a dare" Webster declared
brightly, "and wasn't it the immortal
Huckleberry Finn who remarked that
anybody that'd take dare would suck
eggs and steal sheep7" He was silent
a few seconds, appraising his man. 81
suppose you commenced operations by
moving into her section and asking If
she would like to have the window
open and enjoy the fresh air. She re-
buffed you, but being a persistent
devil, you followed her into the OBJ .
servatiOn car, and in all probability
you ogled her at luncheon and ruined
her appetite. And just now, when you
met her in this vestibule, you doubt
less jostled her, begged her pardon
and without waiting to be introduced
asked her to have dinner with you this
evening"
"WenT the fellow echoed belliger-
emily.
try to make mash on a lady. don't
know who she is, of course, but she's
not common ald for the sake Of the
mother that bore me l always respect
and protect good woman and whale
h out Of those that do 1ot."
He reached inside his stateroom and
pressed the bell. Tie porter arrived on
the run.
George" said Mr.. Webster, "in a
Few minutes were due at Smithvtlle.
If my memory serves me Alright, we
stop FIVE minutes for water and Or
ders."
''Yassah."
Remain right here and let me off as
soon as the train comes to a stop"
When the train slid to a grinding
halt and the porter opened the car
door, Webster pointed. "Out !" he said.
''This is no nice place to pull off a
scrap"
"See here, neighbor, don't want to
lave any trouble with you"
II know it. All the same, you're go
ing to have tor come with me to
that young Lady and beg her pardon"
"All right. I'll apologize" and he
started forward as If to pass Webster
in the vestibule, on his way to the OBJ
servation car, whittier the subject of
his annoying attention had gone. Two
steps brought him within striking dis
lance of his enemy, and before Web