Newspapers / The Monroe Journal (Monroe, … / Jan. 11, 1921, edition 1 / Page 2
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EIGHT FACES TTTT MOVROF IOmH. TITSH IV. Jr.lNT 11. 1MI. TACT. TWO .! tier to nave amtser wun you Wis i tetitinc. Fate had accordel him a signal j stood within the pnrtala of bouse and evening." i opportunity for knlghty combat In the j awaited the fatted calf. -Hf.iT me if no ecroeu Deiuger- service of this extraordinary woman, j efit!y. and In the ahscnr of a formal intro duction, what mun could desire finer ' opiwwtunlty for sotting acquainted! If ; only their meeting had hut bwn do- ' laved two weeks, teo days, a week! Mice free of his ugly Ct-o of rag's and wl ivbTS, the butterfly Webster , would not have hesitated one brief In- ! stant to Inform himself of that young ) lady's address, following Ms summary i disjK:i of her tormentor. I I" mm m Iff WEBSTER -MAN'S MAN Peter B. Kyne Author of "Cappy Ricks" "The Valley cf the Giants" Etc. CHAPTER I. When John S'uirt YVt-r. mining engineer mid kieker-up-nf-.ri-t on dis tant trails, tl.gg-d the 6. L. Limited at a !tS: tlon in Death .i ' . tad leii-rt.-ly res-'lvci th: ..s T- '!. !.- w. ear at the : :: an I erd. r appa .Va- ." laW wori'u ' i 'i at prove! !. r i Certify, the If iTst '.o ur. . of. the w ild." roll . la! a i Fe I -V: g V,bst.-r !: from "iniii m Iiiee'ine. wh from t. !:! was n wo. k wl. P.. ! A. A I board sta !:''i.nii;l. Ili- certain :-iV.i.!c the to , w a alio u ::: i .!. : out ha thing with tobacco, f" Dentil va'' ure in tiny arrival in s would really Charter'.!!;: a forthwith to lie lai a ;:;..! igg-. Mr. t.l-o-l vl!.";-.te hai-.-.f . ...... ... .., : t fl . !: !. fur; -I . . r t ; I : : ij ., !.;.-.' i:e in it. It nny- i remotely like t. -ape:- iture ill r f t.i-.it- : . I I tl y lii-i s;iree i'e.'in. 'ehter .1,-siCHe.l !:i xi1it' and pri-eei dins a hotel where lie would . tn.v h an iidor ev !'ie Au.-;, y ; ti :-e-e :..-!!! or hi t Sal; Lake ' Citrate a suiKiy num with a lia:!i. 11.1 the hatl.tuh. elimh Miihely In and soak for two hours at lenst. for it wa near ly eiiht liionllis siii'-e lie had had n regular hath and he purposed niakin the most f his 'ipponuuity. II, loiic (Jrawn alIi:'.ioiis at length over, ho would don a silken dres-i:-' fwn and Uppers-, order up a Imr'eer and pro oeed to part with :ioiu-h hair and whi.sluTs !o i;j oN;,r an nuioniolnle, the and upon gorlal ade:i!utv per.'ii in it -nit pajamas, e!i:,;t there for !'o!" e , old.r ci ham tiii-l eel".; in !ha rlu: i. ' alia lili-.li'e! wi So ir.'.lell plans. .V.e.v .No .ille I, enoi:; per I: ii:ip!e!lotl ' ; won; I of manvo., I in-. i le-1 .-I t l,.'li's. r h to ta. an 'V his ton- his v"' r I . I !. I ;'or for Uhl-eW.l .!lld.-e 1 !' eoiihl h:.e tllil! !l r.-id the Of fasl.iop that ehetiy lleot-je -:,i fortli, opel'ed !;ie (HI-. In- had u ' e HUt.d-a!e"l ! :; trnili. first .! liro-p. ot r;;. OtoV ' i-rilei ll;,: w a s i-l Ull :ft Vh !.;: p.. ! r.it ho !, .'!ti t' e in;;! or liia'.e ;. r or r tlii- to ... i: I ; 1 s !tlv s the !"- ,d le I'l: --T I.' "I ' the ni-un etai .n i d to I I- tT lep.i. that you W ttl-e! Tut that here wit n Colored - Hal : at !: i.n-t - v. h. !-o "'!.. i ! I y. -I ;-t W .1- !" d l. t; a-l. a 'V y !, " h rf ,!::! I n. k and h iltr lit i !e stool, you sield'-."- son of .Seiie-.'anild.i. ir I'll make ymi !i hard porter to t -!." "Vassah. yassah!" the pm-'or sput tered, al d ol eye l Ins-an'.y. Mr. YVeN iter handed him n di-reputal'le-lookin Ulti'ase and stepped ahoard in s-ate. only to he informed that there wa-u't a vacant lirst-elnss herth on the train. "Yes. I know I'm dirty,' the late ar rival aimolili'vd ihoeifuiiy. "hut still, (i Itohhy Itiirns nneo roiaar' e 1. 'a man s n man for a' that' and I'm not ur.saiiitnry." "I'm very sorry." th" roiiduetor re plied perfunetorily ainl e:nh aored to puss on. lot! Wehster yeein-ed a linn grip on his lapel and frustrated the es cope. "You're not sorry." the ra,-;ed wnn derer cleelared. "not one little hit. You're only upon henive. However, you needn't he. Tle re Is no wild life "ti me. brother, I as-ure yon." "Hut I tell yo-i, the train N full up. You'll have to roost In the day roach or the tourist. I'm very sorry " "Nevertheless, desp.le your deep irief, omi"ia' tells me you're snooting, rh while I must, of ti -slty. neoi pt your lUlCCestlon. s;ili aeeeptillii-e will ht- hut teniporsry. In about two hours, young fellow, you're cing to make the alarm ing tliseovery that you have hats In your beifry." And with a whiskery p"in which, under the rlreuaistatiees, was charming in Its absolute freedom fmm malice. Mr. Webster departed for the day roach. Two hours Liter the conductor found hlni In the aforementioned day roach, engaged In n mild game of rxiker with a ni.ile-skinncr. a Chinaman, on ng"d prospector, nnd a half-breed Indian, imd waited until Mr. Webster, on a bob-tailed Hush. hlulTed the Chinaman out of a dollnr-nnrt-a-half pot "Are you Mr. John S. Websterr "Your assumption that 1 a'n that person If no" eminently correct that It w ould be n waste of time for me to di lute If." YVehs-ier replied qnl.r.Ical Ij. "However. Just to prove ttat you're not l!a tnin. I'm g-e about joiir-i have a teb-gi oniy -l.::r'j;iM m. ' i-s r g o tell you sotai il. i.g If. In yor.r poeket you :,!!. ; it is frotn Cblcag'. where your n y h ek originates; It Is short, s-waet ; I, I coci;,", V...vi. con t lining an r ler whieh you are g"ii g to obey. It reads stuaow bat as fol low s : " '.!y fri. ial. John S DC !.: i'- !. ; that !i at l:'!ink iifel re: a: ;a: a if yoi , ,, a:; ' a.ve to Webr. boa . ! he ! -or, wires ,, , train tirt-i'las i..ked like you have in o-i.w N,eiebisy lo urn i ate ai. .ft 'In' tra,;i S;-aed. Swecii.-y.' -Io I hi! the !:.'!"" Hie cou l ictor l. " i.lisi. "You win. !-. Y.!-ter." he aduiittod. i i.-ea.siotially I lose, eld timer. We ir "No oiTense. Mr. Webster, no offense. 1 can let you have a stateroom " "T! afs'trading T;: Ik. I'll fake It." Th ndiietor .ive him his receipt ma) led him lack to the stateroom ill the observation car. At the door Web ster handed him n five-dollar bill. 'Tor yo i. son." he said gently. "Just to take the sting out f what I'm about to tell jo i. Now that I possess your receipt and know that tea men ami a boy can not take it away from me. I'm going to tell you who Sweeney Is." "Who Is be?" tl.o conductor queried. Already he suspected he had been out generaled. Swtviiey." said Mr. Webster, "is the chief clerk In one of Chicago's most pretentious hotels nnd a young man who can find nil the tangles of n sit larieti without working It o'tt in loga- "It's all bad form. Too shouldn't try to make a mash on a lady. I d.ut fcr.ow t:.i sht- Is. i f course, but fchc't not eoaii ioii and for ihe sake of the i:u"her that bore me I always resjvet :ir.d protect a cm"! woman and whale It out of thus.' that do not." lie reached in-i.'e bis st a tens. in ami press.d the bt-IL The mrtt-r am veil on the run. , "llwrge." paid Mr. Webster. "In a few minutes we're due at Suilthville. If my memory serves me aright, we stop five minutes for water anj or-' 0. rs." j "Yas-ah." j "Kemain rlcht here and let me off at s.n ns the train comes to a stop." j When the train slid to a grinding ' halt and the porter ms-ned the ear ! tiiM.r. Webs'er poin'ed. "Out!" he said. 1 "This is no nice place to pull o:T a scrap." "See hen-, neighbor. I don't w ant to 1. avo any Trouble wi;h you " "I know It. All the saine. you're go. Ing to have it or come with no- to that Jotiiii lady mi l beg her pardo.i." "All nu-ht. I'll apologize." and he started forward as if to pass Webs'or in tic estihni,., ,,n h s way To the o' servation car, whither the subjeet of his ;i.i! .ii g attention had gone. T-vo -reps It. u-ht l.im v.itl.in striking d s tanee of his enemy, an I before Wel stcr ceiild !ode, a sizzling rigl-.t- , hati'li'd blow lauded on bis jaw and set him l.ack on his haunches in the os- t.bllle. ' It was utmost a knockout almost, ' but not o,uito. As Webster's body struck the floor the big automatic ea::io out of the holster; swlng'ng in ; u weak circle. It covered the other, j "Tint was a daisy," Webster no: ti lled. "If you niove before my In-id clears. I'll put four bullets into you l o fore you reach the corridor." He waltisl about n minute, then with I the pun he pointed to the car door md the masher stepped out Webster hand- j ed the .rter his gun nod followed; i two minutes Inter he returned, drag- j ging his assailant by the collar. I'p ! the steps l e Jerked the bl battered j bulk and tossed It In the comer of the vestibule. Just as the girl cntne through I the car, making for the diner tip nheinl. j Again she favored him with that ! culm, prove, yet vitally Interested p ae, j nodded appreciatively, made ns if to ' pasa 03, changed her riihais. cr. i;a,l Tl i t I' 1 wired Ti i : it the details of my ie!,t ; be heard the Macedonian kicked in. N at, is it not?" o:id-;e;or griutc d. "I hate to ;r !( UleV," he (!. -hired. u-t at pre-eit Im very -, I'm a pr.-p i-i hi as n o t;p to his oar- in alfalfa use I have ever found for mind, und said 3V tit. .1 Yes. s; ag I urr a- only I.. I ey i - to a, like e'la " ;-e I'le ha pv l'!i it. thereby gettitg some enjoy .ent out of it my-eir. When I'm broke 'i! ! ia':i' -.ei.o m-'re." And Mr. Webster retired to his hard ,on s.itii'tu-iry, where l.e removed n a, li ail.: '1 and pef-pl ration be .'i',l. card- d his I e g hair and whisk : - 'at i ',"ir. d his linger nails with a v k !.! '!'-. c'.i..nge l hi- -hlrt. provided w i li'.-is ,.f in !:! for te'orge. , .-'i l.i- iii-k! : ,i and bni-li, and p.-it'.etitly to aw ait tl.e first - r. a plnk-Jowled, well ' ,ly il,os, i lag nan, of ' r's aire. p:.ss,-d in the cor- t. w.ai'. the read o! T Mo -I I,! . ..II tn pi'i -eurri. ! hoi,! Ht'e-r. train. oil e "I .1 ii a el , Vi u I. ! .1 "Ail 1 S'tiarl so ur: fmmk ' ' w -jr i I 1 1 I 1 I I'.ut In all things tlure Is a llm't and John Stuart Webster" rl-ht eye cns!;(uted a deadline beyond whlili. as a gentleman, he dared not vi-ni'i'e; so with a heavy heart te bod to the Inevitable, r.rililant and mysteri ous as a meteorite she had tlasb -J once r.cr.-ss his horizon and wa gone. In the privacy of his stateroom Web ster had ham nnd cirgs for breakfast He was lighting hiss second cigar when the porter knocked and entered wltb an envelope. "I.:dy In the b"rvatIon-cnr nkod me to deliver this to you. sj.1i," he an nounced Importantly. It was n note, freshly written on the train s atioticry. Webster read : "Th- distressed lady desire to thank the gentleman In stateroom A for his chivalry of yesterday. She Is profoundly sorry that In her service the gentleman In stateroom A was so unfortunate ns to iteijuiro a red eye with blue trimmings." John Smart Webster swore his nilgh:!est oath. "Iy the twelve apos tles, Simon lvter, Andrew, James, John, I billp, nartholonicw, Matthew, Thoii iis, James, Jude nnd Simon, and not emitting Judas Iseariot, the ser.'y KoUti.!rel who betrayed his Lord and Master:" He searched through an old wallet until he discovered a fairly clean profi'ssloiml ciird. across the bot tom .f which he wrote. "Thank you. J. S. W." and sent It to the no-lonser-dlstrevsed lady. "The most signal adventure of my life is now over," he solibmlxed anil turned to his cigar. 'Tor the sake of my self-respect. I had to let her know I'm not ii hobo I And now to the task of framing up a scheme for future acquaintance. I must learn her nnme nnd destination; so ns n preliminary I'll Interview the train conductor." He did nnd Tinder the ameliorating Influence of a five-dollar bill the con ductor bent a respectful ear to the Websterian message. "In Car Seven." he began, "tl.re Is a young lady. I do not know w hut sec tion she occupies neither do I know I her :i.-itne nnd destination. I only j know what she looks like." I The conductor nodded. "And you ; want to ascertain her name and ties- ': tinatlon?" , "I d.," i "All riL-hf. I have the unused por- I (Ion of her transportation to return to her before we hit Salt Lake; her ; name Is on the ticket and the ticket , Indicates her destination. I'll make a i mental note of both as soon ns I've Identified her ticket." I A few hours later the conductor j came to Webster'if stateroom und i handed him a card upon which was written: "Io!orcs Uuey. Prom Los Angeles, via San Pedro, Los Angeles & Suit : Lake, to Salt Lake Cily. I'eav. r & I!io i (Iraiide to iVnvtr, P.urlinu'toti to St. , Louis. Illinois Central to New Orleans. Stop-over lit IVliver." John Smart Webster studied the name after the conductor withdrew. Wehstr struck tie nplolstery of an adjacent chair a terrific blow w1:h hit tlo the effect of which wa to cause everybody In tie room to start and to conceal Mr. Wi ' ster ninnn-ntarily In a cloud of dust, the while lu a bel lowing baritone he sang: fathrr was a b ird ror roller; tl ci-gm-s from n:y henw town " "Jack Webster! The devil's own kin!" shouted Neddy Jerome. He swept the cards Into a heap and wad d!sl across the riom to meet this t bowse and a fond cook and an at totuobile and a chauffeur, and you caa come to town whenever you plea, provided you doo't neglect tlie com pany's interests and I know jou'rw Dot that kind of an eugitieer." "Ih I have to put some money Into It. Neddy r "Not necessarily. alt!nwigh I should advise It. 1 can let you In on the pround door for that hundred thou sand of yours, guarantee you a land some profit and In all probability a bis chanup." "1 feel myself flipping, Neddy. Ner- .1s..t ...11 l.t. I.!.1a latest assailant of the peace and dig- I b '"" """- ri-y of the Knglneers' club. "You old. ' ' ,n ,ot 'U "U" ,,ttWl f. U''" fSm m"U" r.jfiiif': K 'I wft f W , W-- , r ,m , fm sjtf , r- . TX i "Ti :it'i n Snnfik'h li;iim." hi hi. : ' " ,, ,,' JHA KM&V'W I-arakeet. Ail thing, considered, I , ... m,o, you s r: I do no, iilJ:AfMd C- " J ' rn taUe ch;1Ilt.o aud investl- t, , t.o-v you. aii- it .s l atasome . T: ff" VL,r i . ' i , p,t- -t in addre- ng If ' M 1 t stop your mm-, mg atte;,- 'V tf ivAJA' : . .. ! vnrr i b.n ii. Mi w. ,'l call the airy in di-tr. ss, st.-r soliloipnra .1. an Angora gmt or. John "1 look I might "You Are a Very Courtly Gentleman a- Mill butt in." lie stepped to the door of hi- stateroom. A girl stood in i! e vestibule, confronting the man who i h: d J';st pass.-d Webster's door. Web- ; hter bowed. ! "Madame, or mademoiselle, ns the ease i,,:,y be," he said, "unlike this other uaile biped, my sole purpose I'J .resuming to address you Is to suggest j that there is not the slightest necessity fo tal.ivg this matter up with the con- 1 a -tor. 1 :iiii here and very much ut , jour service." The girl turned nnd John Stuart I Webster's heart flopped twice In rapid I succession, like n trout newly grassed, j She was ns lovely as a royal flush. Her starry glance began nt bis miner's j boots, traveled up his old soiled, whip j cord tr eisers, over his light blue chain- j tuny shirt and found the man behind tu whi-.liers. She favored him with a j ii ii. 1;. i airbiiis scrutiny nnd a grave, sweet smile. "Thank you so much, sir," -h" answered, and passed down the ! eorriih . to the observation ear. "Well, obi tinier." Webster greeted i the fellow who hud been annoyliiS her. ; "how about you? What do ymi (li nk e ought to do about this little uf j fair?" ' "The sensible thing would be to do j -nothing. You might start something! you couldn't finish." j "That's a dare," Webster declared j brlghlly, "nnd wnsn't It the Immortal j Huckleberry Finn who remarked that: anybody that'll take a dare would suck I eggs and steal sheep?" He was silent ! h few secmnN. appraising his ninn. "I suppose you commenced operations by i moving Into her section and asking If she would like to have the window open mill enjoy the frpsh air. She re huffed you. but being a persistent devil, you followed her Into the oh- m-rtiiiiou ear, anu in no iimnuniiii.- j ynu ogled her at luncheon nnd ruined j her i'ppetlte. And Just now, when you met In this vestibule, you doubt- very gravely; ly gentleman. lie bowed, to do, nothing "Y'ou are u very court sir." There was nothing else that he could say under the circumstances. To use his chivalry ns a wedge to open nn ncipiulntanre never occurred to Mm but his whisk ers did occur to him. Hastily he backed Into bis stateroom and closed the door, presently he rose nnd surveyed himself critically In the small mirror over the wasbstand. "No, Johany," be murmured, "we can't go Into the diner now. We're too blunted disreputnble. We were bad enough before that big swine I u ig the shanty on our right eye, but whatever our physical and personal feelings, far be It from u to intrude our Iridescent orb In public. I'.esldes. one look at that lt.is'ii is enough to do us for the re mainder of our natural life, mnl a sec ond look, minus a proper Introduction, would only drive us Into n suicide's grave." He sighed, rang for the porter nnd told him to send u waiter for his order, since he would fain break his fust In the privacy of Ms stateroom. And when the waiter came for the order, such wns Mr. Webs'er's mettal perturbation that ham and eggs wire furthest from his thoughts. He or dered a steak with French fried po tatoes. John Stuart Webster passed a rest less night. Sleep enme to him In hour ly Installments, from which be would rouse to nsk himself whether It was worth while to continue to go through the motions of living, or nligli'. nt the next station, seek n lonely and unfre quented spot nnd there surrender to outrageous fortune. It was altogether damnable. In a careless moment. Fate hud accorded him a pllmpse of the only woinaa he hud ever met nnd de sired to meet again fr Webster was essentially a man's mnn. and Ms pro fession and environment bad militated against his opportunities for meeting extracrdliiirv women; and extrnordl- less Jostled her. begged her pnrd .n nary women were the only kind mat and wlthou' waiting to be Introduce j coul-1 hope to challenge hi serious st- Webster's dreams cf bliss had. with very slight variations, come true ns per schedule. In Salt Lake City he abandoned the beefsteak on his dam aged eye for two businesslike leeches, which quickly reduced the nocturne effect around his orb, enabling him, the third day, to saunter forth: among his fellowinen. I.y the end of the week he whs a being reincarnated, and so he packed a huge new wardrobe trunk with his latest purchases nnd Journeyed on to Ienver. Coincident with his arrival there, we ngaln take np the thread of our story. One hour after his trunk arrived the gentleman from Death Valley might hnve been observed standing before a chevnl glass looking long and earnestly at the reflection of his middle-aged person, the while he marked the fit of his new rnlment. John Stunrt Webster was all dressed up for the first time In three long, lahor-rld-den years, and was tremendously glnd o4 It. He lighted a cigar and stepped forth Into Seventeenth street, along which he strolled until he came to a certnln building Into the elevntor of which he entered and was whisked to the twelfth floor, where he alight od and found himself before a wide portal which bore In gold letters the words: "Engineers' Club." The Engineers' club was the closest approach to a home that John Stuart Webster had known for twenty yenrs, and save for the slight Job of knl soinlnlng which Father Time had done on the edges of the -lose-cropped Web sterian musinche, the returned prodi gal might have stepped out of the club but yesterdny. He would not have tnken the short end of a modest bet that even a fresh log had been placed on the fire or that the domlno-plnyers over against the wall had won or lost a drink or two and then resumed play ing although perchance there were a few more gray hairs In the thickly thatched head of old Neddy Jerome, sit tine la his favorite sent by th wind; dnd turning the cards In hla eternnl gnnn of solitaire, in t.t'rti ignorance that John Stuart Webttrf worthless, ornery, no-good son of a 11ar-J : I've never been so glad to see ; a man that didn't owe me money. I've i been combing the whole civilized , world for you. for a month, at least ; Where the devil have you heeo?" j John Stuart Webster iM-anied hap- . plly upon his friend. "Well. Neddy. ' you old stiH-klng-knitter." he replied ' quizzically, "since that Is the case, I'm not surprised at your failure to find me. 1 ou ve known me Jong enough to have remembered to confine your search to tie uncivilized reaches." "Well, you're here, at itny rate and I'm happy. Now yen settle down." "Hardly. Neddy. "I'm young yet. you know only forty. Still a real live man nnd not quite ready to degenerate Into a card-playing, eat-drink-nnd-ho-merry, dle-of inanition, sink-to-ohllvion nnd-go-to-h fireplace spirit!" And lie prodded Jerome In the short ribs with a tentative thumb that caused the oh man to wince. He or;nltted his friend to drng him downstairs to the deserted lounge, where Jerome paused in the middle of the room and rati, v, .-.I 1 is query : "Where have you been. I ask?" "Out in Heath valley, California, try ing to pry loose a fortune." "I'id you pry it?" John Stuart Webster arched his eye brows In mock reproach. "An I you can see my new suit. Noddy, my six-teen-dollar, ninde-to-order shoes and my horny hoofs rnensed In silken hose nnd ask that question? Freshly shnved and Ironed nnd almost afrnld to sit down and pet wrinkles In my trousers! Smell that!" He blew- a cloud of cigar smoke Into Jerome's smiling face. The latter sniffed. "It smells expensive," he replied. "Yes, and you can bet It tastes ex pensive, too," Wehster answered, binding his cigar-case to his friend. Jerome bit the end of his cigar nnd spat derisively. "How much have you made?" he demanded bluntly, "It's none of your business', but I'll tell yoij because I love you, Neddy. I've made one hundred thousand dollars." "Chlckeli-feis," Jerome retorted. "Johnny, I've been combing the min eral bolt of North and South America for you for a mouth." "Why this sudden belati-1 Interest In ntc?" "I have n fine Job for yon. John" "King's X," Webster InterruptiM, and showed both hands with the lin gers crossed, "No plotting against my peace nnd comfort, Neddy. Havetrt I ) nnd told you I'm all dossed up for the hut first time In three years, that I have money in my pocket and more In bank? Man, I'm going t trtid the pr'tnrose path for n year In-fore I get back into the harness n train." Jerome waved a daproeutory hand, figuratively brushing a-ldo such fee'ile lll.d ll:eoaM'iUeli!llll alVlitllellt, "Are joil foot-loose':" be ihmnndcii, "Fm not. I'm bound In golden chains " 'Married, eh? Croat S.s.tt, I might have guessed It. S jou're on your honeymoon, eh?" "No such luck, you vlchy-dritiklng Iconoclast. If you had ever gotten far enough from this club during the past fifteen years to get n breath of real fresh air, you'd understand why I want to enjoy civilization for a week or two before I go bnck to a mine su perintendent's cabin on some bleak hilt. No, Klr-ee. Old Jeremliih Q. Work and I hnve had a fulling out Iad burn your picture, Neddy, I wntit some class! Fv been listening to a dngo shift-boss plnylng the nccordeon for three yenrs and he could only play three tunes. Now I wnnt Sousn's l and. I've been bnthing In tepid, dirty water In a redwood sluice-box, nnd now I desTo n steam room and a nee dle shower nnd nn ORteopath. I've been bossing (Jreasers and Italians nnd was forced to lenrn their language to get results, and now I want to speak my mother tongue to my old friends. P.y thunder I'm going to hnve a new deul nil around." "Very well, Jack. Don't excite your self. I'll give you exactly thirty days to sicken of It all and then I shall come and claim my property." "Neddy, I'll not work for you. I'm nind. I won't play." "You're It. I Just tagged you." "I nsii!n a rest but unfold your proposlt'on. Neddy. I was born a poor, Wfiik vessel consumed with a curiosity that was ever my undoing. I can only protest that this Is no way to treat a friend." "Nonsense! My own brother wants this Job. nnd I have refused to give It to hint. I'.nslness is business and I've saved ft for you." Jerome leaned forward and laid his finger confidentially on Webster's knee: whereat the llghf-henrted wan derer carefully lifted the linger, brushed nn Imnglnary speck of dirt i from It, and set It down again. "Be serious, you Ingrate," Jerome pro tested. "Listen! Tve been working for two years on a consolidation up near Tellnrlde. and Tve Just put it across. Jack. It's the biggest thing Itf the country. Colorado Consolidated Mm-s Ctnpaiiy. Limited. English fip' . I .la. k. Pay 'em 6 per rent, nnd They'll call you blessed. There's twenty five thousand a year In It, with friends to g-.iaruutee my luvesta.enta. and if you say It's right. I'll spnaj what I have left of the hundred thou sand when I report for duty." "It's Uvn a trvmvudouji Job get ting this consolidation over. Jack. When " t "In pity's nnme! Spare me. Fve ! heiird nil I want to bear about your 1 coui'ound.sl consolidation. New I News! !ive ine news! I have to I lg for a drink Mose, you ( lack I sinner, how- dare you np;enr 1 efore me w ithout bringing a drink?" M"m the aged colored v.rti r of the Engineers" club, flashed a row- of Ivories nnd respectfully reiuitiel the detnoeritic greeting. "Lett r for you. sub. The secre tary tohl me to give It to you, Mlstah Wfbster." "Thank you. Mose, Speak up. Ned dy, nnd tell me something. Ever bear anything of Hilly t Scary?" He was touring the edge of the en velope the while be gazsl nt Jerome, who was rubbing his fat hands to gether nfter the fashion cf elderly men who nre well pleased with Iliem-ehes. "You have a chance to become one of the greatest and richest mlnli g en gineers in the world, Jack." he an swered, "now- that you've cut loose from that young crook Geary. I don't know what's become of him. nnd neither docs anybody else. For thnt matter, nobody cures." "I do nnd you can tnke the brief end of that bet for your Inst white chip. Don't let me hear you or Any body else say anything against Hilly Geary. Thnt boy pes for my money, every turn In the box. Don't mnke nny mistakes about thnt, oldtlni.-r." Webster's fnee suddenly was seri ous; the bantering Intonation In his voice was pone, nnd a new, slightly strident note had crept Into It. Hut Jerome waved Ills hand Kootli!t.:.'y. "All right, old Johnny Pepp.-r box, have It your own way. Nevertheless, Fm a llttK mystified. The last I knew of you two, you had testified! ngaitist him In the high-grader trials nt Cripple CrsU, and he had pullet! out under a cloud, even nfter l is ac quittal." "(live n dog a had name. :it,d !t will stick to him," Webster retort, d. "Of course I testified against him. As ell gliniT for the M.ne Owners' associa tion, I had to. The high-grade ore was found In his assay office, ami the clrctiuistfintliil evidence was complete. I admit Hilly was acquitted ly because I dnd others con'd not swear positively thnt the ore came from fu;y certain In'tie. It was the same old story, Neddy. Y'ou em be Tiioi-ully ivrtiiin thnt hlgh-nrai'.' ore l;a- been stolen from your m'' . but I'ti'ess -t'i i-iV-h tie ore thief u the .'icf. how can jolt prove It? I p.we you read the nev.-sj.p r iind believed them, tu-t ns every I- ' else long "It you i knew ward those Hilly ell, foriret It, Jack. It's all over ago, and forgotten." wasn't nil over so long ."go ns eoiii to think. 1 siippo- you the Helin.in gang was after sin; to the penitentiary for same high-grade operations? Geary's aeipiittal didn't ei. 1 my Interest in the case not by a jugful ! I fought tin- ease against the friends of the Ilolman crew among the mine owners themselves; nnd it cost me my good Job, my prestige ns n inlidi g en gineer, anil thirty thousand dollars of money that I'd slaved to get together. Of eoursv you never knew this. Noddy, and for thnt mntter, neither does Geary. I wish he did. We were good friends once. I certainly was mighty fond of that boy." He drew the letter from the en re!oM and s'ouly epeacd It. "And you never heard whnt became of Geary?" "Not a word. I was too busy won dering what was to become of me. I eouli!n't pet a Job anywhere In Colo rado, nnd I moved to Nevnda. Made a million In Goldfield, dropped It In the panic of llKC. and had to start again " "What have you he-n doing lately?" "F.ornx. Staked a group of claims down In Den'b valley, p.ully ground, Neddy, nn.1 I wns busted when I lo cnfotl them. Had to borrow money to pay the filing fees nnd Incorporation, nnd did my own assessment wtrk. I.oik!" Webster held up his hands. ! still somewhat grimy and calloused. I 'Tt,, l'r,,,, fruut L-nmn T u-iia I.iil-ia,1 but they never could quite get ovpr the fear that I'd dig up some backing and give them a run so they bought me o-tL" "Somebody told me Geary had gone to llhodesin," Jerome continued mus ingly, "or mnyhe It n Capetown. I know he wns seen somewhere In South , Vfrita." "He bft tl.e Creek Immediately n.ter the conclusion of his trial. Poor boy I Hint dirty business destroyed the lad nnd made n tramp of him, I guess. I tell you, Neddy, no two men ever llvH who eame nearer to loving -iieh o'her than Hilly Gesry and his Id Jaek-pBrdnT. We hnoknd the TntR of -ncn and went to ste-p tooth.- .ongry many a time d.irtng - "ve-jear partner-hip. Why, Pi'l "s tn ; hi--. er. no, I curse F . ". r x
The Monroe Journal (Monroe, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 11, 1921, edition 1
2
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