Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-09
continued From Yesterday,s Star,
CHAPTER XIII.
UNCLE JIM D1sAPPRovEs.

UNCLE JIM DISAPPROVES.
"HIS anticipation of trouble
with Mrs. Vaneering wasn't the
only rift in the perfect bliss OF
L the situation. Uncle Jim came
posting up to town as soon as
the telegram Dagger had sent him the
night of her marriage reached the
ranch.
"Dawggone, Dagger. why'n held yew
have to go and rope yoreself husband
without nary a word to yore menfolks?'
he complained. Bad huff to git mar
ried, without dom it blind"
she protested, glad at the same time
she had insisted upon going to meet
him alone. Hes real man, one OF
the best fighting pilots in the service
Huh" grunted Uncle Jim. THE
fellers I growed up with didn't need
any airyplane to git their men. A six
! gun wore plenty for them"
She laughed off his petulance.
You'll like him." she predicted, shep-
herding the old ranchmans tall figure
toward her waiting roadster. Hell
drink you snort for snort-red likker.'
"Drinkin' man." frowned Uncle Jim
''Waall, knowed harm would come O.
lettin' that fool, Espy Saltoun, git her
hands onto yew. 1t shore does beat
hell, Dagger. Thare yew wore, comm
like thoroughbred 3-year-old. I'd bet
money yew'd turn out good as any boy
But yeW git to be a regular gal, and
then what happens? Trouble aplenty!'
Dagger scowled thoughtfully, throw
ing in her clutch. She was reminded
inevitably of Howard-and she didn't
fused to blink the fact.
uVnJI nnoan PlQinp don't V0nop she
said CURLY 1T all began with that.
But there's no use going over 1t. L
I'm just like other women, guess, I'm
Gle Jim"
Her uncle regarded her slantwise,
with an effect of CONSERVATION that
drew an involuntary smile to her lips.
"Oh, don't take it so hard" she re-
assured him, one hand petting his
gnarled knee. After all, I've got my
life to live, haven't I? Tiff lost
Blaine, is that a. reason to give up the
rest Of my life to memory?
Jim Marley grunted noncommittally.
Tell yew later was his sole COM
ment
The plain truth was that he disliked
Vaneering from sight. Jack met him
with hearty courtesy, just the right ad-
mixture of respect for an older man.
But Marley's greeting was stiff, and
the ranchman's air became sitter in
the course of the conversation.
Funny old coot," was Jacks conf
Dental observation. might have
stepped out of Western picture. How
many notches has he got on his gum"
"A buttful,' Dagger answered coolly.
mo man on the border has done more
for Texas, Jack-and our name stands
for as much here as yours does in New
York.
Jack pecked a haSty kiss at her.
Easy. old lady" he admonished. II
didn't mean anything critical Matter
of fact. I could like him If he'd let me.
But he won't"
NO" Dagger responded slowly. "I
reckon he won't"
She was thinking of her last private
words with her uncle.
"Thare amt no use talkin, Dagger"
he had said stubbornly. THE feller
amt right. don't like the look of his
eyes Seen it often in a rarin' colt, the
kind Dick never could git to foller his
knee"
Her head had gone up proudly.
Hes my husband, Uncle Jim. And
you're the first to speak against him."
Jim Marley's eyelids twitched.
Reckon yew got a right to hold I
spoke out of turn" he acknowledged.
But all the same, I'm yore 'menfolks,
honey, and I'd be pup if didn't tell
you what I thought honest. All kin
say is: I'm hunchin' for yew, and Casa
Blanca's yore home when yew want
it," He gulped hard. His, too" he
added, with an effort that was comical.
So Uncle Jim had gone back to Casa
Blanca, after an acrimonious debate
with Aunt Espy--so acrimonious as to
be funny-and several ceremonious en-
counters with Jack, Who saw the last