The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-01-28

WHY, where Is She! Dolores
queried, and Billy could have wept at
the fright in those lovely brown eyes.
He waved his hand airily. "Quien
sabe:" he said. "She left three weeks
ago for New Orleans to visit you. !
dare say you passed each other on the
road-here, here. Miss Ruey, don't
cry"
He took a recess Of three minutes,
while Dolores dabbed her eyes and
went through sundry other motions of
being brave. Then he proceeded with
his nefarious recital.
"When your cablegram arrived, Miss
Ruey, naturally Mrs. wilkins was not
here to receive it, and as I was the
only person who had her address, the
cable agent referred it to me. Under
the circumstances, not knowing where
I could reach you with q cable inform
ing you that Mrs. wilkins was headed
for California to see you, had no
other alternative but to let matters
take their course. decided you might
arrive on La Estrellita, 50 I called to
welcome you to our thriving little city,
and, as a friend of about two min.
utes' standing, to warn you away from
it."
Billy's mien, as he voiced this
warning. was so singularly mysteri-
GUS that Dolores curiosity was
aroused instantly and rose superior
to, her grief. "Why, what's the mat.
ter?" she demanded.
Billy loked around, as If fearful of
being overheard. He lowered his
voice. "We're going to have one grand
little first.class revolution" he re.
piled. "It's due to bust almost any
night now, and when it does. the
streets Of San Buenaventura will run
red with blood"
Dolores blanched. "Oh, dearie me, L"
she quavered. do they still have
revolutions here? You know, Mr..
Geary, my poor father was killed in
one"
Eyes, and the same old political
gang that shot him is still on deck, -
Billy warned her. 1T would be high
~ dangerous for Ruey, man or wom'
an, to show his or her nose around
Buenaventura about now. Besides,
Miss Ruey, that isn't the worst" he
continued, for whole-hearted lid was
Billy, who never did anything by
halves. 1.-THE city is reeking with
cholera" he declared.
"Choleral" Dolores big brown eyes
grew bigger with wonder and concern.
"How strange the port authorities
didn't warn US at New Orleans!"
"Tish! Tush! Fiddlesticks and then
some. The fruit company censors
everything, Miss Ruey, and the news
doesn't get out"
but the port doctor just said the
passengers could 60 ashore"
"What's a human life to a doctor?
Besides, he's on the slush-fund pay
roll and does whatever the higherups
tell him. You be guided by what tell
you, Miss Ruey, and do not set foot
on Sobrantean soil. If you stay
aboard La Estrellita, you'll have your
nice clean stateroom, your we'll
cooked meals, your bath, and the at
tentions of the stewardess. The steam
er will be loaded in two days; then
you 60 back to New Orleans, and by
the time you arrive there I'll have
been in communication by cable with
Mother Jenks-I mean"
"Mother who?" Dolores demanded.
"A mere slip of the tongue, Miss
Ruey. 1 was thinking Of my landlady.
meant Mrs. WILKINS"
I'm so awfully obliged to you, Mr..
Geary. You're so kind, I'm sure I'd
be a most ungrateful girl not to be
guided by you accordingly. You
wouldn't risk any friend of yours in
this terrible place, would you, Mr..
Geary?"
"Indeed, would not. BY permitting
anybody thought anything of to come
to this city. should feel guilty Of
murder"
I'm sure you would, Mr.. Geary.
Nevertheless. there is one point that is
not quite clear in my mind, and ] wish
you'd explain"