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Show Ir,i.t,,,,.t,.,T..i..utmiiAUjcuyirnicTJWiriiJiiaxiiirairrr.mrirnr n i i ' . i j WebsterMaeys Maim ; By PETER B. KYNE Author of "Cappy Ricka," "The Valley of the Giants' Etc t I , Cprliht by Fcttr D. ICynt. I RrTTTintitrimriiTTTTTTTnfrHiimimiitHHtTTiimnriiiiiiimirtrTiii fig' DON JUAN. HI John Btusrt Webster, mining en- i1""' (tlnoer, board a train In Death Valley, California, on hl way back to civilization after cleaning up aBU 100,000x He lookt Ilka a hobc'Then M, J', ha rescue a distressed lady, who BJ, makes hit heart flop over. Ha ! eliminates the offending man. Bhe I Dolores Iluey, In Denvor ha is offered a $25.O0O-a-year Job by a HM! capitalist friend, Edward J, Je- Hj roma. He receives a delayed Utter Ha from his own particular pal, Billy H Geary, asking him to finance a ll gold-mining proposition In Central Br America and go nfty-flfty with Hj Mm on the profits. Bo he starts Hjll for Bobrante. Jerome goes with j John to the depot. They meet the jHK dlstrcssod lady on her way to the BK' same trnln. John tells Jerome the Hl whole story. Jerome secretly sees Hf 1 the girl, offering her 110,009 If she Hfl, Induces John to take his Job Insldo HM' of ninety days. Th girl accepts. Hf f The scene now shifts to Dusnavcn- I tura, Sobrante, where Geary has Hk. existed tor two months on credit HLt extended by "Mother Jones, keeper OTp of a hotel and dramahop. Dolores HVK cables Henrietta Wllklns (Mother BSfi Jenks) that she Is on her way to d Visit her. Mother Jenks has bcon HVR educating Dolores, who Is the Bi' daughter of former Presldont Ruoy Hl of Bobranto, deposed and executed LHVH by President Burros. Mother Jenks HflR. doesn't want Dolores to find put ; I she Is no longer respectable. Bo Hf Billy meets the steamer and tries HV , to turn the girl back, Dut Dolores ' j ' lands and salutes Mother Jenks as .HB ''Mother." Hilly promptly falls In HSlSl l0Vtt with Dolores. Webster In HV New Orleans secures a stateroom HHJ on La Estrelllta by buying a ticket HM for a mythical valet, "Andrew HM Dowers." In New Orleans Webster HH saves a young man from assnssl- HB I nation. On the steamer he finds HH ' the mythical valet In his stateroom. Hf Its accepts "Dowers" on trust. HVP&j without learning his Identity. At CMU Iluenaventurn he assists the "valet" Un to land.' He finds Illlly In love W with Dolores, and tike the good HHw scout hn Is bids farewell to his ro- HHlJ manee. Dolores mtonUhes him. HHf) " makes his will. H r K CHAPTER X Continued. U "Quite right. Fow women hnvo n HHH sense of sportsmanship. You stand n HHH very good chance of becoming n mil HJHV llonalro In Sobrante, but you must bo- SK waru of n dark mnn who has crossed HXi 7or path" f "Whloh oiio?" Webster queried Ht mirthfully. "All coons look allko to Hal me Greasers also," HVstff "Mero''puttcr of our profession, Air. B Webster," sho admitted, "tossed In to 1 build up tho mystery clement and Ht simulate wisdom. Fortuno awaited Hre you In tho United States, but you put Hjf u behind you, at the call of friend- HI ship, for a fortune in Sobmnto. Now Hl you have rocouslderod that foolish 1 action und at this moment you aro fl contemplating sending n cablegram M t n ft old man who waddles when ho HHII walks, recalling your decision not to Hf accept n certain proposition of a B business nature. However, you aro Hfl too late. Tlio fat old man with tho HH waddlo has made otiier arrangements, 9 and If you want to ufaka money, you'll MBI romnln u Sobrante, I think that Is ( all, Mr. Webster." SflBl He was gazing at her with an ex- HHHH prcsslon composed of equal parts of HpHV awe, amazement, consternation, adora- BH tlon, and blank stupidity. HV "Well." sho queried innocently, "to HsVfl quoto nilly'a colloquial stylo: did I JBH "l'ou did very well for an amateur, HnBH but I'm a doubting Thomas. About III "Did I Put It Overt" this fat old man who wnddlcs when IM3ll$sUi li ho Tva,1:s: n really topnotdi palmist HjHwHn could tell me his nnmo." tBHbtiilM "Well, I'm only an amateur, but still PaEsttillllU "llnk ' ,,,'S,'t i0 QUuto Mill; ngaln, IwsJtoMIiiI miiko a stab at It. Do you euro to UHlynij'i bot mo about tun dollars l cannot give leWaB8tlll you the fat party's Initials all threo Inwattllli f themr . IIfflRRiill IJo B1 at hex owllHhly. Shu was ' '111 111 Ml '539sssV'' I jLlsssflaK tho most perfectly amazing girl ho had ever met; ho was certain sho would win the ten dollars from him, but then it was worth ten dollars to know for a certainty whether she was perfect or possessed of a slight flaw; so ho silently drew forth a wallet Umt would havo choked a cow and skinned off a ten-dollar gold certificate of the United States of America. "I'm game," ho mumbled. "The fat gentleman's initials aro 12. P. J." "By tho twelve apostles, Peter, Simon" "Don't blaspheme, Mr. Webster." Ho stood up and shook himself. "When you order tho ten," ho said very distinctly, "pleaso hnvo mine cold. I need a bracer after that Tako tho ten. You'vo won It." "Thanks, over so much," sho answered an-swered In a matter-of-fact tone, nnd tucked tho bill Insldo her shirtwaist. "I nra a very poor woman, and Every little bit added to what you've got makes Just n little bit more,' " sho caroled, swaying her II tho, beautiful body and snapping her Angers llko a cabnret dancer. Ho could have groaned with tho futility of his overwhelming deslro for her; It even occurred to him what a shnmo it was to wasto a marvel llko her on a callow young pup llko Hilly, who had fought so many deadly skirmishes skirm-ishes with Dan Cupid that a post-Iniprcsslonlstlc post-Iniprcsslonlstlc painting of tho Geary heart must resemble a pincushion. Then ho remembered that this was nn ungenerous, a traitorous thought, and that ho hnd not paid tlid lady her fee. "Well, what's tho tariff?" ho nsked. "You really feel that I havo earned a professional's fee?" "Ueyond a doubt." "Slnco you hnvo taken Illlly nwny from mo this evening, I shall mnko you tako Illlly's placo tills evening. After dinner you shnll hire nn open victoria with two little whlto horses and drlvo mo around tho Mnlccon. There Is n band concert to-night." "It It's tho last act ot my wicked ilfol" ho promised fervently. Strnngo to relate, In that ecstatic moment no (bought of Dllly Geary marred tho pur-fect pur-fect serenity of what promised to bo tho most perfectly screno night In history. They wcro seated nt tho tiny tea table when tho sound of feet crunching crunch-ing tho llttio shcll-pnved 1nth through tho patio caused Webster and Dolores to turn their heads simultaneously. Coming toward them was an Individual Individ-ual who woro upon a head ot flaming red a disreputable, conical-crowned straw sombrero; n soiled cotton cnmlsa with tho tails flowing free ot his equally soiled khaki trousers, and snndals of tho kind known as alpar-gates alpar-gates mado from tho tough libra of a plant of tho cactus family and worn only by tho very lowliest peonsj completed com-pleted hl singular attire. "Ono of Illlly's friends nnd another reason why ho has no social standing," Dolores whispered. "I bellovo he's going go-ing to speo,k to us." Such evidently appeared to bo tlio man's intention. Ho cauio to tho edgo of tlio verandn, swept his ruin of a hat from his rod. head and bowed with Cnstlllan cxpunslvcncss. "Yer pardon, Miss, for appeurln be-foro be-foro you." Sho smiled her forgiveness to what Webster now perceived to bo nn alcoholic wreck. Ho was about to dismiss the fellow with scant ceremony, cere-mony, when Dolores, with that rich sense ot almost mascullno humor1 a humor that was distinctly American said awectly: "Mr. Wobstcr, shako hands with Don Junn Cuf otoro, bon vlvant and man about town. Don Juan, permit mo to present Mr. Webster, from somowhero in tho United States. Mr. Webster Is n mining partner ot our mutual friend Mr. William Geury." A long, sad descent Into tho Pit had, however, imbued Don Juan with a Bcnso ot his degradation; ho was In tlio presence of a superior, and he acknowledged ac-knowledged tho Introductldn with a respectful Inclination of his head. '"Tis you I'vo called to see, Mlsthcr Webster, sor," ho explained. "Very well, old-timer. ' In what way can I bo of service to you?" '"Tis tho other way around, sor, If yo place, an' for Umt samo thoro's no charrgo, stein yo'ro tho partner, nv that fine, kind glntlcman, Mlsthcr Geary. Did ye, whilst in Now Orleans, havo d'allngs wit' a short, Bhtout splggoty wit a puckered scar undhcr his right eyo?" John St,uart Webster suddenly Bat up straight and gazed upon tho lost son of lirln with grnvo Interest. "Yes," ho replied, Keem to recall such a man." "Tls nono iv me business, Bor, but would ye mind tellln' me just what yo did to that splggoty?" "Why, to begin, last Sunday morning morn-ing I interrupted this pucker-eyed fellow fel-low and a pop-eyed friend of hla whllo engaged In nn uttempt to assassinate a white, Inoffensive stranger. The following fol-lowing dUy, ut the gangplank of the steamer, we met aguln; ho poked his nose Into my business, so I squeezed Ills nose until ho. cried; right before everybody I did It, Dou Juan, and to add Insult to Injury, I plucked a few halra from his rat's moustache one hair per each pluck." "I'd a notion yo did somctliln' to hint, Bor. Now, thin, 'listen to mc: I'm riot much to look at, but I'm white. I'm nn attashay, as ye might any, ov Ignatz Leber him that do havo tho Import an export houso at tho Ind nv tho Calle San Ilosarla, fornlnst the bay. Also ho do havo charrgo av the cablo oftlce, an" whin I'm sober enough, I deliver cablegrams for Leber. Now, then, ye'll recall wo had a bit av a shower to-day nt noon?" . , Dolores and Webster nodded. Don Junn, after glancing cautiously around, lowered his volco and continued: "I was dellverln a cablegram for Leber, aa' me course took mo past the palaco gate which, be the same token, has slnthry-boxcs both Insldo nn' out, wan on each slao av the gate; The slnthry wns not visible as I came nlong, nn' what wit' Uie shower comln' as sud-dint sud-dint as that, an' mo wit a wnrdrobo that's not so extlnslvo I can afford to get it wet, I shtepped into wan av the outsldo sintry.boxcs till the rnln should bo over, nn what wit' n dhrlnk nv aguardiente I'd took to braco me for tho thrlp, an' the mlmory av nuld times, I fell asleep. "Dear knows how long I sat there napping; nil I know Is that I wns awakened by tho sound nv threo men tnlkln, at tho gate, an' dlvll n worrd did they any but what I heard. Thoy were talkln' In Spanish, but I un-dhcrshtood un-dhcrshtood thlm well enough, 'no's nt tho Hotel Mateo, eays wan voice, 'an' his nnmo is Webster Jnwn Webster. He's an American, nn' a big, savngo-lookln savngo-lookln lad at that, so tako mo advlco an be careful. Do ye two keep on eyo on him wherever ho goes, nn' if he should shtcp out at night nn' wnn-dhcr wnn-dhcr t'rough n dark shtreet, do yo two see to 1. that lie's put whero he'll not Interfere again In Don Felipe's affaire. No damn' gringo' hoggin' yer pardon, par-don, Miss can tntherfcre In tho wurrk av the Intllllgluco bureau tit a tlmo like this, Ip addition to Insultln' our honored chief, wlt'out tho necessity neces-sity nv beln' measured for a coilln.' 'SI, ml general,' says another lnd, an To bo sure, ml general,' soya n thlrrd ; an' wit' that tho glncrnl, bad cess to him, wlnt back to the palace an' tlio other two walked on up tho callo an' away from tho slnthry-box." "Did you cot no out nnd follow thorn?" Webster demnnded briskly. "Faith, I did. Wnn av them Is Francisco Arrcdondo, a young cavalry lootlnlnt, an' the other wan Is Captain Jose Dcnovldes, him that do be tho best pistol-shot an' swordsman In tho splggoty army," "What kind of looking roan is this Iienovldcs, my friend?" "A tall, thin young man, wit' a dudo'a moustacho an' a diamond ring on his right hnnd. Ho do bo whiter nor most. Havo a care would yo meet him around tho city nn' let him pick a fight wit' ye. An' havo a care, sor, would yo go out av a night" "Thank you, Don Juan. You're the soul of kindness. What else do you know I", "Well," Don Junn replied with n rialvo grin, "I did know somctliln' else, but shure, Mlsthcr Genry advised mo to forget it I was wit him In the launch last night." Webster stepped out of tho veranda and laid a friendly hand on Don Junn Cafetcro's shculder. "Don Junn," ho said gently, "I'm going back to the United States very soon. Would you like to como with mo?" Don Juan's watery eyes grow n shade mistier, if possible, no shook his head. "Whin I'm dhrunk here, sor," he replied, "no wan pays any at-tintlon at-tintlon to mo, but in Americn they'd give mo ten days in tho hoosegow wnnst a week. Thank you, sor, but I'll shtny hero till tho finish." Ho knew tho strength of tho Demon De-mon nnd had long slnco censed to fight oven a rear-guard action. Webster put a hand under tho stubby chin nnd tilted Don Junn's hend sharply. "Hold up your head," ho commnnded. "You're the first of your breed I over saw who would admit ho was whipped. Hero's flvo dollars for you five dollars dol-lars gold. Take It ond return with tho piece Intact to-morrow morning, Don Juan Cafotcro." Don Juan Cafotero's wondering glnnco met Webster's directly, wavered, sought the ground, but nt n Jerk on his chin enmo back and stayed. Thus for at least ten seconds they gazed at each other; then Webster spoke. "Thank you," ho Enid. "Me name Is John J. Cafferty," the lost ono quavered. "Round one for Cafferty," Webster laughed. "Goodbyo now, until nine to-morrow. I'll oxpect you here, John, without full." And ho took tho derelict's dere-lict's hand nnd wrung It heartily. "Well," Webster remarked humorously humor-ously to Dolores as ho hold out his cup for more ten, "if vm not the original ori-ginal Tuinblo Tom. I hops I may never see tho back of my neck." "Do you nttnch any Importance to Don Juan's story?" she asked nnx-lously. nnx-lously. "Yes. hut not so much nn nn Junn does. I grwtlj fear I liuw tiiimc.Mi tn Minrl msoir ii m a Si-mu. ,,, IMlftlral IntrtJtuti. wuu iy.it iht slightest Interest cither Ttiy. How-ever, How-ever, that's only ono more reason why I should finish my work here nnd get back to Denver." "But how did nil this hnppcn, Mr. Webster?" "Like shooting fish In n dry lake, Miss Kucy," Webster replied, nnd related re-lated to her in detail the story of his rdventuro with the Sobrantcnn ns-SABSins ns-SABSins In Jnckson squnro nnd his subsequent sub-sequent meeting with Andrew llowers aboard tn Kstrellltn. Dolores laughed long nnd heartily as Webster finished his humorous recital. "Hilly told me God only made ono Jack Webster nnd then destroyed tho mold; I believe Hilly is right. Hut do tell mo what became of this extraordinary extra-ordinary and unbidden guest." "The night tho stenmer arrived In port, Hilly nnd Don Junn came out In a lnunch to sny 'Hello,' so I seized upon the opportunity to tell Andrew to Jump overbonrd and swim to the launch. Gavo him n llttio note to Hilly carried It In his mouth In- -....! mil.. In An ttin rlfrllf tlllni? by him and Billy did It I don't "Tis You I'vo Called to See." know what Andrew Is up to nnd I don't care. Whero I wns raised we let every man roll his own hoop. All I hope Is that thoy don't shoot Andrew. If they do, I fenr I'll weep. He's certainly cer-tainly n skookum lad. Do you know, Miss. Huey, I lovo anybody that can Impose Im-pose on me mnko ,a monkey out of me, In fact and mako mo llko it?" "That's so comforting," she remarked remark-ed dryly. Webster looked at her sharply, suspiciously; sus-piciously; her words wcro susceptible of n dual Interpretation. Her next sentence, however, dissipated this Impression. Im-pression. "Bocnuso It confirms what I told you this afternoon when I read your palm," sho added. "You didn't know how truly you spoko when you referred to the dark man that nad crossed my path. Ho'a uncomfortably real drat him I" "Then you aro really concerned? "Not nt nil, but I purposo sleeping with one eye open. I slmn't permit myself to feel concerned until they send raoro than two men nfter me say eight or ten." His Indifference appalled her; she leaned forward impulsively nnd Inld a hnnd on tils foreurm. "But you must heed Don Juan's warning," sho declared, de-clared, seriously. "You must not go out alone nt night" Ho grinned boyishly. "Of course not Miss Huey. You're going to rldo out witli mo tills evening." v "I'm not I'll not subject you to risk." "Very well; then I' shall drlvo out alone." "You'ro n despot Mr. Webster a regular despot." "Llkewlso a freo agent" "I'll go with you." "I thought so. For what hour shnll I order tho carrlngo?" "Seven-thirty. After all, they'll not dnro to murder you on the SInlecon." "I agrvo with you. It will havo to bo done very quietly, If at all. You'vo been mighty nice to mo this afternoon, seeresB; I shall bo grateful right up to tho moment of dissolution." "Speak softly but carry n big stick," she warned him. "A big gun," ho corrected her. "two of them, In fact" "Scnslblo mnn I I'm not going to worry about you, Mr. Webster." Sho nodded her permission for him to re-tire, re-tire, nnd ns ho walked down tho vcr-nndn vcr-nndn nnd Into the hotel, her glnnco followed him with pnrdonnblo feint-nlno feint-nlno curiosity, marking tho breadth of his shoulders, tho quick, springy strido, tlio alert erect polso of his head on tho powerful neck. A doer of deeds aro you, John Stunrt Webstor," sho almost whisper-ed. whisper-ed. "As Kipling would si.y: Hvnllnhl But you nro a maul'" A Btcnlthy footstep sounded below tlio veranda: she turned nnd bolietU Pon,J,Imn1. CnMoro. his hot In his left hnnd in his right n gold-piece which ho held toward her. "Tnko It, allanoh," ho wheezed In bin honrro. drunkard's whisper. "Keep It Tr me till to-morrow, for sorrn wnn av mo can I trust to do that same on be tho samo token I enn't face that big mnn wlt'out It." "Why not, Don Juan?" lie hung in. red hend. "I dunno, MU. he replied miserably. "Maybe - on awount uv film-tho eye ov ' '"'' '! .W nv hlmi-dlvll such n "mi UKI I vcr meet-God bless nlwl j Shure, MIsther Genry fl bo Uw fine lad, but he he " "Mr. Genry never put a big forefinger fore-finger under your chin nnd bndo you hold up your head. Is that It?" '"Tls not what he did, Miss but tho wny he did It All the fiends nv hell 11 be nt me this night to shpend what he give me nnd I I'm afraid " lie broke off, mumbling nnd chntter-Ing chntter-Ing like n mnn In tho grip of n gret terror. In his agony of body nnd spirit, Dolores could have wept for Don Junn Cnfetero. for In thnt supreme su-preme moment the derelict's soul was bare, ' ivcnllng something puro nnd sweet nnd human, for nil his degradation. degrada-tion. How did Jack Webster know? wondered Dolores. And- why did ho so confidently give nn order to this human flotsam nnd expect It to be obeyed? And why did Don Junn Cnfetero come whining to her for strength to help htm obey it? "Thnt wouldn't bo plnylng the gnme," she told him. "I can't help you deceive hlra. You nre the first of your urecu "Don't sny It" he cried. "Didn't he tell me wnnst?" "Then mnko tho fight, Don Mr. Cafferty." She lowered her volco. "I am depending on you to stay sober nnd gunrd him. Ho needs a faithful friend so badly, now thnt Mr, Genry Is away," Sho patted tlio grimy hand and left him staring at tlio ground. Presently he sighed, quivered horribly, and shambled out of tho patio on to the flring-llne. And when ho reported to Jack Webster nt nlno o'clock next morning, ho wns sober, slinking horribly hor-ribly nnd on the verge of delirium tremens, but tightly clnsped In his right hand he held that five-dollar piece. Dolores, who had made It her business to bo present at the Interview, Inter-view, heard John Stuart Webster say heartily: "Tho finest thlrig about a terrible fight, friend Cafferty, Is that If It Is a worth-whllo battle, tho spoils ot victory vic-tory aro exceedingly sweet You nro now nbout to enjoy ono fourtli of tho said spoils a largo Jolt of aguardiente aguard-iente I You must have It to steady your nerves. Go to tho nearest can-Una can-Una and buy ono drink; then come hack with tho change. Uy thnt tlmo I shall havo breakfasted and you nnd I will then go shopping. At noon you shall have another drink; nt four o'clock another; and Just beforo retiring re-tiring you shnll have tlio fourth and Inst for this day. Homembcr, Cafferty: Caf-ferty: ono Jolt no more nnd then back hero with tho exnet change." As Don Junn scurried for salvation, Webster turned to Dolores. "He'll fnll mo now, but that will not bo his fault but mine. I'vo set him too great a task In his present condition. Nevertheless, Never-theless, to use n colloquial expression, I hnvo tho Cafferty gout nnd I'm going go-ing to keep it" , Webster went Immediately to his room, called foe pen nnd paper, and proceeded nt onco to do that which ho had never dono before to wit, prepare pre-pare his last will nnd testament In a few, brief paragraphs ho mado a holographic will und split his bankroll bank-roll equally between tho two human beings ho cared for most Billy Geary and Dolores Buoy. "Hill's a gambler llko me," ho ruminated; "so I'll play snfe. Tlio girl Is a conservative, nnd nfter Bill's wad Is gom, ho'd be boiled in oil beforo ho'd prejudlco hers." Hnvlng mndo his will, Webster made a copy of It. Tho copy lie placed In au envelope marked: "For Jack. Not to bo opened until after my death.! This envelope ho then enclosed In n larger one nnd mailed to Billy at Callo do Concordln No. 10. Having mndo his few slmplo preparations pre-parations for denth, Mr. Webster next burrowed In his trunk, brought forth his big array-typo automatic pistol ond secured It In a holster under his nnu, for he deemed It'unwlse and provocative pro-vocative of curiosity to appenr In Ira-maculnto Ira-maculnto ducks that bulged nt tho. right hip. Next he filled two sparo clips with cartridges and bllpped them Into his pocket, thus completing his few simple preparations for life. Ho glanced out tho window nt tho nun. There would still bo an hour of daylight; so he descended to tho lobby, called a carrlago and took a short drlvo. Returnfng to the hotel he dismissed tho carriage, climbed tho threo short steps to tho entrance nnd wns pnsslng through tho ruvolvlng portal, when from his renr somo one gave the door n violent shove, with tho result thnt tho turnntllo pnrtltlon behind him collided with his back with sufficient forco to throw him ngalnst tho partition parti-tion In front Instnntly tho door censed to pivot, with Webstor locked nently In tho triangular spaco between be-tween tho two sections of tho rovol-vlng rovol-vlng door nnd tho Jamb. Ho turned nnd beheld In tlio section sec-tion behind him nn offlccr of tho Sobrnntenu nrtny. This Individual, observing ho wna under Webster's scrutiny, Bcowled nnd peremptorily motioned to Webster to proceed which the latter did, with such vlo-lenco vlo-lenco thnt tho door, continuing to revolve, re-volve, caught up with tho Sobrnntenu nnd subjected him to tho sumo Indignity In-dignity to which he hnd subjected Webster. t "The terrible Captain Bona-vldes." Bona-vldes." (TO Ulj CONTINUISD.) |