The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1933-03-30
By Peter b. Kyne


I LAS fine as a man can be,
think"
"Are you going to marry him.
Bobby?"
NO" She fairly fired the word
at him. -
Excuse me for being curious
about your business. Roberta, but
just wanted to know if you had a
reasonable excuse for going back
to New York. You're very welcome
here. Won't you please stay lit
tie longer?"
mo. | think not, Jimmy"
He shrugged. "Well, suit your
self. But anyhow, wen tie can
to Dingle and his men before you
CO." He stified little yawn.
I'm tired. Bobby. Breakfast at six
tomorrow morning. Will you join
me? Then we can get an early
start for the old Antrim ranch and
| jolt Mr. Dingle out of his compla
cency."
She nodded and turned away to
hide the tears of modification that
were yelling to her eyes. Why
couldn't he see that she did not
want to leave Vale Verde at all?
Why had he not urged her to stay?
OF course he had urged her, but
then he had not been persistent in
it. If he had persisted she would
have reconsidered. No. he did not
love her. Absolutely not Out
wardly he was fiery; inwardly he
was cold.
Roberta felt very miserable as
she babe him good night with lit
tie catch in her throat.
i At breakfast Jimmy noted the
faint circles under her eyes and re-
! joiced exceedingly thereat When
they worry so about a fellow that
they can't sleep. a deaf man with
his ear to the ground may moi in
frequently catch the faint sound of
distant wedding bells. he reflected.
1 They chatted in desultory fash
ion during the meal; then Roberta
went to fetch her coat and hat
She was waiting for him at the
patio gate when he emerged from
the ranch Office carbine in his
hands. albeit of ammunition around
his waist and the two pearl-han-
died pistols tied down to his legs
Julio brought the enclosed car up
and when they climbed in. Roberta
noticed that beside Julio sat Ken
Hobart. He was armed similarly
to his chief and carried spare
carbine-for the use. In an emer
gency. of the boy Julio. doubtless
An hour later they pulled up at the
Antrim ranchhouse.
Ken Hobart got out walked to
the front door and banged on it
loudly A Chinaman. in greasy
| apron. opened 1t.
j where's Dingle?" the foreman
I demanded.
"He go ketchnm sheep. No come
back long time"
Hobart walked around the house
and inspected the interior OF an
equally dilapidated barn.
Il imagine the t'hinaman's tell
ing the truth. Dingle's car is not
in the barn" he reported.
We've had our drive for moth
/ ing. Ken. Well Wen go back to
Vale Verde. put couple OF sad
die horses in truck and run down
to the range where the sheep are.
Well go as far as we can with the
truck. and this car. then unload
and ride up into the hills. Game
for the journey. Bobby?"
/ She nodded and they whirled
across the dusty plain to Vale
Verde. Here four horses were
saddled and led up ramp into a
large motor truck. and. preceded by
the motor car. they headed down the
road toward Los AlgOdOneS
| They left the road presently and
broke trail across the sage to the
foothills. where the ramp was let
down from the rear of the motor
truck and the horses backed ont.
Ken. you and Julio ride In a
northeasterly direction" Don Jaime
ordered. Miss Antrim and | will
ride in the general direction of that
butte yonder to the southeast. All
relic. you will remain here with The
truck and motor car. We will meet
here not later than four o'clock this
afternoon. Ken"
Roberta mounted the hunter Don
Jaime had given her. and they rode
steadily into the southeast. gra,in
ally climbing the butte: when they
reached its crest wide valley Jay
onrspread before and below them
Don Jaime refined In his horse
With his binoculars he swept the
country for miles in every direction
hut there was no sign of the vast
flock.
"They were I'm that valley yes
teriay and two miles south of 1t
the day before. There's feed for
a week yonder.. don't I'M.
derStand." He searched with fhe