The Monroe journal., 1921-02-18

Informed Dolores Fully Of His inter.
view.
trick--,orrnwlng il. forsooth, in much
the same spirit as commuter board
Ing his train without the necessary
fare halls a neighbor and borrows ten
centS-his natural optimism asserted
itself and he chuckled ms in fancy he
beard himself telling the story TO Ned
dy Jerome and being branded liar
for his pains.
"Well, I've had one comfort ever
since first saw that girl he re
fected philosophically. while I've
never been so unhappy In all my life
before. or had to tear my soul out by
the roots so often, things have been
coming my way so fast from other di-
rections that | haven't had much OPP
7 portunity to dwell on the matter. And
I for these compensating Offsets, good
Lord, thank Thee"
He was John Stuart Webster again
when Dolores saw him next; during
the succeeding days his mood OF
eheerfulness and devil-may-eare indif-
! ference never left him. And through
out that period of marking time Do
lores was much In his society, a con-
/ dition which he told himself was not
TO his liking but which, nevertheless.
he could not ohviate without seeming
Indifferent to her happiness. And TO
permit his friends fiancee TO languish
in loneliness and heart-hreak did not
appear to John Stuart Webster AS the
part of a true friend or a courtly gen
tleman-and be remembered that she
had once called him that.
They rode together in the cool of the
morning; they drove together on the
Malecon In the cool of the evening
4 chaperoned by Don Juan Cafetero and
a grlnning Sohrantean. they went shark
fishing in Leber's launch; they played
domlnoes together; they discussed,
throughout the long, lazy, quiet after
moons. when the remainder Of their
world retired for the siesta, books, art,
men. women, and things.
And not once. throughout two weeks
of camaraderle, did the heart.racked
Webster forget for single instant
that he was the new friend, destined
to become the old friend; never, to
the girls watchful eyes, did he be-
tray the slightest disposition to estab-
lish their friendly relations on a closer
basis.
Thus did the arrival of The Day
find them. Toward sunset they rode
ont together along the hay shore and
noted far ont TO sea the smear OF
smoke that marked the approach OF
La Estrellita--on schedule time.
"You viii 60 aboard her tonight,
Webster said very quietly to Dolores
"And you?"
II shall go aboard with you. hav,
arranged with Don Juan for him tt
stay ashore and to come ont In lie
bers launch with the first reiabl,
news of the conflict. II Ricardo win'
the city. he wins the revolution, an,
you and | will then go ashore-to din,
with him in the palace. II he Loses
the city. he loses the revolution. ant
we will both do well to remain aboar,
Ia Estrellita."
"And in that event. what will be
come OF my hrother?"
II do not know; forgot to ssl
, him. but II he survives. imsgin,
he'll have sense enough TO know he
whipped and will retreat on San Bru
no. fighting rear guard action. EN-
bark aboard the steamer that brough
his men there. and escape"
I'm worried about Mother jerks.
|. II have asked Mother jerks to din
) with us at 30 this evening. and hav
ordered carriage to call for her
When she comes I'll tell her every
; hing; then. II she wishes to sta
ashore. let her. She's been througl
; more than one such fracGs and doesn'
mind them at ALL ] dare say"
/, And In this Webster was righl
! Mother jerks listened In profound 81
!, lenee. noddng her approval. as Wet
. ster related 20 her the story of tn
advent In the country of Ricardo Rue
> and fia plans, but without revealln
the Identity of Andrew Bowers.