Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-02-11

over the back bar, was a never-falling
source of inspiration.
This was the "sainted Emery" pre-
vlously referred to by Mother jerks.
He had been a sergeant in Her Brit
tanlc Majesty's Royal Horse artillery,
and upon retiring to the reserve had
hardened to a proposition to emigrate
to SObrante and accept a commission
as colonel of artillery with the gov
eminent forces then in the throes of
revolutionary attack The rebels had
triumphed, and as a result Emery had
been sainted via the customary eX-
peditious route; whereupon his wife
had had recourse to her early profess
sion of barmaid, and Ell Buen Amigo
had resulted.
However, let us return to our
Sleeps, as Mr.. Geary would have ex-
pressed it, Seemingly the effect Of
Billy's compliment was instantly evil
dent, for Mother jerks set out two
glasses and bottle.
81 know yer a tritler, Willy Geary,"
she slmpered, "but if do sly it as
shouldn't, | was accounted as and
some barmaid as you'd find in Brls-
toll town. I've lost my good looks,
what with grief an worritin' since
iosin' my sainted Emery, but l was
andsOme oncet."
81 can we'll believe it, Mother
since you are handsome still For my
part" he continued confidentially, as
with shaking hand he filled his brandy
glass, you'll excuse this drunkard's
drink, Mother, but need it; l had the
shakes again last night-fOr my part,
I prefer the full-blOwn rose to the
bud"
Mother jerks futtered like a debu-
tante as she poured her drink, They
touched glasses, callOused worldlings
that they were.
He tossed off his drink. 1t warmed
and strengthened him, after his night
of chlls and fever, and brazenly he re-
turned to the attack.
Changing the subject from feminine
grace and charm to manly strength
and virtue, I've been marking lately
the resolute poise Of your martyred
husbands head on his fine military
shoulders. There was a man, if | may
judge from his photograph, that would
fight a wildcat"
ooh, m'ybe e Wouldn't" Mother
jerks fastened to declare. "YOu know,
Willie, | was present wen they shot
i'm, a-watn' to claim is body. e
kisses me goodbye, an says e: Brace
up, OF girl. Remember your husbands
been a sergeant in FIR Majesty's Royal
'Orse artillery an don't let the bloody
blighterS see yer cry Then e walks
out front, with is fine straight back
to the wall, draws a circle on is blue
tunic with white chalk an says
Shoot at that yer yeller-bellied
Founders, an be ID to yer ="
"To be the widow of such a gallant
son of Mars" Billy declared, "is a
greater honor than being the wife of a
duke. All, Mother" he added with a
note of genuine gratitude and sin
certify. you've been awfully good to
me. don't know what I'd have done
without you" He laid his hand or her
fat arm. Mother, one of these days
I'll get mine and when I do I'm going
to stake you to nice little pub back
In Bristol"
She smiled at him with mOtherly
tenderness and shook her head. In a
concrete niche in the mOrtuary of the
Cathedral de la Vera Cruz the bones
of her santed Emery reposed, and
when her hour came she would lie be-
side him.
eyer a sweet boy, Willie she tolt
him, IAN I'd trust yer for double the
score. shelp me. Ewing knows
'avent much, but wot I ave | shares
freely with them | likes
Mother jerks preceded him into the
shady side of the veranda, where or
dinarily she was wont to breakfast il
solitary state Her table was set fol-
two this morning, however. Bill!
flipped an adventurous cOckrOach of
the table and fell to with fine appetite
He was dallying with a special brew
of coffee, with condensed milk in it
when the Jamaica negro entered from
the cantina to announce Don Jual
Cafetero with cablegram.
"a cablegram" Mother jerks cried
Cords truth TIL wager the pub IT,
for you. Willie. BOb'-turning to thu
negro, and addressing him in her owl
private brand of Spanish-"giye Dol
Juan drink. if e 'asn't helped Unset
while yer back is turned, an bring tn
cablegram ere"
Within the minute Bob returnel
with a long yellow envelope, which h
handed Mother jerks. Without $
much as a glance at the Superscrir
ton. she handed it to Billy Geary, VIII
tore 1t open and read;
'Los Angeles, Cal, U. S. A., Angus
16. 1913.