Starr, of the Desert

Starr, of the Desert

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Title: Starr, of the Desert
Author: B. M Bower
Release Date: June 9, 2004 [EBook #12570]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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STARR, OF THE DESERT
BY B.M. BOWER
AUTHOR OF CHIP OF THE FLYING U, ETC.
1917

CONTENTS

CHAPTER

I A COMMONPLACE MAN WAS PETER
II IN WHICH PETER DISCOVERS A WAY OUT
III VIC SHOULD WORRY
IV STARR WOULD LIKE TO KNOW
V A GREASE SPOT IN THE SAND
VI "DARN SUCH A COUNTRY!"
VII MOONLIGHT, A MAN AND A SONG
VIII HOLMAN SOMMERS, SCIENTIST
IX PAT, A NICE DOGGUMS
X THE TRAIL OF SILVERTOWN CORDS
XI THE WIND BLOWS MANY STRAWS
XII STARR FINDS SOMETHING IN A SECRET ROOM
XIII HELEN MAY SIGHS FOR ROMANCE
XIV A SHOT FROM THE PINNACLE
XV HELEN MAY UNDERSTANDS
XVI STARR SEES TOO LITTLE OR TOO MUCH
XVII "IS HE THEN DEAD--MY SON?"
XVIII A PAGE OF WRITING
XIX HOLMAN SOMMERS TURNS PROPHET
XX STARR DISCOVERS THINGS

XXI THROUGH THE OPEN SKYLIGHT
XXII STARR TAKES ANOTHER PRISONER

STARR, OF THE DESERT

CHAPTER ONE
A COMMONPLACE MAN WAS PETER
Daffodils were selling at two bits a dozen in the flower stand beside the
New Era Drug Store. Therefore Peter Stevenson knew that winter was
over, and that the weather would probably "settle." There would be the
spring fogs, of course--and fog did not agree with Helen May since that
last spell of grippe. Peter decided that he would stop and see the doctor
again, and ask him what he thought of a bungalow out against the hills
behind Hollywood; something cheap, of course--and within the
five-cent limit on the street cars; something with a sleeping porch that
opened upon a pleasanter outlook than your neighbor's back yard. If
Helen May would then form the habit of riding to and from town on the
open end of the cars, that would help considerably; in fact, the longer
the ride the better it would be for Helen May. The air was sweet and
clean out there toward the hills. It would be better for Vic, too. It would
break up that daily habit of going out to see "the boys" as soon as he
had swallowed his dinner.
Peter finished refilling the prescription on which he was working, and
went out to see if he were needed in front. He sold a lip-stick to a pert
miss who from sheer instinct made eyes at him, and he wished that
Helen May had such plump cheeks--though he thanked God she had
not the girl's sophisticated eyes. (Yes, a bungalow out there against the
hills ought to do a lot for Helen May.) He glanced up at the great clock
and unconsciously compared his cheap watch with it, saw that in ten
minutes he would be free for the day, and bethought him to telephone
the doctor and make sure of the appointment. He knew that Helen May
had seen the doctor at noon, since she had given Peter her word that she

would go, and since she never broke a promise. He would find out just
what the doctor thought.
When he returned from the 'phone, a fat woman wanted peroxide, and
she was quite sure the bottle he offered was smaller than the last
two-bit bottle she had bought. Peter very kindly and patiently discussed
the matter with her, and smiled and bowed politely when she finally
decided to try another place. His kidneys were hurting him again. He
wondered if Helen May would remember that he must not eat heavy
meats, and would get something else for their dinner.
He glanced again at the clock. He had four minutes yet to serve. He
wondered why the doctor had seemed so eager to see him. He had a
vague feeling of uneasiness, though the doctor had not spoken more
than a dozen words. At six he went behind the mirrored partition and
got his topcoat and hat; said good night to such clerks as came in his
way, and went out and bought a dozen daffodils from the Greek
flower-vendor. All day he had been arguing with himself because of
this small extravagance which tempted him, but now that it was settled
and the flowers were in his hand, he was glad that he had