Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-03-15
CHARTER TII-Continued

! In the mining district? Anywhere
near Joplin"
We'll, yes, not so far from Joplin"
Ever been down in that moonshining
district on the breaks of White River,
southeast Of Joplin, or over in Oklahoma
in the hay and cattle country?"
II was reared on the first and held
down a dry claim in the other"
Have to tote a cannon in most of
those jungles, 'don't yOu?"
Eyes, sir"
Ever done anything besides paint pic
tures?"
I smiled, thinking of my boyhood
days in the Ozarks W Zen l herded cat
tie barefoot and afoot, or plowed with a
bull tongue and coulter in the roots and
stumps with three lean horses hitched to
my pillow. I've doae few other things"
| said
: What, for example?"
"WclI, I've plowed and hoed and gone
to a business college, and acted as a
paymaster In a smelter at Joplin, and
held down a sand dune in Oklahoma. The
4 Government bet me a sand dune that
couldn't stay on it fourteen months with
out starving, and l won the bet"
( Prothro changed the subject, but I
could see that he was feeling me out, and
he seemed especially to want to learn If
7 had any grit In my gizzard. While we
were speaking Nelson and his Spanish
beauty came past, arm in arm. They had
promencded thus since breakfast. They
passed before us, and Nelson began. in
bad Spanish. TO try 10 Introduce his lady,
this with great flourish and affeCtation.
"Oh. cut the habla business Nelson
snapped Prothro. REST assured, the lady
understands English rs well as we do
And II she doesn't, what's the difference?
We didn't start out as lady conquerors."
"Dzank you, Senior, I do onderstan
DE Anglisch," nurmured the lady with
lisp intended to be fetching.
NO, you plainly do not" snapped Pro-
thro. I'm bet you carry birth certif-
cate from the Mexican quarter Of Miami,
Fla, and that your dad sold hot tamales
for a living"
( was rather taken aback by this plain
speaking and Nelson was aghast
He squared himself In front Of Prothro.
when you insult the lady 1 am escort
ing you insult me- sir"
Run along, Nellie run along, and
don't get net mp" drawled Protlro; and
Nelson, mutJering his indignation. swung
or with the lady at an angry pace.
As soon as the lady was out Of earshot
Prothro called Nelson back
what is TT" be asked in the most
Nelson, I just want to tell you that
you talk too much. And I want to warn
you that there's three people on board
that you must not talk our business TO.
/ Those three are that woman youder, Mr.,
Sieert, and Senior Serian0. I've had
Aguaros watching those people since We
left New York. They re in Il partners hip,
or I'm fool"
"SIals. la DAME" insisted Nelson. "She
has just been telling me all about her
self Her husband WAS 3 Spanish bank
er. and she has visited With MIN IN some
Of the best homes in Me- York. She de-
scribed the interior Of Mr.. Jarndyces
home on seventy Third street perfectly"
"Haye you ever seen that interiorf'
well, no. / haven't, but"
Then you don't know whether she
was lying or not, 90 you? Listen, Nell
son, I'm saying this in all Kindness;
you've got to learn few things on this
trip. ana the sooner you lerrn them the
better. Take this for your first lesson:
Don't talk our business to anybody