Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-11-17

Providentially. it was not long
course dinner. such as Roberta had ey-
pected would be served and which she
had looked forward to with dread A
soup, a salad. roast. two vegetables.
light dessert and black coffee That
was all
HE runs his household like sensl
BILE man, at any rate the girl re-
flected.
She watched humming bird fitting
from flower to flower. saw quail come
forth and bear away crust tossed
him by Don Jaime. Then. as the
shadows heightened, the knocking
birds, replete with food and happy.
perched In lime tree and paid for
their meal In melody. Roberta had
never heard Spanish mocker before
and was delighted with the beauty
and variety of their extensive roper.
toire.
4You are fond of musica' Don Jaime
queried.
Roberta nodded and he tossed a
quick order In Spanish to one of his
dusky maids.
From behind the climbing passion
vines on the gallery across the patio
guitar was strummed Roberta
heard the mellow notes of a harp as
unseen fingers ran the scale. Then
a girls voice-without much volume.
h,,t
thetic-commenced to sing Ia Colon
drina."
when | am unhappy" Don jaime
explained. "they sing that sad song to
me and make me unhappier'
"Why don't you have them sing
something joyful3'
my dear Miss Antrim. mo Higgins
ever wants to be made happy when
he's unhappy. It's like enjoying poor
health. We must feed our racial mel
ancholy."
"You incorrigible Celt! Are these
professional entertainers brought out
from Los Algodones?"
mo. they're part OF the ranch as.
sets. That harp has been In our family
since the first Higgins emigrated to
Madrid Hello. bub, you getting
sleepy Tired after your long ride to-
day. eh?"
Robbie had left his chair and climbed
up into Don james lap; his thin little
arm was around the brown, powerful
neck, his head cuddled under the big
square chin. Don Jaime held him
close with his left arm, and Roberta
noticed that with his right hand he
gently massaged the atrophied mus
cles Of the boys left leg.
The purple shadows crept over the
patio, the music sobbed and mourned
behind the passion vines.
Presently Don Jaime shook Robbie
gently. Come, son." he said softly.
Say your prayers-in Spanish. as !
have taught you. Nuestro padre"
The sleepy voice spoke haltingly the
unfamiliar words, the man prompting
from time to time. When the prayer
was finished he rose and, with the boy
In his arms. stopped over Mrs. Candy
that she might kiss her son good
night. Then he passed around the
table to Roberta's chair. Innocence
and helplessness," Roberta heard him
murmur. who could not love it"
He stopped over her and lowered the
boy until the childish lips brushed her
cheek, then he bore the lad Off to bed.
The two women exchanged glances.
the mothers eyes were moist. THAT
is the Latin in him. Miss Antrim, Hes
not ashamed to demonstrate his aifec-
ton"
Roberta did not answer. She was
thinking of remark that Crooked
Bill had once made In her presence.
"When children and dogs love a man
woman Is usually safe with him. !"
She wondered now IL Glenn Hackett
loved children and dogs and decided
presently that he would love his own
children, If and when he had them
but that he would not be interested In
dogs or human beings beneath him IN
the social scale.
HE Is strange man, Mrs. Candy"
she said at last. Il have never met
his kind before. | do not know what
to make Of hlm-whether to like him
or dislike him, to fear him or to trust
him. He killed my uncle and then,
masquerading under the name Of Jim
Higgins he induced me to accept the
hospitality Of Jaime Hlgnenes. Where
leone from one doesn't do that sort
OF thing. you know. How long have
you known him, Mrs GanbyY
"Since three days after he killed
your uncle. | am trained nurse and
l came down here to tend his wounds,
although he would have recovered
without my aid, for he Is as healthy as
horse. Later he asked me to be
his housekeeper. but since he does not
appear to regard me as servant,
imagine | am sort of paid hostess
| think he had hope that you might
visit the ranch some day. and OF
course you would never have been in
vted unless he had duenna here
He Is very punctilious In matters o.
social propriety"
"And Robbie?'
tayVhar ho dicpnvnrad \ had ltttfi