Dakota County herald. (Dakota City, Neb.) 1891-1965, February 24, 1921, Image 3
31 . ,, v. u . ..- '- . .' ' DAKOTA COUNTY HERALD . ) .f ' V t 'i-; WEBSTER-MA CHAPTER XI Continued. 11 "This Is moro comfort than I had hoped for when I came here, gentle men. I ura very grateful, I nssuro you. Of course this little revolution you're cooking up Is no nffalr of mine, and I trust I need not ussure you thnt your confidence is quite safe with inc." The Doctor and the Colonel Imme diately rose and bowed like a pair of marionettes. Webster turned to III cardo. "Have you had any experience in revolutions, my son?" he asked. Rlcardo nodded. "I realized I had to have experience, and so I went to Mexico. I was with Madero through the first revolution." "How are you arming your men?" "Mannllchers. I've got 20,000,000 rounds of cartridges, 25 machine guns, and a dozen three-inch field guns. 1 have also engaged 200 American ex soldlers to Imndle the machine guns and the battery. These ruscnls cost me $5 n day gold, but they're worth it; they like fighting and will go any where to get It and nre fnltliful." "You are secretly mobilizing in the mountains, eh?" Webster rubbed his chin rumlnntlvely. "Then I take It you'll attack Buenaventura when you otrlke the first blow?" "Quite right. We must capture a seaport If we are to revolute success fully." "I'm glad to know that. Til make It my business to be up In the mountains nt the time. I'm for peace, every rat tle out of the box. Gentlemen, you've cheered me wonderfully. I will now go home and leave you to your evil machinations; and, the good Lord and the jiggers willing, I shall yet glean a night's sleep." Mother .Tenks was waiting for Web ster nt the foot of the stairs. He paused on the threshold. "Mrs. Jenks," he sold, "Billy tells me you have been very kind to him. I want to tell you how much I appre ciate It and thnt I stand willing to re ciprocate any time you are In need." Mother Jenks fingered her beard and reflected. " 'Ave you met Miss Dolores Ituey, sir?" she queried. "Your ward? Yes." '"Off does the lamb strike you, Mr. Webster?" "I liave never met ranny women; I bnve known few Intimately; but I should sny that Miss Dolores Ituey Is the marvel of her sex. She is as beautiful as she Is good, and is as In telligent as she can be." "She's a lydy, sir," Mother Jenks affirmed proudly. "An I done it. You can see with nrf a heye wot I am, but for nil that, I've done my dooty by her. From the day my sainted 'Enery 'e was a colonel o' hnrtillery under President Ituey, Dolores' fnther hescaped from the burnln palace with er an' told me to raise 'er a lydy for the syke of her father, as was tho finest gentleman this rotten country'll ever see, she's been my guldln' stnr. She's self-supportln' now, but still I ain't done my whole dooty by her. I want to see 'er married to a gentle man ns'll maintain 'er like n lydy." "Well, Mrs. Jenks. I think you will live to see that worthy ambition at tained. Mr. Geary is head over heels in love with her." "Aye. Willie's n nice lad I could wish no better; but wot 'o's got 'e got from you, an' where'll 'e bo If ls mlnu doesn't p'y big? Now, with you, sir, it's different. You're a bit older'n Billy, an' more settled an' serious; you've made yer fortune, so Willie tells me, nn' not to go beatln' about the bally bush, I s'y, wot's tho mattor with you nn' her steppln' over tho broomstick together? You might go n bloomln' sight farther nn' fare wuss." "Too old, my dear schemer, too old!" John Stuart replied smilingly. "And she's In love with Billy. Don't worry. If ho doesn't mnko a go of this mining concession, I'll tnke care of his finances until he can do so him self. I do not mind telling you. In strictest confidence, that I have made my will nnd divided my money equally between them." "Gord bless you, for n sweet, kind gentleman," Mother Jenks gulped, quite overcome with emotion. Hastily Webster bade Mother Jenks good night and hurried away to es cape a discussion on snch a delicate topic with Billy's blunt nnd single minded lnndlady. Ills mind was In a tumult. So It was thnt he paid no at tention to n vehicle that Jogged by him with the cocliero sagging low In his seat, half asleep over tho reins, until a quick commnnd from the closed in terior brought the vehlclo to an abrupt link, half a block In advance iv.P Save for nn arc light at ench end of the block, the Calle do Concordia was dim; save for Webster, the car riage and the two men who piled hur riedly out at tho rear of tho convey tace, the Cnllo d Concordia wbb de void of life. Wefater snw one of the men hurriedly tons n coin to the cocli ero; with n fenent "Graclns, ml cip ttM)," the driver clucked to his horse, ernrd the corner Inta the ChIIc EH tendo and disappeared, living hi late AStnwrv facinc Wobater and calmly woo his LpsroceC. h wu within Author of "Cappy Ricks," "The Valley 20 feet of them when the taller of the two men spoke. "Good evening, my Americnn friend. This meeting is n pleasure we scarce ly hoped to have so soon. For the same we are Indebted to Lleutennnt Arredondo, who happened to look hnck as we passed you, and recog nized you under the are light." Webster halted abruptly; tho two Sobrantean olllcers stood smiling nnd evidently enjoying his discomfiture. Each carried a service revolver in a closed holster fastened to his sword belt, but neither had as yet made a move to draw seeing which, Webster felt sufficiently renssured to accept tho unwelcome situation with a grade equal to that of his enemies. "What? You two bad little boys up this late 1 I'm surprised," he replied In Spanish. Ho folded his arms, struck an nttltudo and surveyed them ns might an lndlgnnnt father. "You kids have been up to some mischief," he added, as his right hand closed over the butt of his automatic, where it lay suuggled In the open holster under his left arm between his shirt and coat. "Can It be possible you are going to tnke advantage of superior numbers nnd the fact that you are both armed, to force me Into n duel on your terms, my dear Captain Bennvldes?" By a deferentlnl bow, tho unwhole some Bennvldes indicated that such wore ids Intentions. "Then," said Webster, "as the challenged party I have the choice of weapons. I choose pistols." "At what range?" the lleutennnt r.sked with mock Interest. "As we stand nt present. I'm armed. Pull your hardware, you pretty pair of polecats, and see If you enn bent me to tho draw." Captain Bennvldes' Jnw dropped slightly; with n quiet, deliberate mo tion his hand stole to his holster-flap. Lieutenant Arredondo wet Ills lips and glanced so apprehensively nt his com panion that Webster was aware thnt here was a situation not to his liking. "You should use nn open holster," Webster tnunted. "Come, come un button that holster-Hap and got busy." Bennvldes' hund came away from the holster. Ho was not tlio least bit frightened, but his sense of propor tion in mntters of this kind was un dergoing a shake-up. "In disposing of any enemy In a gun light, so n professional killer once In formed me," Webster continued, "It is a good plan to put your, first bullet anywhere in the abdomen; the shock of a bullet there paralyzes your oppo nent for a few seconds nnd prevents him from returning the compliment, and In the Interim you blow his brains out while he lies looking nt you. I have never hud any prnctlcnl experi ence In mntters of this kind, but I don't mind telling you that If I must practice on somebody, the good Lord could not hnve provided two more de lightful subjects." He ceased speaking, and for nearly half a minute the three men appraised each other. Bennvldes was smiling slightly; Arredondo was fidgeting; Webster's glnnce never faltered from the captain's nervous hand. "You would be very foolish to draw," Webster then assured Benn vldes. "If I nm forced to kill you, It will he with profound regret. Sup pose you two dear, sweet children run along home nnd think this thing over. You may chnnge your mind by tomor row morn " The cnptnln's linnd, with tho speed of a Juggler's, had flown to his hol ster; but quick ns be was, Webster was a split second quicker. The sound of his shot roared through the silent cnllo, and Bennvldes, with his pistol hnlf drawn, lifted n bloody, shattered hand from the butt ns Webster's au tomatic swept In a swift arc and cov ered Arredondo, whose nnns on the in stnnt went skyward. "That wasn't a hnlf bad duel," Web ster remarked coldly. "Are you not obliged to me, Captain, for not blowing your brains out for disregarding my finer Instincts nnd refraining from shooting you first through the abdo men? Bless you, my boy, I've been stuck for years In places where the only sport consisted In seeing who could take a revolver, shoot at a tin can and roll It farthest In three sec onds. Let me see your hand." Benavldes sullenly held up thnt dripping member, and Webster lnr spceted it nt a respectful distance. "Steel Jacket bullet," he Informed tho wounded man. "Small hole didn't do much damage. You'll be JUBt as well as ever in a month." He helped himself to Arredondo'B gun, flipped out the cylinder, and slipped all six cartridges into his palm. Similarly he disarmed Benavldes, ex pressed his regret that circumstances had rendered it Imperative to use force, and strolled blithely, down tho calle. In the darkened pntlo he groped along tho wall until ho found tho swinging rope by which he had descended from his room whereupon ho removed his shoes, tied tho laces together, flung them around his neck, dug his toes Into the adobe wall and climbed briskly to his room. Tho next morning Webster waited until Dolores appeared and then ac N'S companied her into tho dining room for breakfast ' , "Well, how did you pass your first night in Buenaventura?" she Inquired, in the munufacturo of'breakfast con versation. "Not very well. Jiggers bit mo nnd woke me up, nnd finally I fell Into n trnnco and had n vision about you. After that I couldn't go to sleep again. I wns fnlrly bursting to see you nt breakfast and rend your palm. I've Just discovered n wonderful system." "Show me," sho flashed back at him nnd she extended her little hand. Ho picked It up gravely and with the dull tine of n fork mndo a great show of tracing the lines on her palm. "You nro about twenty-four years old, and your nncestors were pure-bred Cnstlllnns who came from Mndrid, crossing tho Atlantic In caravels. Ever since the first Buoy landed on this const the family has been Identified . with tho government of tho country In ono way or another. When you were quite u little girl, your father, Don Itlcardo Ituey, ai that time president of Sobrante, failed to suppress a revo lution and was cornered in tho govern ment paloce, which wns set nilre. "Through tho bravery nnd devotion of n' cockney gentleman, Colonel Henry Jenks, nn nrtlllcry officer In your father's army you were saved from perishing in tho burning palace. Col onel Jenks turned you over to his spouse, now known ns Mother Jenks, with instructions to ralso you n lydy, nnd Mother Jenks has carried out thoso instructions. Colonel Jenks nnd your father were executed, and Mother Jenks sent you to the United Stntes to bo educnted. You had u brother, Rlcardo Luis Ruoy, older than your self by seven or eight years, I should judge. In some mysterious ninnner you und your brother lost trnck of each other, and at the present moment he believes you perished in the flames that gutted the government palace. "You nre of a proud, Independent na ture ; you work nt something for n liv ing, nnd inasmuch ns you haven't been able to set aside n great deal of mon ey from your earnings, you nro plan ning to terminate your visit to your native lnnd nt an early date und re turn to the United Stntes for the pur pose of getting back to work. These plans, however, will nover bo con summated. "Why? Because you are to be mar ried to n nice man and live happily over afterward, and nbout sixty dnys from now, If all goes well, I, John S. Webster, am going to Introduce you to your long-lost brother Rlcnrdo. You will first sec Rlcardo riding nt the head of his victorious rebel troops ns lie enters Buenaventura. Ho will be the next president of this wretched country, if. fortunately, ho Is not killed In the revolution he Is now fomenting ngalnst his father's ancient enemy. Your brother does not know you are living and It will bo a proud and hap py day for mo when I bring him to you. In the interim, what do you pur pose linvlng for breakfast7 Ham nnd eggs sunny side up, nn omelette or n cereal?" He released her hand and favored her with the boyish grin that alwnys had tho effect of stripping the years from him us one strips tho husk from n ripe ear of corn. She was gazing at him In wide-eyed amnzement. "Is my Drother really alive?" "He was as Into as midnight last night. Do you recall tho chap I saved from being assasslnnted In Now Or leans?" "Yes." "Your worthy brother. And do you recall the chauffeur whose passage to this port I was forced to pay?" "Yes." "Tho snme Individual. I sent him ashoro In the launch with Billy, nnd ho hns been housed nt El Buen Amlgo, but left early this morning for tho hack country to open n recruiting of fice." She reached across tho little table and squeezed his big brown hand Im pulsively. "You'ro tho most wonderful man I ever knew. And does my poor brother know I nm living, Mr. Web ster?" "No nnd I'm not going to tell him. I think It will be much nicer to re store you to each other on the steps of tho government palace on tho day when tho Ruey fnctlon comes Into Its own again. Thnt will mako his victory all tho sweeter. By tho way, whero wus Rlcardo when your father's ship of state went on tho rocks?" "At school In a military academy In Kentucky." "It Is a marvelous mix-up, which Rl cnrdo can doubtless explain, Miss Rue I know ho believes his sister perished with her father. Mother Jenks didn't know where he wns nnd couldn't communicate with him and there you nre. However, little old Jack FIx-lt will bring you together again In duo course. In tho Interim, how about thoso eggs? Straight up or Hip 'em?" She beamed across nt him. "Wo nro going to be such good, true friends, aren't we?" she urged. Ho almost shivered, but manugod a hypocritlcnl nod. "While wo have only known each other twenty-four hours, it seems n great deal longnr than thnt probably bocnuso Billy luuj told mo so much MAN of the Giants," Etc. nbout you, nnd you're so comfortable and easy to get acquainted with, and I I enn't very wejl express my grati tude for whnt you've done for what you're going to do." Her voice falter ed; she smiled roguishly through tho tenrs of her emotion. "If I were only Billy, now, I could put my arm across your shoulders and settle the matter by saying: 'Johnny, you old horse thief, you're ull right.'" "The best thing to do would bo to cease pulling me up with Importance. And now, before we climb out of the renlm of romance nnd tho Improbable to the more substantial plane of things for breakfast, Just one brief word of caution. Now thnt I havo told you your brother lives nnd Is In Buena ventura, forget it until I mention It ngnln, because his presence here Is his secret, not ours." "All right, Caliph," she agreed. "I think I shall cull you thnt hereafter. Like the late Caliph Unroun Al Kits chld, It appears you hint u luiblt of prowling around o nights In queer pluces, doing good deeds for your sub jects. But tell me about my brother. Descrlbo him to me." "Not now. Here comes the head waiter with u cablegram for me, I think." That functionary came tp their tnble and hnnded one of tho famlllnr yellow envelopes to ench of them. "We'll excuso each other," Dolores suggested. Sho read: "Go you If I lose. You are ft good, gamo little scout, and I like you fine. "JEROME." Sho glanced ncross at Webster, whose face was a conflicting study of cmotipns In which disappointment and nmnzement appeared to predominate. "You ancient scoundrel," sho heard him murmur. "What ho, Caliph 1 Unpleasant news?" she ventured. "Yes and no. I had one of tho finest Jobs in the world nil stnked out nnd now the boss cables me it's filled by a better man." "Whnt are you going to do about it?" "Well as soon ns I've nnd my breakfast, I'm going to cable Noddy Jerome nnd tell him I'm satisfied satisfied to stnv here and satisfied "You Ancient ocoundrell" he's a llnr. You see, Miss Ituey, ho objected vigorously to my coming lieru In the first place wanted mo to take a llO-duy vacation mid then manage tho Colorado Consolidated Mines com pany, Ltd., for him. I like Neddy and would have been glad to go to work for his company, but, of course. Billy conies first, and so I declined the of for. Later I changed my mind, und last night I cabled him I'd accept If he'd wait 00 days possibly IK); and now ho replies that he's sorry, but the Job is filled by n better mnn. That's why I know he's a llnr." "I see. You figure there Isn't u bet ter mining engineer than you eh, Ca liph?" He looked at her reproachfully. "No, but Neddy Jerome does, and I know ho does bocnuso lie has taken the trouble to tell me so more than once. And ns a rule Neddy Inclines toward the truth. However, It's Just ns well " . Ho paused, stnrlng hnrd nt her. "Hy the way, ynu foretold this! Why, this Is amazing." Sho could have wept with laughter. "Well" soberly "I told you some other tilings equully amazing, did I not?" "Yes, you told me other things more or less Interesting, but you foretold this. How do you nccount fqr that?" "Tho witness declines to answer on tho ground that sho may Incriminate herself and bo burned for a witch." "Remarkable woman 1" "You were about to remnrk that It Is Just as well " "That Neddy's reconciled to losing me, becauso since cabling him yester day evunlng I've changed my mind Py PETER B. KYN Copyright by ret r n. Kyne ngnln. I'm going to stay hero now." "Indeed l Why?" "Just to bo obstinate. Apparently I'm not wanted hero by the powen that be; so Just to rile them I'm go ing to hang nround Sobrante and iirgu the question with them. By the wny, 1 see you received a cablegram also Bettor news than mine, I hope." Sho nodded. "I hnve a little busi ness deal on back home. Haven't got a greut deal Invested, but It looks of If I might make $10,000." He arched his eyebrows and favored her with a little disapproving grunt Sounded like tho prospectus of n fnkf mining promoter yes, by thunder, that was It. Dolores was a schoo? teacher, und school teachers and doe tors are ever the mainstay of a sit dler's sucker list. "You won .$10 from mo yesterday,' he challenged. "Bet you nnother tec I can tell you the nature of your Id veshnent." "Go you, If I lose I" Unconsciously she wns learning the argot of the mall of the species, ns exemplified In Ned dy Jerome's cablegram. "It's a milling property." "You win. It le," she nr.swerw truthfully, starting to open her jwrso "Quartz or plncer?" "I don't know. Explain.'' He chuckled nt her Igunrnnca "Quartz Is gold-bearing rock, ant placer Is gold-bearing gravel." "Then my mining property Is plao er, because It has lots of sand." "I knew It, I know, It," he warned her solemnly, nnd he shook an ad monitory finger nt her. "Black sand eh? Is tho gold very fine? "I think It Is." "Then you're stung good tzsi deep so don't delude yourself Into thinking you hnve .$10,000 coming. I neves knew u proposition for saving tho lln gold In black sand that didn't turn out to be n fizzle. It's tho hardest thlur In the world to save. Now, listen you tell me the name of the film-fine artist thnt got you Into this deal, m( when I get back to the United State I'll Investigate the company; If It's an out-and-out swindle, I'll tnke tha promoter by the throat aim choke yotn money out of him, tho scoundrel 1 P Is Just these fly-by-nlght fellows thnt ruin the finest gambling game In tlw world und sen re off (Investors In legiti mate mining propositions." "Oh, you mustn't renlly, Caliph, lie's an old lunn, und I only did It tq help him out." "There should he no sentiment in business, Miss Ruey." "Oh, well, let's be cheerful nnd hope ful, Caliph, nnd discuss n moro Impor tnnt subject." Sho was very serious now, for by her meddling she hud, sho renllzed, so nr riinged matters thnt nt a tlmo when John Stuart Webster's very fife de pended upon his Immediate departure from Buenaventura, ho wns plnnnlnj' to stay and face tho music, Just to b obstinate. "You must reconsider youi decision to remain In this country." she Insisted. "Your llfo may be Iho price of liberty of action, you know Isn't Billy capable of developing t)m mine after you advnnco tho cash?" "I wouldn't advance him u cent fov his mine until I hud Investigated V myself." "Then you should make some n rangeiiicnts to safeguard yoursef while iuikliig the Investigation, nr.f leave SobVunto Immediately thereafter Isn't that sensible proposition?" "Very If I felt like leaving So brante. But I do not. If that iiilnln,; concession Is u potential winner, I'll hnve to stick wound and make u win nor out of It ncforc I go uwuy nnd leave Bill In change. Besides, I'm wor ried nbout Bill. He's full of malaria! fever, and last night I got thinking nbout him und decided to semi him back to the Colorado mountains for a few mouths. I want Home regular doc- ' tors to work on BUI n he'll be fit wIiol he gets buck on the y." As u mutter of fuel, ibis Ideu of send ing Billy to the United Stntes hud but thnt moment occurred to .luck Web- ster; he reflected now flint this plan wus little short of n it inspiration. It i would glvo Billy nnd Dolores tin op portunity to marry and have a honey, moon; It would leave him free of her disturbing presence, and enable him to lenve Sobrnnte when tho Gearys should return. Ho resolved to speak to Billy nbout It. (TO 1113 CONTINUED.) Ill-Flated Orchid Huntera. Not very looj; ago u Now York iniin, traversing a Venezuelan forest on an exploring expedition, came uion a hut wherein wero found three human skeletons and Jiioiismids of dead or chid plants. From between tho rlb of one of the skeletons grow an or chid of rare beauty. Tho three un fortunates had evidently been mur dered. Fruit Color la Suntlrjht. The color of fruit Is the result n chemical action, In which sunlight In transformed Into red or yellow or or ange or purple coloring matter. 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