The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1933-04-13

Hush, sweetheart. He's confessed.
He told you q few of the most won
derful lies on record, and when he
found you'd been hit he cried like
a baby. Swore that if you'd died
he'd commit suicide provided l
didn't kill him first!' He lifted her
to sitting position. There's old
Cupid Hobart sitting over yonder.
Look at him. He's still blubber-
ing"
Ken y Roberta called weakly.
The ex-ranger got up and liInped
painfully over to her, knelt and took
her hand. you're a grand liar"
she murmured. ''and a grand fighter.
and grand friend-and now I'm
going to decorate you, Ken Hobart
-on the field of battle"
kiss her, fool" Don Jaime
roared. "And you can kiss her
again the day we're married. That's
the privilege of the best man. but
after that, believe you me, partner.
she's not going to give away any
more samples to hard-boiled old
waddies like you."
"Oh, my God. forgive me-" Ken
sobbed childishly, and brushed her
pale cheek with his tobacco-stained
lips.
ION the lips, man." Don Jaime
commanded. "You don't know good
kissing when it's offered to you.'
81 been chewin' tobacco" the VIC
tim protested.
Il don't care" Roberta assured
him. Jimmy chews it, too"
So the embarrassed wretch obeyed
orders. and Roberta tainted again.
don Jaime, this time it's your
fault" Hobart almost moaned.
"Fan her and mop her face with
this wet bandanna," Don Jaime COM
manded. He went to the corral and
searched in the chuck wagon for
the tin box containing the small field
first-aid kit he suspected might be
there. 1t was. so he returned to
the girl, cut her clothing away from
the wound and applied first aid in
a singularly workmanlike manner.
Thereafter he attended to his
wounded men and when that task
was done he caught the chuck
wagon mules in the corral, har-
messed and hitched them. spread out
on the floor of the wagon box the
bedding rolls he found there and
loaded his casualties into the
wagon.
Home, James," he called cheer
lily to an imaginary chauffeur,
climbed up onto the seat and gath
cred the reins. He peered down be-
tween his legs at Roberta's face up
turned to him from the wagon bed.
"You'd have to live few life
times in Dobbs Ferry, Westchester
county. New York. before you'd get
your teeth into life as deeply as you
have in the past hour and q half"
he assured her cheerfully. Whose
spunkY old sweetheart are you?''
"YOuse." said Roberta wearily.
"Giddap." yelled Don Jaime. and
flicked the rumps of the leaders with
his long whip. Gently he eased the
mules into their collars and rolled
away up the valley into loM. draw
that wound between the hills and
eventually led them ont to where the
deserted motor car waited. Here he
transferred his wounded -f.amhert
O'Grady. and Martinez Trujillo on
the rear seat. with Ken Hobart ON
the front seat. LASTLY he lifted Ro-
berta mp into HObart's arms. after
which he braIked the chuck wagon.
lnhitched the mules and tethered
them to the wheels.
Guess they can stand a night Of
watchful waiting" he declared and
climbed hack of the wheel. "And
maybe I wasn't a smart hoy when
put Mrs. Candy on tfe payroll per-
manenfly."
He. switched on the lights and
fooled the car carefully down
through the sage to the Los AL
godones road. after which they
made fast time to the ranch. Here
one of the hands took the car
and departed fer Los AlgodOnes to
bring back the only two doctors
there. while Don jaime aided Mrs.
Ganby to make her patients COM
Portable.
About noon the next day Jaime
Miguel Higuenes came into Ro-
berta's room and sat down on her
he'd.
't'araveo and his men have just
got back safely he Informed her.
.Nof a man of that bandit gang got
back across the river. so / venture
to say this has been a lesson to
them imagine the Rancho Vale
Verde will he regarded in beyond
the Border circles as a good place to
keep away from hereafter How's
the future Mrs. Higuenes feeling
n0w?''
'.Not very clipper. Jimmy. How
do you feel?''
aCuiIfv NO shear ksll;no doo