The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1921-12-02


pity. aud that of course would be re-
pugnant to me. am hoping you will
accept my word Of honor that you
shall be reimbursed two hours otter
you land In San Buenavatura."
"New music to your song. my friend
but the same old words" Webster re-
torted. and stepped to the stateroom
door "You're doomed to shovel coal or
60 ashore"
Listen. IF I 90 ashore. your respOn-
sibiiity for my life ceases. Mr.. Web
sfer. but If the chief engineer happens
to be short one coal-passer and the
captain sends me down to the stoke
hole, your responsibility for my death
begins. for I'll be put ashore publicly
at San Buenaventura and two hours
later ri be facing firing squad in the
cemetery at the Cathedral de la Vera
Cruz"
"Gosh." John Stuart Webster muir.
INJURED dazedly. I'm afraid can't take
q chance like that for fifty dollars. I'm
whipped to fragile. Any time I'm
sitting in hack Of royal flush and the
other fellow bluffs me out of the pot,
always buy the wine. When It arrives
we shall drink to our better acquaint-
ance. Pending its arrival. please he
advised that you are welcome to my
patamas. my cigarettes, my book and
my stateroom. YOu are my guest and
yOT owe me nothing. except. perhaps.
your confidence. although ] do not In.
sim upon that point. Where come
FROM every man kills his own snakes"
And he held up his hand for Andrew
Bowers to shake.
mir. Webster" the latter declared
feeIingiy. II am not lord of language.
so ! cannot find words to thank You.
agree with you that you are entitled
to my confidence. My name is"
'"Tut. tut. my boy. Your name ia
Andrew Bowers. and that Identifies
you sufficiently for the time being.
When ! suggested that ! was entitled
to a measure Of your confidence. !
meant on few minor points only
points on which my curiosity has been
abnurmally aroused.
VERY well, my friend. Fire away"
"Are you an American citizen?"
"No. I am a citizen of Sobrante."
"YOu had no money TO pay for your
passage 70 San Buenaventura so You
schemed to make me pay your way.
Hence take 1t that your presence in
the capital Of your native country is 9
matter of extreme importance and that
the clerk In the ticket office Of the
Caribbean Mail line Is friend Of
yours"
quite true. He knew my need"
you we're under surveillance and
could not leave. New Orleans for San
Ruenaventura unless you left secretly
When I purchased both berths in this
stateroOsn and the ticket clerk knew
held tirst.class ticker for q valet that
was not. he decided to saw Off on me
valet that was. Disguised In the liv.
cry Of chauffeur and carrying hand
baggage you hoped to get aboard with
out being detected by your enemies
who watched the gangpIank."
Andrew Bowers nodded.
do you think you succeeded2" Web
ster continued.
II do not know. Mr.. Webster. hope
so. II ! did not-weil. the instant this
steamer drops anchor In the roadstead
at San Buenaventura. she will be
boa rded and searched by the military
police. ! will be discovered and" He
shrugged.
Lawn party 10 the cemetery, chr"
Webster suggested
Andrew Bowers reached under his
pillow and produced two heavy auto
matte pistols and a leathern box con-
raining FIVE clips of cartridges. These
he exhibited In silence and then thrust
them back under the pillow.
II see, Andrew. In case you're cor.
nered Ell? Well. think l would pre-
fer to die fighting myself"
tim moi worried. Mr.. Webster.
Somehow. l think l ran the gantlet
safely"
But why did you throw your livery
overboard?
ut was OF no further use TO me-"
nut YOU II nave 10 nave some
clothes IN which to go ashore. you
au,azing man."
'NOt at all. The steamer will arrive
In the harbOr If San Buenaventura
tate In rhe aftesnOon-tOo late to be
given prarique that day. After dark
shall drop overheard and endeavor to
swim ashore. and In view of that plain
clothes would only prove an embar-
rassInent. shall land In my own coun.
try naked and penniless, but once
ashore shall quickly find shelter. ri
have to risk the sharks. Of course"
"Man-eaters?"
THE hay Is swarming with them"
You're breaking my heart" Web
ster declared sympathetically. II sup
pose you're going to feign illness
throughout the voyage"
mot the kind Of illness that will In
terfere with my appetite. have pre-
scrlbed for myself a mild attack of in.
aammatOry rheumatism. as an excuse
for remaining In bed and having my
meals brought to me. This service of