Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-19
TwENTY-SEvENTH INSTALMENT
(Continued.)

They rode on, keeping to the back
bone Of the western fringe of foothills.
An hour of hard riding brought them
to the crest of the slate-colored hills
Below them a plain sloped gently into
the blush haze; family to them came
the continuous bleating of sheep; q
dirty gray blur indicated the fock-and
it was moving southwark, slowly, tor
tuously, as q worm moves. At its rear
and on the TANKS little black dots that
were herders and sheep dogs, urged the
weary animals along. Don Jaime counted
the largest dots.
Twenty herders," Roberta heard him
remark. "Hum-m-m! 1t doesn't look
as If it would be quite safe to give Bill
Dingle his walking papers today. He is
not In q mood to accept them" He
dropped his binoculars, whirled his
horse and, without even a look at the
girl beside him, started back the way
they had come.
What are you going to do, Jimmy?"
she asked anxiously, squirting up along
side of him.
We're going back to the car Bobby.
I'm going to send Aurelio back to Vale
Verde for re-enforcements."
will there be a fight?"
ct think so Bobby. Dingle has 20
herders. Six, with the dogs, should be
ample to vancouver those sheep. So
1t looks as If he had prepared for trouble,
and when men prepare for trouble it's
q pretty good sign they will not avoid 1t. -
IT don't want fight" the girl cried
passionately. You and some of your
men may get hurt-killed."
"Quite likely. I have no intention
Of making this anything but slaugh-
ter"
Roberta commenced to sob. ooh.
Jimmy, I'm afraid-terribly afraid!
have q presentiment you'll be killed"
would that matter 50 very much
TO you?" His hand closed over her
arm. Look at me, Roberta. Would
It matter 80 very much?"
She nodded an Affirmative, unable to
trust herself to speak.
He said something in Spanish.
Roberta suspected it was an oath!
"Oh, Jimmy! Please-please, for my
sake"
He pulled up his horse and glowered
at her. my dear girl" he cried, sharp
", you're trying to make a gutter out
of me. When man permits woman
to rob him Of his strength he might
as well get killed and have his shame
over with. Is that understood"
Roberta nodded miserably. What
argument Of hers could prevail above
his logic? And yet, beneath her cold
he had made his decision SO, and deep
down in her rebellious, belligerent heart
she knew that, come what might. she
would not have it otherwise now.
TwENTY-KIGHTH NsTALMENT.
~ANTERINd where the ground
permitted, Roberta and Don
Jaime reached the truck and
motor car in 30 minutes.
Throughout the journey (fol-
lowing her hosts announcement OF his
infexible purpose to fight Bill Dingle
and his herders before sunset) no word
had passed between the two. DON
Jaime rode ahead, occasionally looking
back to zee that AL was well with thu
girl: seemingly, in his eagerness for
CONFLICT, he would gladly have dispensed
with her society II he could. At least,
Roberta thus read his thoughts, OF
WAS she far wrong, % his flrst subse-
quaint words proved.
Bobby, this job Of mine Is mans
work. Aurelio Il going back with the
truck, % II you'll be good enough TO
make the car and drive 1t home for me
IN be your debtor
'No," she answered sharply. my