Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-16
TwENTY-SIxTH INsTALMENT

~ tI6 IaGe dIUSTIlOOu bOIl JAM
dropped into a vacant chair besid
Crooked Bill on the veranda of the
i Mansion House, after first inquir
ing, in Spanish, If the chair was re-
served for any friend of his.
mot at all" Crooked Bill replied II
the same language, albeit haltingly, fol
the years had been long since his tongue
had caressed so many vowels. "Helr
yourself, my friend"
II thank you" Don Jaime replied In
English, II observe you do not speak
Spanish too well. 1 beg pardon for ad-
dressing you in that tongue, but observ-
ing that you appear to be Of this
country supposed you spoke the Ian
guage of the country"
Never was much of a hand at for
eign languages" Crooked Bill replied.
Don Jaime produced two cigars and
handed one to his neighbor. Crooked
Bill saw that it was a brand that
retailed at three for a dollar, and
obliged" he murmured I'm stranger
here" he added. MY names Blodgett
William Blodgett."
Il am pleased to meet you, Mr..
Blodgett. am Miguel Higuenes"
Crooked Bill started noticeably.
"Ah, you have then heard of me?"
Don james face betokened mild sur
prise ana inquiry.
Why, yes, Senior Higuenes-if you
will forgive me for bringing up a deli
cate subject. I believe you're the young
man who waited old Tom Antrim into
the bosom of Abraham"
81 had the pleasure" Don Jaime re-
piled modestly
Would you mind shaking hands with
me, Senior Higuenes? That was a first
class job of work you did on Tom. I'm
delighted to meet you, sir"
The pleasure Is mutual, Mr. Blodgett.
You knew Antrim?"
81 should tell man. He skinned me
on q cow deal once"
Don Jaime smiled.
What part of our glorious Lone Star
State do you hail from, Mr.. Blodgett?"
he inquired presently.
IT come from FL Paso." This was
true. Crooked Bill had changed trains
there.
Thinking of settling in this part of
the State?"
ooh, mol Fact is, came down here
to buy those sheep from Tom Antrim's
estate"
This is most unfortunate, Mr.. Blod-
gett. I am a cowman and I had no
idea I was fraternizing with a sheep
man."
Crooked Bill liked this young mans
gay frankness and humor, although 1t
disturbed him. Here Che reflected) was
exactly the sort of male biped to ap-
peal to his niece. Undoubtedly Don
Jaime was one who could fence with
that young woman, a foeman worthy of
her steel. He had guessed as much
after reading Don james letter to him
and now he wa; certain of it.
81 hear Antrim's niece, who is his
heir, Is a guest at your ranch, Mr..
Higuenes," he said cautiously.
Don Jaime nodded.
els she anything like her uncle?"
'Tom Antrim was her misfortune not
her fault. Miss Antrim Is, without
provoking, adroit, belligerent, sports
nnanlike and honest young lady 1t has
ever been my fortune to meet"
you're in love with her." Crooked
Bill charged.
Don jaime shrugged what else
would one expect?"
well, do you stand Chinaman's
chance?"
ST killed her uncle"
"Yet she's your guest"
"Oh, she realized had no other al
Tentative. However, under the circum-
stances, have thought it the part Of
wisdom to remain the good friend. I
am afraid of that. young woman.
fear she would not be an ideal wife for
o Higuenes."
you're an ass, young man." Crooked
Bill cried sharply, all of his love and
loyalty to his niece instantly outraged.
eff she's all that you have just told me
she Is, she's prize and you're lobster
not to 60 In and win her. Forgive me
for telling you your business, but I'm an
old man and I've known what IL is to
have that sort of wife,
"I have some PRIDE" Don Jaime muir
INJURED sadly. "I could not risk q re-
fusal. It would kill me. Moreover,
there is another man-some fellow In
New York"
"Oh!" Crooked Bill was relieved. He
was discovering things, and discoveries
were not unpleasant. He eyed Don
Jaime closely. "Dog-gone fine, upstand-
ing sort Of chap" he soliloquized.
$50 you're going to buy the Antrim
- M