The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-07-12

is? I think I do not celebra e
what you call my holidays by
lunch!ng with you. I think in.
stead stay with Ramon, who
love me-"
I'm sorry you won't have
lunch with me-" I replied as
calmly as I could. wait a min.
ute; Jim wants to talk with you"
Jaime he wants to know IL I
come in this afternoon so he can
fly to Senorita Gregory and the
statue, maybe" Rosa returned in
! metallic voice. Tell him I
do not know when I come aeain
TO make 1t so easy for hinl--and
his senorita. Adios, White Lilac.
Open your eyes. Then you see
much. 1t might be better il yo,,
see."
The next few DAYS were
strained and difficult. Rosa per.
sisted in remaining away from
Jlm's office. Jim was worried
over her absence, and the idea
that this might mean Ramon's
withdrawal from J. H. Harrison
q Company. And Jim was
further annoyed by having to
remain in his office.
Jim's evenings were spent in
posing for 1.-THE Young Aviator"
second edition. And couldn't
protest against this even in my
own soul, since I knew that Jim
felt obligated to help Miss Greg
ory complete her new statue in
record time.
At last one morning when I
reached my office, I found Manu-.
clio Ritz waiting for me as Sc.
renely as if he had been in the
habit Of dropping in daily for con.
ferences.
I'm glad to see you," man.
aged cordially, though I wasn't
much to heal the breach between
Manuelo Ortiz and me would do
much to heal tn ebreach between
Jim and the Cordovas.
For days I have sit and think"
commented Manuelo.
What decision have you
reache4?" I asked, afraid to press
his lead very far.
II have think of Rosa" said
Manuelo, quietly. Always love
her. Love, it do not stop like
nothings. 1t rumble like thunder
before it die. Always I have love
Rosa. And when she do what is
ugly, 1 have never let me see.
Now I have to say to you and
Ralph that wash my hand of
Rosa. It do not make so easy
like that.
"Of course not" 1 replied sooth-
ingly, still trying to think what
were best for Jim.
Manuelo smiled at me strangely.
There was something suddenly
very old and wise in his young
eyes.
ITO break the statue is one
thing" he said slowly. ITO make
your brother kidnap is two thing.
To make that the ship corporation
it shall fail, Is three thing. To
me 1t is clear as I sit and think
why Rosa have done all these. I
say to myself, 'Nello, you think
you are what is called nobody's
fool. But 1t looks to me like you
are everybody's fool. And how
you let this Rosa make to play
with you-that is pretty bad.
Rosa she do not love you. Rosa
she laugh at you. Now, Nello,
you laugh at Rosa"
The boy stopped and looked at
ma, as If waiting for applause.
"iIave you seen Ramona" I
asked, still determined to do all
in my power to mend Jim's for
tunes and to consider nothing
which stood between him and the
resumption of cordial relations
with the Cordovas.
Ramon he say the little woman
she shall not be annoy. He say
I shall keep by myself. 1 say
maybe I go away. We make the
grand handshake. We part the
friend. And now I ask that you
take me to Peter Stanley and we
shall see how 1t is about opening
the South American portal of
them--to this ship corporation
which maybe do not go on rock.
but come into harbor."
1 gasped with delight at the
farsightedness Of Manuel'os rea.
soning. He had laid his plans
carefully. Rosa could never
blame Jim now for the loss Of
Manuelo's regard. And Rosa
could not fight to hold the boy
without revealing herself with un.
flattering and dangerous clear
ness to Ramon. Moreover, the
miscarriage of her plans might
chasten her.