Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 26, 1920)
NORTH PLATTE SBm-WEEKLY TRTBUNI3. nitXlliXtXXJLXXZXXXXXXXiXXXXXiXViXXUXl I TITTTTTTiTin We fester CHAPTER VII Continued. lie hnd scarcely done bo when tho men nhcnd of him panned nbmptly. Webster did likewise, nnd responding subconsciously, perhaps, to the re membrance of the mennco In the glance of the man with tho puckered eye he stepped out of sight behind a broad oak tree. Through tho trees and shrubbery he could still see the lovers, who had halted and evidently wcro about to part. Webster saw tho young man glnnce warily about; then, apparently satis fied there was none to spy upon them, bo drew tho girl gently toward him. Drew the Girl Gently Toward Him. flho clung to him for, nearly n minute, robbing; then ho raised her faco ten derly, kissed her, pressed her from lilm, nnd wulked swiftly nwny without tooklng back. It was a sweet nnd rather touching Ilttlo tableau ; to John Stuart Webster, imaginative and possessed of a ro mnntlc streak in his nnture, it was more than n tableau. It was a mov ing picture! "I supposo her old man objects to tho young follow," ho muttered to himself sympathetically, "and ho can't come near tho hoiiRe. Thoy'vn mot hero for the fond farewell, and now tho young fellow's going out West to mako his fortune, so he can como back nnd claim tho girl. Huh 1 If ho wants her, why the devil doesn't ho tako her? Hello I By Judas priest 1 Now I know what those two pflruquecta nro up to. Ono of them Is tho father of that girl. They'vo been spying on tho lovers, nnd now they're going to cor ner tho young fellow and shlnglo him f,or his nerve." The girl had stood for a moment, teasing after her companion, before sho turned with hor hnndkorchlcfto her eyes, nnd continued on hor wny to tho cathedral. Webster heard her sob bing n sho stumbled blindly by, nnd he was distressed about hor, for nil tho world lovos n lover nnd John Stuart Webster wns no exception to this untvorsal rule. "By George, this is pretty tough," ho reflected. "That young fellow treated thnt girl with as much gentle ness and courtesy ns any gcntlemnn should, nnd I'm for him nnd ngnlnst this Iden of corporal punishment. Don't you worry, Tllllo. my dear. I'm going to horn Into this game myself If It goes too far." Tho two dusky skulkors ahead of Mm, having como to another cross path, turned into it and cumo out on tho main path In tho rear of tho young ninn. Webster noticed that tho pair wore still walking on the grass. Ho podded gently along behind them. The four wero now rapidly np proachlng the old French market, nnd tho steadily rising babel of voices Kpcnklng In French, Italian, Spanish, Creole patois and Choctaw, was sufll clcnt to have drowned the slight nolso of tho pursuit, even hnd the young man's mind not been upon othor things, nnd tho Interest of the two Central Americans centered upon their aunrry, to tho exclusion of any thought of possible Interruption. Webster felt Instinctively that tho two men would rush and make a con certed attack from tho rear. He em I led. "I'll Just fool you two hombrcs n wholo lot," ho thought, nnd stooping, picked up n small stone. On the In Hint tho two men, havlug nppronched within thirty feet of their quarry, Biiute a rush for him. Their charge wns swift, but though it was, the little stone which John Htuart Webster hurled was swifter. It truck tho young man fairly between the shoulderbladea with n force sufll dent to brine him out of his senti- mnntnl rnvprln with n 1nrk. an It were. He whirled, saw the danger that threatened him, and sprang to moot It , "Urate, 1" yelled Webster, and ran to -Man's By PETER B. KYNE Author of "Cappy Ricka,' "The Valley of tho his aid, for he had seen now thnt It was to be knlfo work. Tragedy In stead of melodrama. Tho man with tho puckered eye closed In with such eagerness It was apparent to Webster that here was work to his liking. The young man raised his light cane, but Pucker-eye did not hesitate. Ho merely throw up his left forearm to meet the expected blow aimed at his bend, lunged for ward nnd slnshed viciously at tho young man's abdomen. The latter drew back a step, doubled like n Jack knife, nnd Nought his enno down viciously ncrost tho knuckles of his assailant's right hand. "Bo It Is thou, non of a pig," ha called pleasantly In Spanish. "1 fool ed you thnt time, didn't I?" he added In English. "Thought I would aim for your head, didn't you?" The blow temporarily paralyzed tho nssassln'M hand ; he dropped tho knife, nnd ns ho stooped to recover It with his left hnnd, the young man, before rctrentlng from I'op-eye, kicked Pucker-eye In tho fnce and quite upset him. "Stop It!" shouted Webster. I'op-eye turned his head at the out cry. The man ho was attacking fell Into the position of n swordsman en garde, and thrust viciously with tho ferrule nt the fnce of the pop-eyed mnn, who. disregarding Webster's nppronch, seized tho cane In IiIh left hand and with fl quick, powerful tug actually drew his victim toward him n foot be fore the latter let go the stick. Before ho could give ground ngnln Pop-eyo was upon him. no grasped tho young mnn by the latter's left nrm nnd held him. while he drew bnck for tho nwful dlsombowlllng stroke. As his long nrm sped forwnrd the hook of John Stuart Webster's heavy enne descended upon thnt flexed nrm In the crook of tho elbow, snagging it cleverly. The knife nover reached Its destina tion 1 "You would, would you?" Bnld Wcb Bter reproachfully, and Jerked tho fel low violently around. Tho man he hnd rescued promptly struck Pop-eyo n terrible blow in tho face with his left hand nnd broke loose from the grip thnt had so nearly been his undoing; then Webster tapped the assassin a meditative tnp or two on tho top of his sinful head for good measure nnd to awaken In him some sense of tho Im propriety nnd futility of resistance, nfter which Webster turned to dis cuss n similar question of ethics with Pucker-eye. Tho senr-cheeked mnn wns on his knees, groping grogglly for his knife, for he hnd received a severe klqk un der the chin, nnd for the nonce wns far from dnngcrous. Stooping, Web ster picked up the knlfo; then with knlfo and cane grasped In his left hnnd he seized Puckor-eyo by tho nnpo with his right and Jerked him to his feet. Tho assnssln stood glowering at him In n perfect frenzy of brutish, In nrtlculnto fury. "Tnko tho knlfo nwny from tho other fellow before ho gets uctlvo again," Webster called over his shoul der. "I'll mnnngo this rascal. We'll march them over to the mnrkot and turn thum over to tho pollco." no spoko In Spanish. "Thanks, over so much, for my life," tho young mnn answered lightly, nnd In English, "but where I come from It is not tho fashion to settle theso argu ments In a court of law. To call an ofllcer la considered unclubllkc; to shoot a prisoner In this country Is considered murder, nnd consequently I have but ono alternative and I advise you, my good friend, to have n Uttle of the same. I'm going to run like the devil." And he did. no was In full (light before Webster could glance around, nnd In an Instant ho wns lost to sight among the trees. "That ndvlco sounds eminently fnlr nnd reasonable," Webster yelled after him, and was about to follow when he observed that the young man hnd abandoned his pretty Ilttlo silver chased walking stick. "That's too nlco n Ilttlo stick to leave to theso brigands," ho thought, nnd forthwith possessed himself of It nnd tho pop-eyed mnn's knife, after which ho tarried not upon tho order of his going but went, departing nt top speed. The young man he had saved from bolng butchered was right. An en tangling alliance with tho police was, decidedly, not to John Stuart Wob ster's liking, for should ho unfortu nately, form such an alliance, ho would bo haled Into court ns a witness nnd perhaps miss tho etenmer to San Buenaventura. Ho had planned to spend nn hour In tho market, drink a cup of enfe nolr, smoke a cigarette, and return to his hotel In time for n leisurely breakfast, but his recent bout with grim reality had blunted tho edgo of romance, no ordered his driver to tnko him hack to tho hotel, sprang inside and con gratulated himself on htc lucky escape. CHAPTER VIII. Webster's trunk went aboard the steamer early the following morning, anil at noon he entered a taxi with hla mam mimntTiiiminn X H X H M 1 - M H X M H x x x X - Mae Gianta," Etc" Coprrlfht br TeUr n. Xrn. hand bnggngo and wns driven to the levee where La Kstrclllta lay tugging gently nt her mooring lines. Owing to the congestion of freight and trnfllc the chnuffeur stopped his cnb n little dls tanco from the gnngplnnk, whero Webster discharged him with a liberal tip. Tho latter, however, swung his passenger's bag and suitcase to tho ground, picked them up nnd started for the gangplank. "Never mind my baggage, lad," Webster called after him. "Ono of the deck boys will care for lt"- Thc chauffeur turned. "You've been generous with me, sir," he nnswered. "so I think I had better carry your baggage aboard. If you permit a deck boy to handle It. you merely hove to give another tip, nnd that would bo sheer wanton waste. Why shouldn't I earn the one you gave me?" "I hndn't figured It out thnt wny, son, so here's another half dollar for being the only existing specimen of your species In cnptlvlty. My state room Is No. 34. upper deck, port side," Webster answered, smiling. The man took the tlii eagerly and hurried to ward the gnngplnnk; the quartermas ter on duty shouldered a way foi Ua and he darted aboard. Webster followed leisurely. At the gangplank tho purser's clerk halted dim, examined his tickets and punched them. "Where Is the other man?" he asked. "You have two tickets here." "Oh, that blamed valet of mine," Webster nnswered, nnd glanced around ns If In senrch of thnt mythical func tionary. "It would ho like tho stupid fellow to miss tho boat," ho added. "When he comes " Webster censed speaking abruptly. He was looking straight Into tho malevolent orbs of Pucker-eye, who was standing Just behind the clerk at the foot of the gnngplnnk. "I wonder If Pop-eye's nround. nlso," Webster thought, and he fnced nbout Pop-eye wns standing In bnck of him, leaning over the railing of the gang way. "Which Is tho valotr the purser's clerk asked, scanning the names on the tickets. "Andrew Bowers." "All right, Mr. Webster," tho other nnswered, with that genial camaraderie that seems Inseparable from all of his calling. "When Andrew comes I'll send him aboard." He started to pass the tickets back to Webster, but a detaining baud rest ed on his arm, while n dnrk thumb nnd forefinger lifted tho trailing strips of tickets. Pucker-eye was examining them nlso. Tho purser's clerk drove his elbow backward violently Into Pucker-eye's midriff nnd shook him off roughly. "What do you mean, you blnck-and-tan hound?" ho demanded. "Since when did you begin to O. K. my work?" Pucker-eye made no reply to this storn reproof. Ho accepted the elbow with equanimity nnd fnced Webster with an evil smllo that Indicated mu tual recognition. "Bueno," ho said. "The scnor he ces sail on La Estrellltn for San Bue naventura, no?" "So you camo nosing nround to see about It, eh? Doing a Uttle plain gum shoe work, I Bee." Puckcr-oye bowed. By tho simple ex ercise of courage and bad manners ho had looked at John Stunrt Webster's ticket nnd wns now familiar with his namo and destination. Webster glowered darkly nt Pucker eye and said: "Well, you scoundrelly cutthroat, whnt are you going to do about It? Try n little of your knife work on me, I supposo?" Tho follow grinned the kind of grin that is composed of equal parts of ferocity and knowledge of superior strength. That grin did more to dis concert Webstor than the knowledge that ho hnd earned for himself two bloodthirsty and Implacable enemies, for Pucker-eye was tho first of his breed that Webster had ever seen smllo under Insult. That cool smile Infuriated him. Pucker-eye took out n cigarette case, selected n clgnrette and presented the enso to Webster. His bnd manners In selecting his own cigarette first was deliberate, as Webster knew. It was the Latln-Amcrlcan's method of show ing his contempt. "We shall meet Rgaln, Meester Web stnlro," he said. "May I offer a cig arette for the what you Americana cnll tho keepsako? No?" no smiled brightly and closed Ida puckered eye In a knowing wink. Webster took his tickets from tho purser, folded them, placed them In his pocket and for n few seconds regarded Pucker-yo contemptuously. "When wo meet ognln, you senm," ho retorted quietly, "you shall hnvo no difficulty In remembering me. You may keep your cigarette." Ills long, powerful right arm shot out; llko n forceps his thumb and fore finger closed over Pucker-eye's rather fiat noso; he squeezed, and with a shrill scream of agony Pucker-eye went to his knees. Still holding the wretch by his proboscis, Webster turned quickly In irder that bis face might be toward Pop-eye. "Pop-eye," he Bald, "If you take n hand In this, I'll twist your nose, too, nnd afterward I'll throw you In the river." He turned to Pucker-eye. "Up. thou curious little one," he said In Spanish, and Jerked tho unhappy "Up, Thou Curious Little One." rascal to his feet. The InUwr clawed Ineffectually at the terrible nrm which held hlra, until, presently discovering thnt the harder he struggled the harder Webster pinched his nose, he censed his struggles and hung limply, moan' Jng with pain and rago In the grip or the American. "Good!" Webster announced, slack ing his grip a little. With his left hand he deftly extracted a hair from each flank of the screaming Ilttlo scoundrel's scant mustache nnd held them before the latter'B tear-fllled eyes. "My friend." he said gently, "mark how tho gringo gives his Ilttlo dark brother a lesson In deportment. Be hold, If I have given thee n souvenir of our meeting, I nlso hnve taken one. By this pinched nnd throbbing noso shall I be remembered when I am gone; by these hnlrs from thy rat's mustache shall I remember thee. Go, and thrust not that noso Into n gringo's business again. It Is unsufo." He released Pucker-eye, made his way through tho crowd to his room, looked In. saw thnt his bnggage was there, nnd walked nround on the star bourd side to Join In the general fare well of nil on board to tho crpwd on the levee. At the shore end of the gangplank Pucker-eye and Pop-eye still waited. The unfortunate Pucker-eye was weep ing with pntn and futile rago and hu miliation, but Webster noticed that Pofl-eye's attention wns not on his friend but upon each passenger that boarded the ship, of which there were the usual number of late arrivals. As each passenger approached, Pop-eye scanned him with more than casual In terest. ' Webster smiled. "Looking for that valet they heard mo talking about," he reflected. "Pop-eye, you're a fine, capable lad. I thought you had the brains of the two. You're not going away until you've had a chance to size up the re-enforcements at my com mnnd, nro you?" Ho lighted a cigar and leaned over tins rail ns the steamer, gathering speed, swept down river. "Good-by, you golden fizz nnd chicken gumbo," he called, as tho city receded and tho low, wooded shores below the city enmc Into view. When he had finished his cigar he cast the stump overboard, watched It until It disappeared astern, and then went around to stateroom No. 34. Ah he stepped In and closed the door a masculine voice said very pleasantly: "How do you do?" Mr. Webster looked up and beheld a young man, arrayed In n very fancy pair of light blue silk pajamas, stretched nt his enso In the upper berth. John Stunrt Webster stared at the stranger for several seconds and con cluded he was lnvndlng the sanctity of another's stateroom. "Excuse me," he said, "I guess I'm In the right church but tho wrong pew," nnd he stepped out and looked for the number on the stateroom. To his surprise It was No. 34 nftcr nil, so he stepped buck Into the stateroom and favored the stran ger with another scrutiny. "It does appear to me, my friend," ho said presently, "that I detect some thing strangely fanillfur about your pajamas." "I wouldn't be the least bit surprised Mr. Webster. I found them In your suitcase." Fell a silence of perhaps half a min ute. Then : "I dislike to appear Inquisitive," Webster began, "but the fact is, neigh bor, I'm curious to know where you got that book. I observe you are read ing Samuel Butler's 'Way of All Flesh,' and that the book Is slightly damaged. Recently I purchased such a book In " "Pray do not tako tho trouble to ex plain," the other nnswered airily. "I discovered this excellent book In your suitcase also. In fact, for roe, that suitcase has proved to be a repository of treasures." John Stuart Webster's neck came out of his collar with the suddenness of a turtle snapping at a fly: he drew himself up beside the top berth until his face was on a level with his unbid den guest's, upon whom he bent a look of mingled emotions. "Who tho dovll are you?" he de manded. "I regret I have no card, but even If I had It would bo no kindness to Inflict upon nn American gentleman the cog nomen my parents honored mo with, for it is long and many-Jointed, llko a pennut, nnd embodies tho nnmes of nil the snlnts In the cnlcndnr. Moreover, Just nt present I nm traveling under nn nllns. I nm known ns Mr. Andrew Bowers." "And your occupation ?" Webster managed to articulate. "Vnlet de chnmhre to thnt prince of gentlemen, Mr. John S. Webster," the other lepllcd with a mischievous gleam In his dark eyes. Mr. Webster sat down limply on the settee, ne was undecided whether to roar 'with laughter or shriek with rago; while ho struggled for a decision An drew Bowers blew smoko rlngB nt the celling. "Haven't I seen you before?" Web ster queried presently. "I wouldn't be surprised. I drovo you down to tho steamer In n tnxl hnlf nn hour ago. You will recall that the taxi driver carried your luggage nbonrd." Webster gnzed nround the stntcroom. "Where have you hidden your livery?" he demanded. "I wrapped It In a newspaper; then, seeking u moment when the deck out side wns deserted. I stepped forMi In my I beg your pnrdon, your pajamas nnd tossed It overboard." "But apparently you did not bring aboard with you o suit of clothes to take the place of your livery?" "Quite true lamentably so, Mr. Webster. Perhaps you will accept my desperate need as an excuse for bor rowing your pajamas. 1 notice you hnve another suit of them. Fortunate man I" Andrew Bowers wns n mnn of per hnps thirty years, flvo feet ten Inches tall, and apparently In excellent health. He might have weighed a hundred and seventy pounds and he wns undeniably handsome. While Webster was wondering whether his companion was merely a high-class tramp or an absconding bank cashier, a knock sounded on the stateroom door. He opened It and tho purser stood In the entrance. "Ticket, please?" he announced. Webster surrendered both tickets, receiving In turn two seat checks for the dining saloon, and tho purser passed on to the next cnbln. Andrew Bowers smiled a small, pre scient smile, but said nothing, and presently John Stuart Webstor broke tho silence. "Well," ho ordered, "sing the song or tell the story." "I noticed you surrendered my ticket to tho purser," the young mnn nn swered Irrelevantly, "and I nm glad of thnt. I take It as prima fncie evidence that you have made up your mind to accept my company." "You're too Infernally cool nnd cock sure, my friend," Webster warned hltn testily. "1 pride myself on n sense of humor nnd I dearly love a Joke until It's carried too far, but be advised In time, young man, nnd don't try to play horse with me. My acceptance or non acceptance of you Is a subject for fu ture discussion, since nt present we hnve some fiduciary matters 'before us. You owe me fifty dollars for your tick et, Andrew Bowers, nnd In view of tho fnct that I never saw you before to day, suppose we start the voyage by squaring the account." Andrew Bowers sat up In tho berth and let his legs drape over the side. "Mr. Webster." he began seriously, "If, prior to the arrival of the purser to col lect the tickets, you had handed my ticket to me. saying: 'Here Is your ticket. Mr. Bowers. Be kind enough to reimburse me to the extent of fifty dollnrs,' I should have been compelled to admit then, as I do now, that I haven't fifty dollars. Fortunately for me, however, you surr iidered the tick et to the purser before acquainting yourself with the state of my for tunes; the voyage has commenced nnd whether you like It or not, my denr sir, I nm your guest from now until we reach San Buenaventura. Rather an Interesting situation, don't you think?" John Stuart Webster was of Scotch ancestry. He had a hereditary re gard for bnubees. He wns n business man. Prodlgnl spender though he wns nnd generous to n fault, the fact re mained that he always made It a point to get value received, and he wns prod lgnl with his own money ; he preferred that the privilege of prodigality with tho Websterlnn funds should remain an Inalienable prerogative of the sole surviving member of tho Webster fam ily. "I think you're too cool, young man," Webster retorted. "Just a trifle too cocksure. Up to the present moment you have proffered no evidence why you should not be adjudged a end, nnd I do not like cads and must decline to permit one to occupy the same state room nt my expense. You nre clever nnd amusing and I laughed at you, but at tho same time my sense of humor Is not so grent ns to cause me to over look your Impudence nnd laugh with you. Now, If you have anything to any, say It quickly, because you're going to go away from here In a hurry." "I plead guilty to tho Indictment, Mr. Webster, nnd submit ns nn excuse tho fnct thnt desperate clrcumstnnces require desperate mensures. I am not begging my way, neither nm I beating It for the reason that both forms of travel are repugnant to me. I am merely taking advantage of certain fortuitous circumstances to force you, an entire stranger, to extend to me a credit of fifty dollars until we rench San Buenaventura, when you will be promptly reimbursed." "It Is not my habit," Webster retort ed Btlflly, "to extend, credit to stran gers who demand It" "I do not demand It, air. I beg It of you, nnd because I cannot afford to be refused I took enre to arrange matter so that you would not be likely to re fuse my request Really, I do not mean to be cocksure nnd Impudent, hut be fore you throw me out I'd like to let you In on n secret nbout yourself." "Well?" "You're not going to throw mo out" "Why not?" "Because you can't" "That's fighting talk. Now, Just to provo to you the depth of error In which you flounder, young man, I am nbout to throw you out." And he grasped Andrew Bowers In the grip of a grizzly bear nnd whisked htm out of tho top berth. "Walt one second," his helpless vic tim cried. "I hnve something to sny before you go nny further." "Sny It." Webster ordered. "Your tonguo Is the only pant of you thnt I cannot control." "When you throw me out on deck," Andrew Bowers queried, "do your pa Jamas go with me? Does the hajr go with the hide?" "They cost me sixteen dollnrs In Snlt Lake City, but good lord. yes. I can't throw you out mother naked; d n It I can't throw you out at all." "Didn't I tell you so? Bo a good fel low and turn me loose." "Certainly for tho tlmo being. You'll stay locked In this stateroom while I hnve n tnlk with tho cnptnln. He'll probably dig up a shirt, n pnlr of dungnrees nnd some old shoes for you nnd set you nshore before we get out of the river. If be doesn't do that he'll keep you nboard nnd you'll shovel coal for your jotange." "But I'm Andrew Bowers nnd the purser has collected my flrst-clasa ticket I" "What of It? I shall declare and with ti-uiii that you are not Andrew Bowers.thot you nre not my valet and that I did uot buy the ticket for you. I dare you to fnce the cnptnln In my pa Jamas and prove you uren't a stowa way." "You would win on that point," the battling guest admitted, "but It Is a point you will not raise. Why? Be cause I have another trump up my ki mono." He climbed back Into the up per berth and from that vantage point gazed down benevolently upon John Stuart Webster. "I'm disappointed In you." he continued sadly. "I thought you'd show a little normal human curi osity about me and you haven't. Yoa do not ask questions or I could ex plain, while I cannot volunteer Infor mation without seeming to seek your pity, and thnt of course would be re pugnant to me. I am hoping you will accept my word of honor thnt you shall be reimbursed two hours ofter you land In San Buenavatura." "New mu3lc to your song, my friend, but the snhie old words." Webster re torted, nnd stepped to the stntcroom door "You're doomed to shovel coal or ro ashore." "Listen. If I go nshore, your respon sibility for my life censes, Mr. Web ster, but If the chief engineer happens to be short one coal-passer nnd tho 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 Inter Ml be facing n tiring sqund In the cemetery at the Catedral de la Vera Cruz." "Gosh." John Stuart Webster mur mured dazedly. "I'm afraid I enn't tnko n chnnce llko that for fifty dollars. I'm whipped to a frnzzle. Any tlmo I'm sitting In back of a royal flush nnd the other fellow bluffs me out of the pot I nlwnys buy the wine. When It nrrlves we shall drink to our better acquaint ance. Pending Its arrival, please be ndvlsed thnt yon nre welcome to my pajamas, ray cigarettes, my book and my stateroom. You are my guest und you owe me nothing, except, perhaps, your confidence, although I do not In sist upon thnt point Where I come from every mnn kills his own snakes.' And he held up his hand for Andrew Bowers to shake. "Mr. Webster," the latter declared feelingly, "1 am not n lord of language, so I cannot find words to thank you. I agree with you thnt you nre entitled to my confidence. My nnme Is " "Tut, tut my boy. Your nnmo Is Andrew Bowers, nnd thnt Identifies you sufficiently for the time being. When I suggested thnt I was entitled to a measure of your confidence. I meant on a few minor points only points on which my curiosity has been abnormally aroused. (To he continued) Prohibition Improvlno Health Prohibition la rp.qnnnrlhla tnr ln Droved health conditions In thn fTnlfnH States during Uie past year, accord Ing to a report of Surgeon General Blue, head of Uie public health serv tso. HUSBAND'S HANDICAP. "Why are you wearing the hn and chain, old man ?" "Going walking with. my wife in a few minutes." "Well?" "Got to keep my pace down to hor new hobble." Louievillo Courier Journal. HOW COULD HE TELL? "Your daughter, sir, has referred me to you." "Well?" ' "Can I hire her?" "I dunno. She hasn't given m any instructions, young man." ,London Answers.
