The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-02-02
likewise a free AGENT

l Oruer the CdiildSc.
"Seven-thirty. After all; they'll not
dare to murder you on the Malecon.'
II agree with you. 1t will have TO
be done very quickly, if at all. You've
been mighty nice to me this AFTER
noon, seeress; l shall be grateful
right to the moment Of dissolution.
speak softly but carry big
stick" she warned him.
"a big gum" he corrected her,
two of them, in fact
"Sensible man! TIN not going to
worry about you, Mr.. Webster" She
nodded her permission for him to re-
tire, and as he walked down the YER
anda aad into the hotel, her glance
followed him with pdrdonaDle femi-
nine curiosity, marking the breadth Of
his = shoulders, the quick. springy
stride, the alert, erect poise Of his
head on the powerful neck.
"A doer Of deeds are you, John
Stuart Webster" she almost whisper
ed. GAS Kipling would say: 'Wallah!
But you are a mann"
A stealthy footstep sounded below
the veranda: she turned and beheld
Don Juan Cafetero, his hat in his left
hand, in his right a gold-piece which
he held toward her.
'STake it, allanah," he wheezed in
his hoarse, drunkard's whisper. keep
it FIR me till tomorrow, for sor:a wan
av me can trust to do that same
an be the same token l can't face that
big man without it,
."Why not, Don Juan?"
He hung his red head. II dunno,
Miss" he replied miserably. maybe
tits on account av him-the eye av
him-the way av him-divil such a
man did I ever meet-God bless him
Shre, Misther Geary do be the fine
lad, but he-he-"
Mr.. Geary never put big fore
finger under your chin and babe you
hold up your head. Is that it?''
'"Tis not what he did, Miss but the
way he did it. All the tiends av hell II
be at me this night to Stipend what he
give me-and I'm afraid"
He broke off, mumbling and chatter
ing like man in the grip Of great
terror. In his agony Of body and
spirit, Dolores could have wept for
Don Juan Cafetero, for in that su-
preme moment the derelict's soul was
bare, revealing something pure and
sweet and human, for all his degrade
ton. How did Jack Webster know?
wondered Dolores. And why did he
so confidently give an order to this
human flotsam and expect it to be
obeyed? And why did Don Juan
Cafetero come whining to her for
strength to help him obey it?
'"rhat wouldn't be playing the
game" she told him. II can't help
you deceive him. You are the first of
your breed"
"Don't say it," he cried. didn't
he tell me wanst?"
'Then make the fight, Don-Mr.
Cafferty." She lowered her voice.
II am depending on you to stay sober
and guard him. He needs a faithful
friend so badly, now that Mr.. Geary
is away" She patted the grimy hand
and left him staring at the ground.
Presently he sighed, Quivered horribly,
and sllambled out of the patio on to
the firing-line. And when he reported
to Jack Webster ut nine o'clock next
morning, he was sober, shaking hor-
ribly and on the verge of delirium
tremens, but tightly clasped in his
right hand he held that five-dollar
piece. Dolores, who had made it her
business to be present at the inter-
view. heard John Stuart Webster say
heartily:
1.-The finest thing about terrible
fight, friend Ca1lerty, is that if it is
worthwhile battle. the spoils Of vic
tory are exceedingly sweet. You are
now about to enjoy one fourth of the
said spoils-a large jolt Of aguard-
lente! You must have it to steady
your nerves. Go to the nearest cam
tina and buy one drink; then come
back with the change. BY that time
I shall have breakfasted and you and
I will then 60 shopping. At noon you
shall have another drink; at four
o'clock another; and just before re-
firing you shall have the fourth and
last for this day. Remember. CAT
ferty: one jolt-no more-and then
back here with the exact change"
AS Don Juan scurried for salvation,
Webster turned to Dolores. Hell fail
me now, but that will not be his fault
but mine. I've set him too great
task in his present condition. Never
theless, to use cOlloquial expression,
I have the Cafferty goat-and I'm 60
ing to keep It,"
Webster went Immediately to his
room, called for pen and paper, and
proceeded at once to do that which he
had never done before-to wit, pre-
pare his last will and testament. In
a few brief paragraphs he made a
Photographic will and split his bank
roll equally between the two human
beings he cared for most-Billy Geary
and Dolores Ruey. ''BYll's gambler
like me-" he ruminated; $50 III play
safe. The girl is a conservative, and
after Bits wad is gone, he'd be boiled
in oil before he'd prejudice hers"
Having made his will, Webster
made copy Of it. The copy he placed