The Coolidge examiner., 1930-10-03

Chiouita's father and mother ana
the gamblers wife died about the
same time.
After the death of his wife the
gambler and the girl Travelled TO
wherever there was fiesta and the
man became wealthy. He taught
the girl to become as skillful as he
was and she would take his place
at the wheel when he needed rest
The beauty of his assistant attract
ed attention wherever she appeared.
When the gambler died as the re-
suit Of a tropic fever the beautiful
young woman disappeared.
y
The clock on the mantel struck,
or rather tolled ten. When 1t first
started to strike the bowed head of
the man who was sitting at the mas
sive plain top desk slowly raised
and fastening his gaze on the clock
watched the gong strike and then
continued to stare. only turn
ing his head when the last vibra-
ton had died away. At this mo-
ment one of the doors entering the
extensively but plainly furnished
room opened and Garcia, Judge Al
varado's confidential man, entered.
Crossing to the Judge he said: "All
of the rooms have been attended to,
the furniture covered, and all SER
wants have departed. They have
asked me to convey their thanks
and appreciation for your gift OF
six months wages. and hope you
will return from the west fully re-
covered in health. They will re-
port back at the end Of their leave
Of absence. The train leaves
promptly at noon. The baggage
has departed" AS Garcia addressed
the young judge he watched his
masters face for any play OF inter
est or emotion, but there was none.
In this very room a few days past
he had heard the doctors decision
that the most noted of all Of the
great city's prosecuting attorneys
must not only quit an active social
and professional life, but must start
living in seclusion in some place far
removed from the stirring scenes
he had been accustomed to for the
the years he was cleaving his way
to prominence, or the brilliant mind
would give way. Garcia was de-
voted to serving the man whose
skill had proved him innocent when
falsely charged with crime, and it
made him happy when the physi-
clan reluctantly permitted him to
still serve his benefactor.
The clock again struck the quar-
ter hour and the Judge told Garcia
to stop the clock promptly at the
hour Of eleven, order the taxi,
and he would be ready to
go to the station. 81 will find
our destination when ordering the
tickets and we will start the clock
again maybe six months from to-
day" Glancing again at the clock
he informed Garcia that the tick
cts bought would represent the
amount of $4,000. Whatever dis
tance this amount would take them
both that place would be their des-
tination.
=
Salt Bend was not much of a
town from the standpoint of out
siders, but it was a hell of a big
place according to the ideas of its
citizens, and to show that 1t took
more than the arrival of two stran-
gers to cause excitement all the
loungers at the depot faxed an atti-
tude Of little interest as the men
who had alighted from the train
made their way across the station
platform to where the sign on a
dilapidated Ford informed the
world that taxi was for hire
Take us to a house where board
and room are clean, cheap and rea-
sonable" brought forth the remark
from the driver, We're on the way
to the widows and you'll like it
there"
In her retirement "Chiquita" had
assumed the role of a widow, and
gave up part of her home to rent
ers.
The sick man from the east did
like it at the widows. He liked 1t
very much. The first day that he
spent there seemed one of enchant-
ment. When the widow appeared at
his knock he thought he had never
met such a beautiful woman. On
her DOrch in tha pveninpa that fol-