Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1921-01-21


"Who was that person | just bath
edf" he inquired of the excited clerk.
"Ah, senior, you shall not long be
kept in ignorance" that functionary
Informed him. ''That is the terrible
Captain Benavides-"
do you know, had a notion 1t was
he?" Webster replied ruminatively.
"Well, suppose I'm in for duel
now" he added to himself as he
climbed the stairs to his room. Il
think that will be most interesting"
John Stuart Webster changed into
dry clothing and descended to the
dinlng-room. Miss Ruey 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 been having adven-
lures again." she challenged. '"The
news Is all over the hotel. / heard it
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. win you be good
enough to take charge Of 1t until after
the funeral? You can turn 1t over to
Billy then"
| She fell readily into the bantering
spirit with which he treated this Sc
rlous subject. Indeed, 1t was quite i'm
possible to do otherwise, for John
Stuart Websters personality radiated
such feeling of security. of absolute.
unbounded confidence In the future
and dlsdain for whatever of good
fortune or i'll the future might entail,
that Dolores found 1t impossible not.
to assimilate his mood.
At seven-thirty, after a delightful
dinner, the memory of which Mr..
Webster was certain would finger un-
der his foretop long after every other
memory had departed, he escorted
her to the 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 waves
tapping the beach at the foot of the
| broad driveway.
"Fhis," said John Stuart Webster, az
he said goodnight to Dolores in the
lobby, lis 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 loungingchair, 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. II ann
Mr.. Webster, sir" he announced
civilly In Spanish. "And you are
Lieutenant ArredondoT
The visitor rose, bowed low and In
dicated he was that gentleman. 81
have called. Mr.. Webster" he stated
In most excellent English. Elm the In
terest Of my friend and comrade,
Captain Benavides."
"Ah, yesl The fresh little rooster
ducked In the fountain this evening.
Well. what does the little squirt want
now? Another ducking7"
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
man Of honor
"Stop right there. Lieutenant. There
is no doubt about it. am man of
honor, and unless you are anxious to
be ducked In the fountain, you viii 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 falls to accord another"
THAT let's me out amigo" Webster
laughed. "Benavldes isn't q gentle
man. He's cutthrOat. a numbering
little Observation-Disclosures Do I'm.
derstand he wants me to flgst a duel
with himfn
Lieutenant ArredOndo could nol
trust himself to speak, and so I'D
bowed profoundly.
VERY well, then, Lieutenant" Web
ster agreed. "Ill fight him.
3omOltoW Aho1hiuB at 1--WE U CNG[k.
Five minutes from now IL you aay
So"
Captain Benavides will be gratefu
for your willing spirit, at least" tn,
second replied bitterly. "You realize
Of course, Mr.. Webster, that as tht
challenged party, the choice of weap
Ons rests with you"
Certainly. / wouldn't have risket
a duel If the choice lay with the othel
fellow. With your permission. m,
dear sir, we'll fight with Mauser rifle
at thousand yards, for the reason
that never knew a Greaser that coul,
hit the broad side Of brewery at an,
range over two hundred and flft,
Yards" Webster chuckled fiendishly
Lieutenant Arredondo bit his Inns il
. anger and vexation. II cannot agrel
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