The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1933-02-16

This adroit speech flattered Ro-
berta, since it was corroborating a
belief she had always entertained,
i. e., that she could look through
men as If they were glass. Her re-
spect for Hackett's intelligence and
ability increased at once. "I'l go
to Los Algodones just as soon as
can get ready" she declared.
"That's fine, Roberta" He es-
corted her to the elevator and upon
returning to his office pressed a
buzzer three times, whereupon his
secretary ushered in to him from
an adjoining room no less a person
than Crooked Bill. ~
"Well, have you sold her the
idea that she should go to Los Al
godones?" he demanded of the
lawyer.
II have. She promised me she
would go as soon as she could get
ready"
Crooked Bill rubbed his hands
pleasurably. Hackett handed him
the assignment which Roberta had
just given him, and Crooked Bill
set fire to it and dropped it into
Hackett's metal waste basket.
''Have you confidence in this
Jaime Higuenes, Mr.. Latham?
Hackett queried. s~
"How do l know? He's a perfect
stranger to me. However, his ia
Their and grandfather were both
muy cabalero to nth degree and
never cared enough about money to
get it by crooked or unfair means.
And I'm a great believer in hered-
ity. However, why should l worry
about a smear of sheep? l don't
care two boots in a hollow if they
all starve to death. I'm solely in
terested in promoting for Roberta
a journey to Los Algodones, in or
der that she may see the other side
of the picture. Don Jaime is I'M
married GIVE discovered that) and
if he fails to fall in love with Ro-
berta. he's fit for treason. strategems
and spoils. If she doesn't quarrel
with him about that, they're bound
to fall out over business. because
| no man ever managed woman's
business affairs without discovering
in the long run that he had per-
formed a thoroughly thankless
task"
ST wish l didn't have to mix in her
affairs I dislike deception-even
innocent deception, Mr.. Latham"
"You ungrateful pup! Why, I've
placed Bobby under a tremendous
obligation to you and made it pos
sible for you two to share a de-
lightful secret in cOmmOn-all of
which is equivalent to scattering six
incnes of tanbark on the hard.
macadamized road of true love. By
pretending to lose my fortune
drive off about so per cent Of your
competitors and shoe Bobby out of
her set, in which she might find
other competitors for you. AS a
promoter think I'm just about the
bees knees myself
But you're giving Don Jaime a
free field"
"And why not? He's short and
] fat, weighing about two hundred
pounds. If he isn't, the scientists
are all wrong about heredity."
81 have known tall. graceful and
extremely charming Irishmen. Mr.
Latham!''
"But the Spanish blood FREEDOM
mates in Higuenes. At least ii did
in his father. They were originally
Asturianos. and AsturianOs are all
medium-sized and stocky. But to
return to Don jaime In all prob
ability he takes bath after the
fall roundup and has never seen a
bathtub except in hotel. He will
have lnxuriant, Niagara falls type
of black mustache and use per-
fume. He will talk with strong
Spanish accent and fnnr-fifths Of his
life is undoubtedly spent in his
shirt-sleeves Hes just q husky
Border cowman. ! tell you. DO you
see Bobby falling for a man like
that p
"No-o-o!'
you're suspicious Yankee.
Glenn. Your motto is: Trust ev-
erybody hut cut the cards.
Well. must be tOddling along. I
think I'll take on a line of United
Drugs. rye had tip that they've
been quietly absorbing about
twenty-five hundred chain drug
stores. Meanwhile yon keep pick
ing on Roberta to get her ont Of
/ town: and in order to soothe your
! New England conscience Tn gOipe
to spread about hundred thousand
| margining line of United Drugs
for you. If the deal shows profit
by the time you marry Roberta. It
will be yours. IF 1t shows loss
send me reasonable hill for pro-
fessional services"
"As pinch-hitter for Cupid |
think you're a total ruin,' Glenn
II .. 3. s 4