The Coolidge examiner., 1932-12-30
CHAPTER Ill-Continued

terrible heritage, crooked
Bill replied, and shuddered. We'll
we'll hope for the best, honey. You
or your legal representative will
have to go to Texas soon and do
something abou; those sheep. Now
that your Uncle Toms dead his
herders may steal some of the
sheep. II not all. Did he, or did
he not make a will, and II so. who
is the executor"
Il do wish, Uncle Bill. that you
would go down there and attend to
these matters. I'll give you my pow
er Of attorney"
What 70 Crooked Bill almost
yelled. with the market skyrock
citing and every dollar | have in the
world tied up In II? Impossiblel"
II have so many lovely things
planned. Uncle Bill. To go down
TO Texas now would quite ruin my
summer" she protested.
Not to go will probably ruin the
same summer for Jaime Miguel
Higuenes, Bobby"
Probably, too. II will not. He is
accustomed to Texas summers,
tnke it,"
"But not TO playing nursemaid to
the Lord knows not how many sheep
for a person he doesn't even
know. After one look at you he
might derive considerable pleasure
from his kindly act, but In the alb
sence of any interest on your part
he may be tempted to deny your
sh Yep the mothers care all sheep
require"
But do not know that | am heir
to those sheep. Can't you walt until
a will Is unearthed or the absence
OF one definitely established?
Glenn brought up that point yesrer
day. If there is no will | shall. of
course. as Uncle Toms next of kin.
petition for letters of administra
fion. but until have a letter from
Senor Higuenes IL seems TO me
can do nothing but mark time"
"psry well. then. mark time
That's what I'm doing and it's driv.
ing me crazy"
II was a week before the expect
ed letter arrived from Jaime Miguel
Higuenes. Having perused II. Ro-
berta handed II TO Crooked Bill.
Rancho. Vale Verde, Las Cruces
Co., Texas.
"June 2S. 1925.
"Dear Miss Antrim:
"Supplementing my telegram of
a week ago ! regret TO report that
on the 21st inst. your uncle. Thomas
Antrim. as the aftermath of dis
pute that arose due TO your uncle's
alleged trespass with his sheep on
hands not owned by him. engaged in
a duel with rifles. His antagonist
one Jim Higgins. emerged the vic
tor in this sanguinary affray. From
testimony Il appears. much as ! re-
gret TO say so. that Mr.. Antrim was
very much the aggressor. In fact
Mr.. Higgins was wounded three
times by your relative before ne
found himself in position to return
the fire. The coroner's jury re
turned verdict of justifiable homi
eide.
I'm accordance with your tele
graphic instructions have seen Ia
II that your uncle received Chris
tian burial in Odd Fellows GENE
tery.
Being at this time confined ru
my home with slight indispos'
ton. | directed my general manager
to call upon your uncle's foreman
IN charge of some 10000 sheep on
the range and inform him that IL
was your wish. as the probable
heir TO your uncle's estate. that he
continue TO carry on with the sheep
until the arrival of you or your
representative here. The foreman
d man named Bill Dingle. mentioned
having contract with your uncle
TO participate TO certain extent
in the latter's sheep business.
and stated that he was moi taking
orders from anybody NV mana
ger thereupon showed him vour tel
egram TO me. conveying your re
quest that | act as your represent
ative temporarily. This written
display of authority had little or
no effect on Bill Dingle. While lin
Higgins is recovering from his
wounds Bill Dingle continues 10
trespass on the formers lands
"Suspecfing that your uncle mighh:;
have made a will. suggest ed 10 rhe
public administrator that he look
into the matter. Three days ago
received a letter from this official
Informing me that the Federal
Trust company. of El Paso. had for
varded a will to be filed for pro
bate at Los AlgodOnes. From this
will 1t appears that you are the