The Coolidge examiner., 1932-12-16
CHAPTER II-Continued

mother or my children
where? HereT"
"Where she will, my friend" Don
Jaime replied with simple sincerity.
"Then. Jimmy" said Ken Hobart.
Il hope. for purely selfish reasons.
you'll meet your fate before long
and that she'll refuse TO marry you
until you sell this ranch and move
20 Houston or Dallas or San Antoine
or"
The Higuenes men do not take
orders from women" Don Jaime
interrupted And this rancho will
never be sold. Four generations OF
my family have owned it and fought
for il. love IT,"
We'll. when some girl starts lead
Ing you, you'll need a good mana
ger for this ranch. Jimmy. I'm
growing weary of the reckless, mod
estly paid life of a ranger. :.
at least could be depended on to
keep the range free OF sheep"
There are also bandits from be-
low the border who raid my cattle.
The cemetery of the Rancho Vale
Verde has grown fast of late years"
Border fighting Is right up my
alley, James. old son"
As a ranger you fight with the
law behind you. You start with a
moral victory. But as manager of
this ranch, which God placed too
close 10 the Rio Grande for COM
fort. YOU would have to be very
careful II is better to he the head
Of a mouse than the tail of a lion.
However. Friend Ken. II the time
should come for me to tie myself
90 a girls apron strings | shall send
for you."
Don Jaime lifted from the floor
beside his chair a copy of a pre-
tentious magazine devoted to coun.
try life i'm America. Here is a pho
tograph of a girl" he said, turning
the pages indolently. whose face
and figure would cast a halo over
Texas. Now, IL she were as good
and sweet and womanly as she is
beautiful-'Miss Roberta Antrim"
he interrupted himself to read
from the caption. Zone of the en-
thuSiastic members of the Westches-
ter County hunt. mounted on her
crack hunter Croppy Boy Must be
an Irish hunter" Don Jaime opined.
Look at that, Ken. and see If you
can work up a cheer or two"
The ranger studied the page cas-
ually. We'll. why don't you pull
out for Westchester county, New
York. secure an introduction 10 her
and see If she's too good to be
true or otherwiseT'
"One Antrim at time. Ken.
When I've disposed of Tom II will
be time to dream of having a look
at Roberta"
"You aren't afraid they're re-
lated. are you?"
Don Jaime favored his guest with
a withering glance. a man named
Jim Hobatt was hanged at Austin
last week" he retorted. "Was he a
relative of yours-this train robber
and murderer"
Yes" Ken Hobart answered
evenly, "he was my half-brother.
And tracked and captured him.
A black sheep will crop out in
the best of regulated families, you
know"
Don James hand caressed that
of his friend. 81 did not know. /
am sorry. my friend"
Ken Hobart turned bleak ewes
upon his host 81 want to quit the
rangers, Don Jimmy. | wasn't jest
ing when | said I'd like to be the
manager of Rancho Vale Verde if
you should ever need me-"
"You are the man | have been
seeking. Ken. When you reach town
tomorrow wire your resignation to
the governor of Texas. and as soon
as you are released, return here"
Hope you'll be here when | ar
4 rive, Jimmy. You've got to fight
that Antrim outfit. and when you
do. for the Lords sake be careful. |
really want this job"
IF | am still here you will be
assistantgeneral manager. If not. you
will be general manager-and execu-
tor Of my estate. | will make a new
will tonight. Your salary will
never be less than the one you enjoy
at present. Write your own
ticket" he added. with a touch of
the tremendous prodigality of his
Castilian blood-a prodigality de
veloped to an excess growth doubt
less. because of the tremendous in
consequence of his rugged envi
ronment.
Don Jaime made his will and
handed it to Ken Hobart at break
fast the following morning. "Your
instructions are all in that envelope.
too" he explained. lin case | should
be unfortunate. | have some Mexi-
can first cousins; they're emigres.
living in Los Angeles. and I'm leav-
Ing them the ranch in trust, with
you as trustee and manager. The