Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1932-11-24

was this gay. frivolous banter merely
his kind way of helping her cover lit
Roberta had an idea 1t was. His two
settlers slouched alphabetically to the
table and he appeared to forget Ro-
berta. to become absorbed In the dogs,
feeding them strips of bacon and little
pieces Of bread stepped In bacon
grease. talking affectionately to them
the while as If they were human. Ro-
berta reminded ehersef that Don
Jaime was the first young man who
had ever neglected her to curry favor
with a pair of English settlers. and
was interested to discover that she
did not resent his action.
What are you going to do about
Rohbies" she inquired presently.
ooh. Robbie Nothing very much
wrong with him. | suspected the fix
he was In and. I'm order to verify my
suspicious, had Mrs. Candy bring
him here Hes been kept in the house
because his mother. despite the fact
that she Is trained nurse mother
like considered him too delicate to be
allowed out very much. She had to
make a living for the two OF them,
SO necessarily she has been forced to
neglect the boy.
"He requires sunlight and lots OF
It. Every day he lies out In the sum
light mother-naked. gave 1t to him
In small doses. so he wouldn't sum
burn. Now he's tanned One arm
and one leg are affected but not very
badly. With increased general health
he will gain strength and the desire
to be more active. Nobody ever e1-
ercised without wasting energy, and
those who have no energy to waste do
not care to exercise"
.He adores you. Jimmy"
"Well. IL children and dogs do not
like a man that's sign he had better
begin to take stock OF himself.
like Robbie. | like all children, even
terrible children. I'm godfather to
one hundred and eighty-seven and
after mass this morning I'll take on
the one hundred and eighty-elghth'
"Why are you SO popular. Jimmy"
"For two reasons. If I'm godfather
to the child of one of my people then,
while an Higuenes lives at Vale
Verde, that child will always dwell
under the mantle Of the Higuenes
philanthropy. He can't be fired Oft
the ranch. Ii he's male, and he'll
get something In the way Of hope
chest If he's female"
'You strange man! OF course as
a godfather You have to promise that
II the parents neglect to give their
child a religious unbringing you will
attend to the matter"
Haven't built little church and
haven't padre on my payroll? I'M
| ported him from Mexico. The arch
| bishop of this diocese doesn't know
he exists, so the old boys as free as
air. I'm strong for freedom myself.
us that why you have never mar
ried7 Or have you?'
II haven't. When an Higuenes
marries 1t takes. And | haven't mar
ried because you've been such long
time showing up at my ranch"
why. JIMMY"
II thought for while I'd surely
have to go to Hillcrest, Dobbs Ferry
Westchester county. New York, and
point out to you the error OF your
way, but thanks to your Uncle Ton
was spared that expensive journey
Then, too. probably wouldn't have
showed to such good advantage ir
your country. because OF the competi
ton. loathe competition. 1t makes
me just a little bit jealous"
For the life OF her Roberta couldn'
| help laughing. She had habit o
laughing at men when they were pro
posing to her or on the brink Of II
She was at ease now. no longer In
hihited by some quality in this mai
which she had never met In any other
If he was in love with her she ha,
him foul-wherefor she laughed.
TO her chagrin he laughed witt
her. and instantly horrible suspicion
crossed her mind Was this Texa
longhorn merely indulging In mill
Irritation with her? A hot rage swelle
In Roberta's heart and her laughte
ceased abruptly.
"This Is very sudden. Jimmy He
voice was cool.
THAT habit of being sudden Is
trait that runs In the Higuenes blood
MY father was very sudden mar
When he made up his mind to MARI
my mother, he appeared at her father
house and said to the old man: Nv
come to marry your daughter. Wha
have you got to say about it7 why
nothing ut all Here's the license an
the priests outside. Where's tn
brideT"
well. If had been the bride you
respectable parent would have re
ceived the Jolt OF his career"
"Fiddlestcks /" Don Jaime retorte
sharply "A woman worth having !
woman worth stealing. My fathe
always declared women seldom knoy
: what they want. They think the
want lot OF romance, when wha
they're looking for Is a husband who
} organize the show and run 1t with