NOItTII PLATTE SEMT-WEEKTiT TRIBUNE.
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ebster
CHAPTER X.
Dolores hnd been gone an hour he
fore Webstor roused front, his bitter
tntrospoctlon sufficiently t& glance at
his watch. "Hum-m-ui I" he grunted
disapprovingly.
"Oh. I've been here fully half nn
hour. Dolores voice assured him.
He turned guiltily and found her leon
ine against the Jnrab In a doorway be
hind him and farther 'down the ver
anda. Hhe was gazing at him with
that calm, Impersonal yet vitally In
terested glance that had so captivated
him ttie first time he saw her. "Are
you quite finished talking to yourself
and flghttng Imaginary enemies? It
so, you might tnlk to me for a change;
Til even disagree with you on nny
subject If opposition will make you
ny happier."
He rose and Indlcnted the chair.
"Please sit down, Miss Ruoy. You nro
altogether disconcerting too con
foundedly smart. ! fear Cm going to
bo afraid of you nntll I know you bet
ter." She shrugged adorably and took the
proffered chair. 'That's the Latin In
her that shrug.' Webster thought. "I
wonder what other mixtures go to
mako up that perfect whole."
Aloud ho said: "So you wanted to
rtudy me in repose7 Why waste your
time? I am never In repose."
Feminine curiosity. Mr, Webster.
Billy tins talked so much of you
that I wanted to see Irf you measured
np to the specifications. Just let mo
have your hand, and I'll tell you all
boat yourself."
"Is Utcrd any chnrgo?"
"Tea, a nominal one. However, I
guarantee n truthful rending j If, when
I tm through, you are not wholly sat
isfied, you do not have to pay the
price. Is that a satisfactory arrange
ment?" "Itlght tin a for." he declared, and
held out h: rrt calloused hand, fie
thrilled as she took It In both of hers,
so soft and hrnutlftil, nnd flattened It
out Pfllm upward, on her kneo, "A
fine. targe, useful hand." sho comment
ed musingly. "The callouses Indicate
recent hard manual toll with a pick
and shovel j despite your recent efforts
with soap and brush and pumice-stone,
there still remain ovldcnco of Homo
foreign matter Ingrained In those cnl
lous spots, Hils lino Indicates that
you are Very brave, gentle, and cour
teous. You aro quick and, firm In your
decisions, but not' always right be
cause your actions are governed by
your heart Instend of your hend.
Once you have made a decision; you
re reckless of the consequences. Vnnr
lifeline tells me you are close to fifty-
three years of age"
"Secreas. you're shooting high and
to the right," ho Interrupted, for he
did not relish that Jab about his ng,
"I'll have you know I was forty years
eld last month, nnd that I can still do
hundred yards In twelve seconds flat
-4b ray working clothe."
"Well,, don't feel peoved nbout It
Mr. Webster. I am not Infallible; the
best you can hope for from me Is a
high percentage of hits, even It I did
shoot high and to the right that time.
Ih point of worldly experience you're
JB hundred and six years old but I
lopped off fifty per cent to be on the
safe side. To continue. You are of
a extremely chivalrous nature
particularly toward young ladles
traveling without chaperons; you are
ilWJ. affectionate, gcqcroys to, ( ffjult,
someuiing or a spenauinrt une may
' safety depend upon you to do the un
expected. Your matrimonial line Is
unbroken, proving you have never
married, although right here the lino Is
somewhat dim and frayed." Sho
looked up at him suddenly. "You
tiaven't been In love, hove you 7" she
queried with childlike Insouciance.
"In love and disappointed?"
f lie nodded, for he could not trust
tttmsclf to spenk,
"llow sad I" ehe cooed sympnthotl
cally. "Did she marry an'otlter, or did
ho dloT"
. f "She she yes, sho died."
- ."jOa,ullflower . tongue. In allprol
'ability Carried her oft, poor thing I
However, to your fortune: You are
naturally truthful nnd would not make
a deliberate misstatement of fact un
less you had a very potent reason for
It. Tou have a strong sense of
oportuuunshlp, and when fairly de
feated, whether In a battle of fists
or a battln of wits, vou never hold a
afrHflgo, which Is ono ot Uio very ntc- j
est characteristics a man can have
r"Or a. woman," ho suggested feebly.
I ''Ojjltq right. Vow womon have a
easa of sportsmnnstilp. You stand a
rcry good chance of becoming a mil
lionaire In Sobrante, but you must be
ware of a dark man who lino crossed
your path "
"Which one?" Webster queried
-ii-hriiitv. "All coons look nllko to
W uWuBero also."
- -More mitter of our profession. Mr.
Webstor," sho admitted, "tossed In to
build up the mystery eiemoui mm
almulato wisdom. Fortune awaited
won in tho United States, but you put
5t behind you, nt the call of friend.
nhtn for a fortune in sooramo. i1"""
wou have recousldered that foolish
tellon and at this moment you aro
. .
aaaaa
-Man's
By PETER B. KYNE
Author of "Cappy Rick' "The Valley of the
contemplating sending a cablegram
to a fat old man who wnddlcs when ho
walks, recalling your decision not to
accept a certain proposition of a
business nature. However, you are
too late. The fat old man with the
waddle has mnde other arrangements,
and If you want to make monay. you'll
remain In Sobrante. I think that Is
all. Mr. Webster."
fie was gazing at her with an ex
pression composed of equal parts of
awe, amazement, consternation, adora
tion, and blank stupidity.
"Well," she queried Innocently, "to
"Did I Put It Over?"
qu.oto Dllty's colloquial style: did I
put It over?"
"You did very well for nn amateur,
but I'm a doubting Thomas. About
this fat old man who waddles when
he wnlkx: a really topnoteffl palmist
could tel! me his name."
"Well, I'm only au amateur, but still
I think 1 might to quota Billy agnln,
make a stab nt It Do you care to
bot mo nbout ten dollars I cannot give
you the rat party's Initials all three
of them?"
Ho gazed at her owllshly. Sho wan
tlo most perfectly amazing girt he
had ever met; he was certain sho
would win tho ten dollnrs from him.
but then It was worth ten dollars to
know for a certainty whether sho was
perfect or possessed of a slight flaw;
so ho silently drew forth a wnllet that
would have choked a cow and skinned
off a teu-dollur gold certificate of the
United States of America.
"I'm game." ho mumbled.
"The fat gentleman's Initials are 19.
P. J."
"By the twelve apostles, Peter,
Simon"
"Don't blaspheme, Mr. Webster."
lie stood up and shook himself.
"When ybu order the ten." ho snld
very distinctly, "please have mlno
cold. I need a brncer after that Take
the ten. You've won It."
"Thanks, ever so much," she an
swered In a matter-of-fact tone, and
tucked the bill Inside her shirtwaist.
''I ntn n very poor woman, and
'Every little bit added to whnt you've
got makes Just a little bit more,' " she
caroled, swaying her lithe, beautlfnl
body and snapping hor fingers like a
cabaret dancer.
He could have groaned with the
futility of his overwhelming desire for
her; It even occurred to him what
shame It was to waste a marvel like
her on a callow young, pup like Billy,
who had fought so many deadly skirm
ishes with Dan Cupid that a post-
Impressionistic painting of th6 Geary
heart must rremble a pincushion.
Then he remembered thnt this was ao
ungenerous, n traitorous thought, and
that hu hnd not paid the lady tier fee.
"Well, what's the tariff?" he asked
"You really feel that I have earued
a professional's fee?!
"Beyond a doubt"
"Since you havo taken Billy away
from mo this evening, I shall make
you take Illlly's place this evening.
i After dinner you Bhntl hire an open
j victoria with two little white horses
1 nd drive mo arornid the Malecon.
There Is a band concert to-night."
If It's the Inst act of my wicked
llfol" ho promised fervently. Strange
to relate, In thnt ecstatic moment no.
thought of Billy Geary tnnrrtHl tho per
fect serenity of what promised to b
the most perfectly serene night In his
tory. They were seated k. tho tiny tea
table when the sound of feet crunch
ing the little tthetl-pnved path through
the patio caused Webstor anil Dolores
to turn their bends simultaneously,
Coming toward thrm was nn Individ
ual who wore upon a hend of flnmlnR
red a disreputable, conleal-crowned
Btrnw sombrero; n soiled cotton
1 n ... 1 nn ...1,1. tnlla ,1 nt.tl r... Taa tT
1 u "
his equully soiled khaki trousers, and
, sandnle of the kind kuown as ajpar-
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Man.
Giant.' Etc
Copyrlf ht try Petar II. Krn.
gntcs made from the tough fibre of a
plant of the cactus fnmlly and worn
only by the very lowliest peons com
pleted his singular attire.
"One of Illlly's friends nnd another
reason why he has no soclnl standing,"
Dolores whispered. "I believe he's go
ing to spenk to us."
Such evidently appeared to bo tho
mnn's Intention. lie enmo to the
edge of tho vernnda, swept his ruin
of a hat from his red head nnd bowed
with Castlllan expnnslveness.
"Yer pardon, Miss, for nppenrjn' be
fore you."
She smiled her forgiveness to what
Webster now perceived to be an .
alcoholic wreck. He was about to
dismiss the fellow with scant cere
mony, when Dolores, with thnt rich
sense of almost mn'scullne humor
a humor Hint was distinctly American
said sweetly:
"Mr. Webster, shake hands with Don
I Juan Cafetero, bon vlvant nnd man
i nbout town. Don Juan, penult me1 to
present Mr. Webster, from somewhere
In the United States. Mr. Webster Is
a mining partner of our mutual friend
Mr. William Genry."
A long, sad descent Into the Pit hnd,
however, Imbued Don Juan with a
senso of his degradation; he was In
tho presence of a superior, and he ac
knowledged tho Introduction with a
respectful Inclination of his head,
"Tis you I've called to sec, 'Mlsther
Webster, sor," he cxplnlned.
"Very well, old-timer. In what way
can I be of service to you?"
"'Tis the other way around, sor, If
yo plaze, an' for thnt satne there's no
"Tis Yn KVe Caltei to .
chnrrge, seelo ye're tfrv partner, sv
that fine, kind gtntleman. Mlsther
Geary. Did ye, whilst In Mew Orleans,
have d'allngs wit' a short shtout
spjggoty wit' a puckeredi scar nminer
his right eye?"
John Stuart, Webster suddenly sat
up straight an gazed upon the lost I
sum of Hrin with. i?mv intnst. "Yea "
he replied. "I1 Mem to- recall such
man."
'"Tis none ftv me business, sor, tout
would yo mind tellln' me Just what ye
did to that splggoty?"
"Why, to begin, last Sunday morn
ing I interrupted this pucken-eyed fel
low and a pop-eyed friend of his wblte
engaged In an attempt to assassinate
white. Inoffensive stranger. The fol
lowing day. at the gangplank of the
steamer, wo met again ; be poked bis
nose Into my business, so I' squeezed
iiusu iuw uij uuaiui'sa, ou i nucncu
his noso until he cried; right before
everybody I did It Don Juan, and to
add Insult to Injury, I plucked a few
linlrs from his rat's moustache ose
linlr per each pluck."
"I'd a notion ye did Bomethln to
Mm, sor. Now, thin, listen to me:
I'm not much, to look nt, hut Pm white,
I'm nn attashay, as ye might say, av
Ignutz Leber him thnt do- have the
import an' export house at the Ind
av the Cclle- San Rosarln, fornlnst the
bay. Also he do have charrge nv the
cable olllce, an whin I'm sober enough,
I deliver cablegrams for Leber, Now,
.then, ye'll recall we had a bit av a
shower to-day nt noon?"
Dolores and Webster nodded. Don
Juan, after glancing cautiously around,
lowered his voice and continued: "I
was dellverln a cablegram for Leber,
an' me course took me past the palace
gate which, be tho came token, has
slnthrv-boxes both Inside nn out. wan
on each sldo av tho gate. The slnthry
wns uot visible, na 1 came along, an'
what wit' tho shower comln' as sud
dlnt as thnt, an' me wit' a wnrdrobc
that's not so cxtlnstve 1 can afford to
get It wet, I shtepped Into wnn av the
outside Hlntry-ttoxen till the rnln
should be over, an' what wit' n dhrlnk
nv agunrdlento I'd took to brace mo
for the thrlp. an' the mlmory av auld
times, I fell asleep.
"Dear knows how long I sat thore
napping; ull I' know Is thnt I was
awakctyod by the sound nv Jhree men
talkln, at the gate, an' tflvll a worrd
did they say but what I heard. They
were talkln' In Spanish, but I nn
dhershtood thlm well enough. 'lie's at
the Hotel Mateo,' says wan voice, 'an'
his name Is Webster Jawn Webster,
lie's an American, an' a big, savage
tookln' lad at that so take -me adrlce
an' be careful. Do ye two keep an
eye on him wherever, he goes, nn If
he should shtep out at night nn' wan
dher1 t'rougli a dark shtreet. do ye two
see to It that he's put where he'll not
Interfere again In Don Felipe's affairs.
No damn' gringo' beggln' yer par
don, Miss can Intherfere In the
wurrk av the InUlllgince bureau at a
time like this. In uddltlon to Insultln'
our honored chief, wlt'out the neces
sity av beln' measured for a coflln.'
'Slnil general,' says another lad. nn
'To be sure, ml general,' says a tlilrrd;
an' wit' that tho glneral, bad cess to
htm. wlnt bnck to tho palace an' tho
other two walked on up thccnlle an'
away from the slnthry-box."
"Did you come out and follow
them?" Webster demanded briskly.
"Fnlth, I did. Wan av them Is
Francisco Arrcdondo, a young cavalry
lootlnlnt, an' the other wan Is Captain
Jose Bcnevldes. him that do be the
i iiuxi. HiKiui-Hiiar nil' HwnruKmnn in uih
gplggoty army."
"What kind of looking man Is this
Bcnevldes, my friend?"
"A tall, thin young man, wit' a
dude's moustache an' a diamond ring
on his right hand. Do1 do be whiter
nor most. Unvo a care would ye meet
hm aroUnd tho city an' let him pick
a fight wit ye. An' have a care, sor,
would ye go out av a night"
"Thank you, Don Juan. You're the
soul of kindness. What else do you
know?"
"Well," Don Junn replied with n
nnlve grin, "I did know somcthln' else,
but shurc, Mlsther Geary advised mo
to forget It I was wit' him In the
launch last night."
Webster stepped out of the veranda
and laid a friendly hand on Don Junn
Cnfctero's shoulder. "Don Juan," he
said gently, "I'm going bnck to the
United States very soon. Would you
like to come with me?"
Don Juan's watery eyes grew a
shade mistier, If possible. Ho shook
his head. "Whin I'm dhrunk here,
sor," ho replied, "no wan pays any at
tlntlon to me, but In America they'd
give me ten days In the hoosegow
wanst a week. Thank you, sor, but I'll
shtny here till the finish."
Ho knew the strength of tho D
tnon and had long since ceased to fight
even a rear-guard action. Webster
put a hand under the stubby chin nnd
tilted Don Juan's head sharply, "nold
up your head," he commanded.
"You're the first of your breed I ever
saw who would admit he was whipped.
Here's five dollars for you Ave dol
lars gold. Take It nnd return with the
piece Intnct to-morrow morning, Don
Junn Cnfctero."
Don Juan Cafetero's wondering
glance met Webster's directly, wavered,
sought the ground, bat at a Jerk on
lAn chin came back and stayed.
TTms for nt, least ten seconds they
gazed at en eft otjier; then Webster
spofte. "Thanft you," he snld.
"Me name Is John J. Cafferty," tke
lost one qunvcred.
"Round one for Cafferty." Webster
laughed. "Good-bye now. until nine
to-morrow. I'll expect you here, John,
without fafl." And' he took the dere
lict's hand and wrung It heartily.
"Well," Webster- remarked' humor
ously to Dolores 'as- he held' out his
cup for raoro tea, "Iff Tm not the ori
ginal Tumble Tom, I' hope I mny never
see the back of my neck."
"Do you attach any Importance' to
Don Juan's story?" she asked anx
iously. "Yes, but not so muctt- as Don Junn.
does. I grently fear F have managed
to snarl myself up In' a Sobrnnten.v
political Intrigue, when V haven't the
slightest Interest either way. How-
ever, that's only one more- reason' why.'
I should finish my. work- here and' get
back to Denver."
"Bnt how did all1 tills happen) Mix.
Webster?"
- "Like shooting fish In- dry lake;.
Miss Ituey," Webster replied, and re
lated to her In detail1 the story of his
adventure with the Sobrantean as
sassins In Jackson square and his sub
sequent meeting with' Andrew Bowers
aboard La Estrellttat
Dolores laughed long: and heartily as
Webster finished his humorous recital,
Billy told me God' only made one
Jack Webster nnd theu. destroyed the
mold I believe Billy Is right But do
tell me whnt becamo of tills extra
ordinary and unbidden guest''
"The night the steamer arrived la
port, Billy and Don Juan came out Id
a launch to any 'Hell,' so I seized
upon the opportunity to tell Andrew
to Jump overboard and swim, to the
launch. Gave hlm a little note to
Billy carried It ln his mouth In
structing Billy to dt the right thing
by him nnd BUI? did It 1 don't
know what Andrew Is np to and 1
don't care. Where I was raised we let
every man roll his own hoop. All I
hope Is that they don't shoot Andrew.
If they do. I fear I'll weep. He's cer
tainly a 8kookun lad. Do you know,
Miss Ituey, I love anybody that can Im
pose on me make a monkey out ot
me. In fact nnd make me like It?"
"Thnt's so cemfortlug," she remark
ed dryly.
Webster looked at her sharply, sus
plclously; her words were susceptible
of a dunl Interpretation. Her next
sentence, however, dissipated this Im
presslon. "Because It confirms whnt
I told yon this afternoon when I read
your palm." sho nailed.
"You didn't know bow truly you
spoke when you referred to tho dark
man thnt nnd crossed my path. He's
uncomfortably real drat hlral"
"Then you are really concerned?;
"Not at all, but I purpose sleeping
with one eye open. I ulnn't permit
myself to feel concerned until they
send more than two men after me
say eight or ten."
Ills Indifference appalled her; she
leaned forward Impulsively and laid a
hand on his forennn. "But you must
heed Don Junn's warning," she de
clared seriously. "You must not 40
out alone at night"
He grinned boyishly. "Of course
not Miss Ituey. You're going to ride
out with me tills evening."
"I'm not. I'll not subject you to
risk." .
"Very well; then I shall drive out
alone."
"You're a despot Mr. Webster)
regular despot."
"Likewise a free agent"
"I'll go with" you."
"J thought so. For whnt hour shall
I order the carriage?"
"Seven-thirty. After all, they'll not
dare to murder you on the Malecon."
"I ngree with you. It will have to
be done very quietly, If nt all. You've
been mighty nice to me this afternoon, 1
seeress; I shall be grateful right up to
the moment of dissolution."
"Spenk softly but carry a big stick,"
she wnnied him.
"A big gun," he corrected hef,
" two of them, In fact"
"Sensible manj I'm not going to
worry nbout you, Mr. Webster." She
nodded her permission for him to re
tire, and as he walked down the ver
nnda and Into the hotel, her glnnco
followed him with pnrdonnble femi
nine curiosity, marking the breadth of
his shoulders, the quick, springy
stride, the alert, erect polso of Ills
head on .the powerful neck.
"A door of deeds are you, John
Stuart Webster," Sho almost whisper
ed. "As Kipling would say: 'Wallah I
But you aro a raunP"
A stealthy footstep sounded below
the veranda: she turned nnd beheld
Don Junn Cafetero, his hat In his left
hand. In his right a gold-piece which
he held toward her.
"Take It nllannh." he wheezed In
his hoarse, drunkard's whlsier. "Keep
It f'r me till to-morrow, for sorra wan
av me can I trust to do thnt same
nn' be the same token I enq't face that
big man wlt'out It"
"Why not, Don Juan?"
He hung his red head. "I dnnno.
Miss," he replied miserably. "Maybe
'tis on account av him the eye av
him the way av him divll such a
mnn did I ever meetr-God bless blmt
Shure, Mlsther Geary do. be the fine
lad, but he he "
"Mr. Geary never put a big fore
finger under your chin nnd bade you
hold up your head. Is tliat It?"
'"Tis not whnt he did. Miss but tho
way he did It All the fiends av hell '11
be nt me tills night to stipend what he
give me and I I'm nfrnld " 1
He broke off, mumbling and chatter
ing like a man In the grip of a great
terror. In his agony of body and ,
spirit Dolores could have wept for
Don Junn Cafetero. for in that su
preme moment the derelict's soul was
bare, revealing something pure nnd
sweet and humnn. for all his degradat
tlon. How did Jack Webster know?
wondered Dolores. And why did he
so confidently give an order to this
human flotsam and expect It to be
obeyed? And why did Don Junn
Cafetero come whining to her for
strength to help him obey It?
"That wouldn't be playing the
game," she fold htm. "I can't help
your deceive hlra. You are the first of
your breed "
-Don't say It" he crle- "Didst
he tefl me wanst?"
"Then make the light Dot) Mr.
CafTerty." She lowered her voice.
"T iw depending' on you to- stay sober
nnd guard him. He needs a faithful
frlearf s badly, now that Mr. Geary
Is away," She patted the' grimy hand
and left blm stnrlng nt the- ground.
Presently he sighed, quivered horribly,
nnd shambled out of the patio on to
the firing-line. And whem he reported
to Jack Webster" at nine o'clock next
morning, he wns sober, shaking bar
ribly and on the verge of delirium
tremens, bnt tightly clasped In hls
right Irand he held tltnt flve-dotlar
piece. Dolores, who hnd made It her
business to he present nt the Inter
view, heard John Stuart "Webster say
heartily:
"The finest t,hlng about a terrible
flgbt, friend Cnfferty, In that If It is a
worth-while buttle, the spoils of vic
tory are exceedingly sweet. Yon are
now about to enjoy one fourth of the
said spoils a Inrg Jolt of aguard
lentet You must Ixtwo Id to steady
your nerves. Go to the nearest can
tlna and buy one drink; then come
back with the change. By that time
I shall have breakfasted' and you and
will then go shipping. At noon you
shall have another drink; at four
o'clock another; nnd Just before re
tiring you shall have the fourth and
last for this day. Remember, Cnf
ferty: one Jolt no more and then
back here with- the exnet change,"
As Don Junn. scurried for salvation,
Webster turned to Dolores. "He'll fall
me now, but that will not be hs fault
but ,111 Inc. I've set him too great a
task In his present condition. Never
theless, to use a colloquial expression,
I have the Cafferty goat and I'm go
ing to keep It" , ,
Webster went Immediately to bis
room, called for pen and pnper, and
proceeded at once to do that which be
hnd never done before to wit. pro
pare his last will and tcstnment In
a few brief paragraphs he made a
holographic will nnd split his bank
roll equally between tho two human
beings he cared for most Billy Genry
and Dolores Ituey. '"Bill's a gambler
like me," he ruminated; "so I'll play
safe. The girl Is a conservative, and
after Bill's wad Is gone, he'd be boiled
la oil before he'd prejudice hers.".
Having made his will, Webster .
made a copy of It The copy he placed
In an envelope marked: "For Jack.
Not to be opened until after my
death." This envelope Tie then enclosed
Id a larger one and moiled to Billy at
Calle de Cohcordla No. 10.
Having made his few simple pre
parations for death, Mr. Webster next
burrowed In his trunk, brought forth
his big army-type automatic pistol
and secured It In a holster under his
arm, for he deemed It unwise and-pro-vocatlve
of curiosity to appear In Im
maculate ducks that bulged at the
right hip. Next he filled two spare
rllna with nnrf rlflrwa nnri allnnpil thpm
Jfintohjs pocket, thus completing hi
tow simple prepnrotions lor me.
He glanced out the window nt tiT
cun. There would still be nn hour of
1llght; so he descended to tho lobby,
called a carriage and took a short
drive. .
Returning to the hotel he dismissed
the carriage, climbed the three short
steps to the entrance and tbs passing
through tiie revolving portal, when
from his rear some one gave tho
door a violent shove, with the result
thnt the turnstile pnrtltlon behind him
collided with his bnck with sullldent
force to throw him against, the parti
tion In front. Instnntly the door
censed to pivot, with Webster locked
neatly In the triangular space, be
tween the two sections of the revol
ving door rind the Jnmb.
He turned and beheld In the sec
tion behind him an officer of tho
Sobrantean army. This Individual,
observing he was under Webster's
scrutiny, scowled nnd peremptorily
motioned to Webster to proceed 1
which the latter did. with such vio
lence thnt the door, contlnnlhg to re
volve, caught up with the Sobrantean
nnd subjected him to. the some In
dignity to which ho had subjected
Webster.
Once free of the door, Webster
waited Just Inside the lobby for tho
Sobrantean to conclude his preclpt
tnte entrance. When he did, Webster
'looked him over with mild curiosity
nnd bowed with great condescension.
"Did nny gentleman ever tell the
senor that he Is an Ill-mannered
monkey?" ho queried coolly In excel
lent Spnnlsh. "If not I desire to give
the sehor that Information, and to tell
him thnt his size alone prevents mo
from giving him a nice little spank
ing." "Pig I" the rude one answered hotly.
His olive features paled with nt)ger,
he trembled with emotion nnd seemed
undecided what to do seeing which
Webster grinned at him tnntaltzlngly.
That decided hlra; No Latin-Ameri
can, with the exaggerated ego 01 nis
race, can bear even n suspicion of
ridicule. " The officer wnlked fiercely
toward Webster nnd swjmg his arm
toward the latters face In nn effort
to land a stnp that was "meant"
Webster merely threw buck his hend
and avoided the blow; his long left
arm shot out and beat down thaJJ
Sobrnntenn's guard; then Webster's
right baud closed around the officer's
collar. "Come to me thou Insolent
little one," he crooned, and Jerked hl
assailant toward him. gathered him .
up In his arms, carried blm, kicking
Sousedi Him to the Fountain.
and screaming with futile rage, ottt
Into tho patio- and soused him In Uio
fountain.
"Now, then, spltnre, thnt will cool
your hot head, I trnst" he admonish
ed his unhappy victim, and returned
to the- hotel At the desk lie paused.
"Who was that person I Just bath
ed?" he Inquired of the excited clerk.
"Ah, senor. yon shall not long ba
kept In Ignorance." that functionary
informed him. "That la tho terrible
Captain Benavldes "
"Do you know, I had a notion It was
her' Webster replied rumlnatlvely.
"Well, suppose I'm In for a duel
now," he added to himself as ho
climbed the stairs to his room. "1
think that will be most Interesting."
(To bo continued)
Regards Weekly Pay as More Sura
Than $100,000 Estate.
Fred L. Toerrlng lost none of his
deftness In turning out "stneka of
wheats" In his capacity of cook In a
quick-lunch restnurant In St. Louis,
when he was notified by the police that
ho hnd become heir to an "estate of
$100,000 through tho death of an al
most forgotten aunt In Davenport, la,
Toerrlng decided to stick to his Job,,
U he feels his weekly wage Is sure,
i
c
a