Cheyenne record., April 21, 1921, Image 3

About Cheyenne record. (Cheyenne Wells, Cheyenne County, Colo.) 1913-19??

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WEBSTER
MAN'S MAN
DON RICARDO RUEY.
John Stuart Webster, mining en
gineer, boards a train In Death
Valley, California, on his way back
to civilisation after cleaning up
SIOO,OOO. He looks like a hobo. Then
he rescues a distressed lady, who
makes his heart flop over. Ho
eliminates the offending man. She
Is Dolores Ruey. In Denver he Is
offered a 528,000-a-year Job by a
capitalist friend. Edward J. Je
rome. He receives a delayed letter
from his own particular pal. Billy
Geary, asking him to finance a
gold-mining proposition In Central
America and go fifty-fifty with
him on the profits. So he starts
for Sobrante. Jerome goes with
John to the depot. They meet the
distressed lady on her way to the
same train. John tells Jerome the
whole story. Jerome secretly sees
the girl, offering her SIO,OOO If she
Induces John to take his Job Inside
of ninety days. The girl accepts.
The scene now shifts to Buenaven
tura, Sobrante, where Geary has
existed for two months on credit
extended by Mother Jenks, keeper
of a hotel and dramshop. Dolores
cables Henrietta Wilkins (Mother
Jenks) that she Is on her way to
visit her. Mother Jenks has been
educating Dolores, who Is the
daughter of former President Ruey
of Sobrante, deposed and executed
by President Sarros. Mother Jenks
doesn't want Dolores to find out
she Is no longer respectable. So
Billy meets the steamer and tries
to turn the girl back. But Dolores
lands and salutes Mother Jenks as
"Mother." Billy promptly falls In
love with Dolores. Webster In
New Orleans secures a stateroom
on La Kstrelllta by buying a ticket
for a mythical valet. "Andrew
Bowers.” In New Orleans Webster
saves a young man from assassi
nation. On the steamer he finds
the mythical valet In his stateroom.
He accepts "Bowers" on trust,
without learning his identity. At
Buenaventura he assists the "valet"
to land. He finds Billy In love
with Dolores, and like the good
scout he Is bids farewell to his ro
mance. Dolores astonishes him.
Don Juan Cafetero tells him of a
plot to kill him. Billy leaves on
business and Webster falls more
deeply In love.
Li. CHATER X—Continued.
iP)oce free of the door, Webster
*4wted Just inside the lobby for the
'Mporanteap to conclude his predpi
tfltls entrance. When he did, Webster
td him over with mild curiosity
sowed with great condescension,
any gentleman ever tell the
that he is an 111-innnnered
ey?” he queried coolly in excel
ipanlsh. “If not, I desire to give
enor that information, and to tell
Ityft that his size alone prevents me
UNND giving him a nice little spank
’Tm?
-Pig!” the rude one answered hotly,
olive features paled with anger.
*fcO. trembled with emotion and seemed
't&dftclded what to do—seeing which
Wabiter grinned at him tantallzingly.
That decided him. No Latln-Amerl-
Ctn, with the exaggerated ego of his
ffOC* can bear even a suspicion of
fldlcule. The officer walked fiercely
toward Webster and swung his arm
toward the latter’s face In an effort
'to land a slap that was “meant."
j Webster merely threw back his head
avoided the blow; his long left
*rm Bhot out and heat down the
touted Him In the Fountain.
Mtfftntean’s guard; then Webster’s
fttfct hand closed around the officer’s
Mttaf. "Come to me thou insolent
UCllMjone," he crooned, and jerked his
MMBant toward him, gathered him
•!»'» his arms, carried him, kicking
with futile rage, out
patio and soused him in the
*§»'»•
**«n «r>ltflr“. tbat will aaol
by
Peter B. Kyne
Author of “Cappy
Ricks," “The Valley
of the Giants," Etc.
your hot head, I trust,” he admoolsh
ed his unhappy victim, and returned
to the hotel. At the desk he paused.
“Who was thpt person I just bath
ed?” he inquired of the excited clerk.
"Ah, senor, you shall not long be
kept in Ignorance.” that functionary
Informed him. "That is the terrible
Captain Benavides —”
"Do you know, I had a notion it was
he?” Webster replied ruminatlvely.
"Well, I suppose I'm In for a duel
now,” he added to himself as he
climbed the stairs to his room. “I
think that will be most interesting.”
John Stuart Webster changed into
dry clothing and descended to the
dining-room. Miss Ruey was already
seated at her table and motioned him
to the seat opposite her, and as he
sat down with a contented little sigh,
she gazed at him with a newer and
more alert Interest.
"I hear you’ve been having adven
tures again,” she challenged. "The
news is all over the hotel. I heard it
from the head waiter.”
“Coffee and pistols for two at day
light,” he answered cheerily. "By the
way, I have made my will, just to be
on the safe side. Will you be good
enough to take charge of it until after
the funeral? You can turn It over to
Billy then.”
She fell readily Into the bantering
spirit with which he treated this se
rious subject Indeed, It was quite Im
possible to do otherwise, for John
Stuart Webster’s personality radiated
such a feeling of security, of absolute,
unbounded confidence in the future
and disdain for whatever of good
fortune or 111 the future might entail,
thut Dolores found it impossible not
to assimilate his mood.
At seven-thirty, after a delightful
dinner, the memory of which Mr.
Webster was certain would linger un
der his foretop long after every other
memory had departed, he escorted
her to the open carriage he had
ordered, and for two hours they cir
cled the Malecon with the elite of
Buenaventura, listening to the music
of the bnnd, and, during the brief In
termissions. to the sound of the waves
lapping the beach at the foot of the
broad driveway.
"This,” said John Stuart Webster, aa
he said goodnight to Dolores in the
lobby, “Is the end of a perfect day."
It wasn’t, for at that precise mo
ment a servant handed him a card,
and Indicated a young man seated In
an adjacent lounging-chalr, at the
same time volunteering the informa
tion that the visitor had been await
ing Senor Webster’s return for the
past hour.
Webster glanced at the card and
strode over to the young man. “I ain
Mr. Webster, sir,” he announced
civilly in Spanish. “And you are
Lieutenant Arredondo?”
The visitor rose, bowed low and In
dicated he was that gentleman. "I
have called. Mr. Webster.” he stated
in most excellent English, "In the In
terest of my friend and comrade,
Captain Benavides.”
“Ah, yes! The fresh little rooster
I dpeked In the fountain this evening.
Well, what does the little squirt want
now? Another ducking?”
Arredondo flushed angrily but re
membered the dignity of his mission
and controlled bis temper. "Captain
Benavides has asked me to express to
you the hope that you, being doubtless
a man of honor —”
"Stop right there, Lieutenant. There
is no doubt about it. I am a man of
honor, and unless you are anxious to
be ducked In the fountain, you will be
more careful In your choice of words.
Now then: You are about to suy that.
l>eing a man of honor—”
“You would accord my friend the
satisfaction which one gentleman
never fails to accord another."
"That lets tne out, amigo,” Webster
laughed. "Benavides Isn’t a gentle
man. He’s a cutthroat, a murdering
little black-and-tun-hound. Do I un
derstand he wants me to fight a duel
with him?"
Lieutenant Arredondo could not
trust himself to speak, and so he
bowed profoundly.
"Very well, then. Lieutenant.” Web
ster agreed. "I’ll fight him.”
"Tomorrow morning at five o’clock.”
“Five minutes from now If you say
so.”
“Captain Benavides will be grateful
for your willing spirit, at least,” the
second replied bitterly. "You realize,
of course, Mr. Webster, that as the
challenged party, the choice of weap
ons rests with you."
"Certnlnly. I wouldn’t have risked
a duel If the choice lay with the other
fellow. With your permission, my
dear sir, we’ll fight with Mnuser rifles
at a thousand yards, for the reason
that I never knew a Greaser that could
hit the broad side of a brewery at any
range over two hundred and fifty
yards.” Webster chuckled fiendishly.
Lieutenant Arredondo bit his lips in
anger and vexation. “I cannot agree
to such an extraordinary duel,” lie
comnlained. "It is the custom fr
Sob ran to for gentlemen to fight with
rapiers.”
“Ota, dry op, yon sneaking mur
derer,” Webster exploded. “There
Isn't going to be any duel except on
my terms—so you might as well take
a straight tip from headquarters and
stick to plain assassination. You and
Benavides have been sent out by your
superior to kill me—you got your
orders this very afternoon at the en
trance to the government palace—and
I'm Just not going to be killed. Beat
it, boy, while the going Is good.” He
pointed toward the hotel door. “Out,
you blackguard 1” he roared. “Vaya!”
Lieutenant Arredondo rose and with
dignified mien started for the door.
Webster followed, and as his visitor
reached the portal, a tremendous kick,
well placed, lifted him down to the
sidewalk. Shrieking curses, he fled
Into the night; and John Stuart Web
ster, with a satisfied feeling that
something accomplished had earned a
night's repose, retired to his room his
mauve silk pajamas, and slept the
sleep of a healthy, conscience-free
man.
At about the same hour Neddy
Jerome, playing solitaire In the Engi
neers’ club In Denver, was the recip
ient of a cablegram which read:
“If W. cables accepting reply re
jecting account Job filled otherwise
beans spilled. Implicit obedience
spells victory.
“Henrietta.”
Neddy Jerome wiped his spectacles,
adjusted them on his nose and read
this amazing message once more.
“Jumped-up Jehosopliat l” he mur
mured. “If site hasn't followed that
madcap Webster clear to Buenaven
tura ! If she Isn't out In earnest to
earn her fee, I’m an orang-outang!
By thunder, that’s a smart woman.
All right l I’ll be Implicitly obedient."
Two hours later Neddy Jerome re
ceived another cablegram. It was
from John Stuart Webster and read
as follows:
“Hold Job ninety days at latest may
be back before. If satisfactory cable."
Again Mr. Jerome had recourse to
the most powerful expletive at his
command. “Henrietta knew he was
going to cable and beat the old sour
dough to It," he soliloquized. He was
wrapped In profound admiration of
her cunning for as much as five min
utes; then he indited this reply to his
victim;
“Time, tide and good Jobs wait for
no man. Sorry. Job already filled
by better man.”
When John Stuart Webster received
that cablegram the following morning,
he cursed bitterly—not because he
had lost the bestxjob that had ever
been offered him, but because he had
lost through playing a good hand
poorly. He hated himself for his
idiocy.
CHAPTER XI.
For fully an hour after retiring
John Stuart Webster slept the deep,
untroubled sleep of a healthy unwor
ried man; then one of the many
species of “Jigger" which flourish Just
north and south of the equator crawl
ed Into bed with him and promptly
proceeded to establish Its commissary
on the Inner flank of the Websterlan
thigh, where the skin Is thin and the
blood close to the surface. As a con
sequence, Mr. Webster awoke sud
denly, obliterated the intruder and
got out of bed for the purpose of
anointing the Injured spot with
alcohol —which being done, an active
search of the bed resulted In the dis
covery of three more Jiggers and the
envelopment of John Stuart Webster’s
soul In the fogs of apprehension.
“’Tls an evil land, filled with trou
ble." he mused as he lighted a
cigaret. “I wish Bill were here to
advise me. He ought to be able to
straighten this deal out and assure
the higher-ups that I'm not butting In
on their political affairs. But Bill’s
up-country and here I am under sur
veillance and unable to leave the
hotel to talk it over with Andrew
Bowers, the only other white expert
I know of In town. And by the way,
they’re after Andrew, tool I wonder
what for.”
He smoked two clgarets, the while
he pondered the various visible as
pects of this dark mess In which he
found himself floundering. And fin
ally he arrived at a decision. “These
chaps aren’t thorough," Webster de
cided. “They’ll see me safely to bed
and pick me up again In the morning
—so I’ll take a chance that the coast
Is clear, slip out now and tulk It over
with Andrew'.”
He looked at his watch—eleven
thirty. Hurriedly he dressed, strapped
on Ills automatic pistol, dragged his
bed noiselessly to the open window
and tied to the bed-leg the rope he
u*fed to lash his trunk; then he low
ered himself out the window. The
length of rope permitted Him to de
scend within a few feet of the ground.
Webster made his w’ay to the street
unnoticed and ten minutes later ap
peared before the entrunce of El Buen
Amigo Just as Mother Jenks was bar
ring It for the night.
“I am Mr. Webster," he announced,
“ —Mr. Geary’s friend from the United
States."
Mother Jenks, having heard of him,
was of course profoundly flustered to
meet this toff who so carelessly wired
his down-and-out friends pesos oro In
lots of a thousand. Cordially she In
vited him within to stow a peg of her
best, which Invitation Mr. Webster
promptly accepted.
“To your beautiful eyes,” Webster
toasted her. "And now would you
mind leading me to the quarters of
Billy's friend Mr. Bowers?”
She shuffled away, to return pres
ently with the news that Mr. Bowers
was In his room and would be de
lighted to receive Mr. Webster. Moth
er Tenlrq led to the door.
hiķnj
THE CHEYENNE RECORD
Knocked, announced him and discreet
ly withdrew.
“My dear Webster!“ cried Andrew
Bowers enthusiastically, and he drew
his late fellow-passenger Into the
room. Webster observed that Andrew
was not alone. “I want to see yon
privately/' he said. “Didn’t know yon
had company, or 1 wouldn’t have In
truded."
“Well, I knew I had company, didn’t
I? Come In, vou crazy fellow, and
neet some good friends of mine who are
very anxious to meet you." He turned
to a tall, handsome, scholarly looking
man of about forty, whose features,
dress and manner of wearing his
whiskers proclaimed him a person
age. “Dr. Ellseo Pacheco, I have the
honor to present Mr. John S. Webster,
the American gentleman of whom you
have heard me speak."
Doctor Pacheco promptly leaped to
hts feet and bowed with ostentatious
reverence then suddenly, with Latin
Impulsiveness, he advanced upon Web
ster, swept aside the latter’s out
stretched hand, clasped John Stuart
Webster In fraternal embrace, and to
the old sour-dough’s Inexpressible hor
ror, kissed him upon the right cheek—
after which he backed off, bowed once
more, and said In Spanish:
"Sir, my life Is yours."
“It Is well he gave It to you before
you took It,” Andrew said in English,
and he laughed, noting Webster’s con
fusion. “And this gentleman Is Colonel
Pablo Caraveo."
“Thunder, I’m In for It again,” Web
ster thought—and he was, for the
amiable colonel embraced Webster and
kissed his left cheek before turning to
Andrew.
“You will convey to our guest in
English, Don Ricardo, assurances of
Hi Low* rod Hlmatlf Out of tho Win
dow.
my profound happiness In meeting
him," he said In Spanish.
"The Colonel says you’re all to the
mustard," Andrew at once Interpreted
merrily.
"Bather a liberal translation,” Web
ster retorted In Spanish, whereat Col
onel Caraveo sprang up and clapped
his hands in delight.
"Your happiness, my dear Colonel,”
Webster continued, "Is extravagant
grief compared with my delight In
meeting a Sobrantean gentleman who
has no desire to skewer me." He turn
ed to Andrew. “While Introductions
are in order, old son, suppose you
complete the Job and Introduce your
self. I’m always suspicious of a man
with an alias."
"Then behold the death of that Im
pudent fellow Andrew Bowers, late
valet de chambre to this eminent rain
ing engineer and prince of gentlemen,
Mr. John Stuart Webster. Doctor
Pacheco, will you be good enough to
perform the operation?”
"This gentleman,” said the doctor,
laying his hand on Andrew’s shoul
der, "is Don Ricardo Luiz Buey, a gen
tleman, a patriot, and the future presi
dent of our unhappy country."
Webster put his hands on the young
man's shoulders. “Ricardo, my son,” he
asked earnestly, “do you think you
could give me some little hint of the
approximate date on which you will
assume ofllce? By the nine gods of
war. 1 never wanted u friend at court
so badly as I wunt one tonight.”
Webster sat down und helped him
self from n box of cigars he found on
Ricardo’s bureau. "I feel I am among
friends nt last,” he announced between
preliminary puffs "so listen while 1
spin a strange tale. I’ve been the pic
ture of bad luck ever since I started
for this infernal—this wonderful coun
try of yours. In New Orleans I took
a Sunduy morning stroll in Jackson
square and came across two men try
ing to knife another. In the interest
of common decency I interfered and
won a sweeping victory, but to my
amazement the prospective corpse took
to his heels and advised me to do the
same——”
Ricardo Buey sprang for John
Stuart Webster. "By George," he said
in English. "I'm going to hug you, too.
I really ought to kiss you, because I’m
that man you saved from assassina
tion, but—too long In the U. S. A., I
suppose; I’ve lost the customs of my
country.”
"Get out,” yelled Webster, fending
him off. “By the way, Ricardo—l’m
going to call you Rick for short—do
you happen to have any relatives in
this country?"
“Yes, a number of second and third
cousins.”
"Coming down on the steamer, I
dirin’* like to appear curio****, hut aJ*
the time I treated to eek 70a M*
question."
"Ask it now."
"Are 70a a Sobrantemnf"
"I was born In this country aai
raised here until I was fourteen."
"But you’re—why, hang it, You’re
not a Latin?"
"No, I’m a mixture, with Latin prw
dominating. My forebears were pure
Castilians from Madrid, and crossed
the Western ocean In caravels. It’s
been a matter of pride with the house
of Buey to keep the breed pure, but
despite all precautions, the family tree
has been grafted once with a Scotch
thistle, twice with the lily of France,
and once with the shamrock of Ire
land. My mother was an Irish woman."
“You alibi yourself perfectly, Ricar
do, and my curiosity Is appeased. Per
mit me to continue my tale," he added
In Spanish, and forthwith he related
with humorous detail his adventure at
the gangplank of the steamer that had
borne him and Ricardo Ruey south.
Ricardo Interrupted him. "We know
all about that, friend Webster, and w«
knew the two delightful gentlemen had
been told off to get you—unofficially.
The Sobrantean revolutionary Junta
has headquarters In New Orleans. It
Is composed of political exiles, for
Sarros, the present dictator of So
brante, rules with an Iron hand, and
has a cute little habit of railroading
his enemies to the cemetery via the
treason charge and the firing squad.
He killed my father, who was the
best president this benighted country
ever had, and I consider It my Chris
tian duty to avenge my father and a
patriotic duty to take up the task he
left unfinished —the task of making
over my country.
"In Sobrante, as In most of the coun
tries In Central America, there are
two distinct classes of people—the
aristocrats and peons—and the arlsto
crat fattens on the peon, as he has
had a habit of doing since Adam. We
haven’t any middle class to stand as
a buffer between the two—which
makes It a sad proposition. My father
was an Idealist and a dreamer and he
dreamed of reform In government and
a solution of the agrarian problem
which confronts all Latln-Amerlca. He
trusted one Pablo Sarros. an educated
peon, who had commanded the gov
ernment forces under the regime my
father overthrew. My tender-hearted
parent discovered that Sarros was
plotting to overthrow him; but Instead
of having him shot, he merely removed
him from command. Sarros gathered
a handful of bandits, joined the old
government forces my father had con
quered, hired a couple dozen Yankes
artillerymen and —he won out. My
father was captured and executed; tbs
palace was burned, and my sister per
lshed in the flames. I’m here to paj
off the score."
“A worthy ambition I So you organ
ized the revolutionary Junta in New
Orleans, eh?”
Ricardo nodded. "Word of It readied
Sarros, and he sent his brother Raoul,
chief of the Intelligence bureau, to In
vestigate and report. As fast as hs
reported. Colonel Caraveo reported ts
me. My father's son possesses a name
to conjure with. Consequently it wai
to the interest of the Sarros adminis
tration that I be eliminated. They
watched every boat; hence my scheme
for eluding their vigilance—which,
thanks to you. worked like a charm."
"But,” Webster complained, "I’m not
sitting In the game at all, and yet Tm
caught between the upper and netfcei
millstones.”
"That is easy to explain. You Inter
fered that morning in Jackson square;
then Raoul Sarros met you going
aboard the Bteamer for Buenaventura
and you manhandled him, and natural
ly, putting two and two together, h«
has concluded that you are not only
his personal enemy but also a friend
and protector of mine and consequent
ly an enemy of the state.”
“And ns a consequence I’m marked
for slaughter?"
"It would be well, ray friend,” Doc
tor Pacheco suggested, "to return to
the United States until after Ricardo
and his friends have eliminated youi
Nemesis.”
“How soon will that hnppy event
transpire?”
“In about sixty days we hope to be
rendy to strike, Mr. Webster."
Colonel Caraveo cleared his throat
“I understand from Ricardo that you
and another American nre Interested
in a mining concession, Mr. Webster.”
Webster nodded.
“Is this a concession from a private
landholder or did your friend secure
It from the Sarros government?”
“From the government. We pay ten
per cent, royalty, on a ninety-nine-year
lease, and that’s all I know about It
I have never seen the property, and
my object In coming was to examine it
and, if satisfied, finance the project.”
“If you will return to your hotel,
my dear sir,” Colonel Caraveo sug
gested, "and remain there until noon
tomorrow, I feel confident I can guar
antee you Immunity from attack there
after. I have a plan to Influence my
associates In the Intelligence office.”
“Bully for you, Colonel. Give rue six
ty days in which to operate, and I’ll
have finished my Job In Sobrante and
gotten out of It before that gang of cut
throats wakes up to the fact that I’m
gone. I thank you, sir.”
“The least we can do, since you have
saved Ricardo’s life and rendered out
cause a great service, Is to save your
life,” Colonel Caraveo replied.
"Pull your hardware, you
protty pair of polecats'!**
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
One Instance.
“The office should seek the man."
“It does In the case of the Tice
ut'esidenev.”
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g M rs.
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