The Ely miner., 1933-05-26
wondered If you didn't feel a bit lonely

"Oh. no, Jimmy! You're such q
friendly, comfortable person when you
are around the house. Will you return
from Los Algodones in time for dinner
Jimmy?"
II don't know. II do my best to
complete my business and be back In
time. don't relish driving around
this country at night because just al
present. for me, at least, the night has
number of eyes,"
"You mean"
81 mean that your foreman. Bill Din.
gle, has been across the Line, and
something tells me be went there to
hire some renegade to bump me off.
don't particularly blame him for that
A man acts according to his lights
and ! gave Dingle and his men q
pretty tough deal"
"But you went to town today un-
armed, Jimmy?"
He shook his head, half removed his
tropical whipcord coat and displayed
gun under each arm, in shoulder
holster. "I try to appear non-poison-
Gus off the ranch" he explained.
swell, | have few friends who keep
me advised on matters in which am
interested. Pm pretty safe in daylight,
but coming home in the dusk I'd just
as lief have good man for company.
So you stay home, Roberta. and I'll
take Ken Hobart with me. He's very
reliable"
| With c..reless nod he left her, to
drive over to the mems quarters for
his foreman. Roberta stood in the
patio entrance and watched him-saw
Ken Hobart come out of the saddle
room, receive his orders and go to his
own adobe bungalow for his coat and
couple of carbines and ammunition
belts. Then the two drove away, and
Roberta, with terror in her heart, went
to her room and wept, as her lively
imagination pictured Don Jaime
Miguel Higuenes, all bloody and limp,
lying in the deep gray dust of the road
to Los Algodones
|
In the cool of the late afternoon Don
Jaime dropped into vacant chair be-
side Crooked Bill on the veranda of
the Mansion house, after first inquir-
ing, in Spanish, If by an chance the
chair was reserved for any friend of
his.
mot at ALL" Crooked Bill replied in
the same language, albeit haltingly,
for the years had been long since his
tongue had caressed so many vowels.
| "Help yourself, my friend"
Il thank yOu," Don jaime replied in
English, 81 observe you do not speak
Spanish too well. beg pardon for
addressing you in that tongue, but OBJ
serving that you appear to be of this
country supposed you spoke the lam
guage Of the country"
| 'Never was much Of a hand at for
| eign languages" Crooked Bill replied
with the utmost frfendliness.
| Don Jaime produced two cigars and
handed one to his neighbor. Crooked
Bill favored the weed with swift,
furtive appraisal, saw that it was a
| brand that retailed at three for a dol
lar, and decided he might risk it.
"Much obliged" he murmured. "Tm
stranger here" he added. "My
names Blodgett-William Blodgett.' IS
II am pleased to met you. Mr.. Blod-
gett. am jaime Miguel Higuenes."
Crooked Bill started noticeably.
'The hi you are!" he burst out, un-
| guardedly.
| "Ah, you have heard of me?" Don
james face betokened mild surprise
and inquiry.
"Why yes, Senior Higuenes-if you
will forgive me for bringing up deli
cate subject. / believe you're the
young man who waited old Tom An
trim into the bosom of Abraham"
II had the pleasure" Dor Jaime
replied modestly.
| "Would you mind shaking hands
with me, Senior Higuenes? By the
/ holy poker, that was a first-class job
of work you did on Tom. I'm de-
| lighted to meet you, sir.''
"The pleasure is mutual, Mr.. Blod-
| gett. You knew Antrim?"
II should tell man. He skinned
| me on a COW deal once. That rascal
was so low he could kiss a rat without
bending his knees"
| Don Jaime smiled 81 believe, Mr..
Blodgett, that you and have interests
in common. Suppose we cement our
acquaintance in two fingers of tequila.
know a place where VIZ can get 1t. |"
Boy" said Crooked Bill, you're q
| gift from God. But weIl pass up the
tequila, because l have a couple of
| quarts of thirty-year-old Bourbon In
my room. The HI Of 1t is there's
no ice In this hOtei."
| 81 will get ice from the soda clerk
at the drug store, Mr. Blodgett. Mint,
also, is available, and If you will per-
NIT me, l will make a julep after the
manner taught me by my father. AL
though of Spanish persuasion he mar,
ried lady from Virginia and she
taught him the great secret"
"Get on the job" ordered Crooked
Bill, land come up to my room, Num-
Der S6."
Five minutes later Don Jaime re-
turned with the ice and the mint, and
Crooked Bill arose and led the way
upstairs.
"My ruse to get him to walk worked. u
thought Don Jaime. "He has a slight
limp. Yes, beyond the pera6venture
Of doubt this sly old wretch is Ro-
berta's uncle, and If don't find out
what he's up to before we part I'm far
from being the boy | used to be-"
Up in Number Sc Don Jaime mixed
the julep. shaving the ice with bowie
knife sorted out from under his coat.
tail Crooked Bill watched him, fas-
cinated. "What part of our glorious
Lone Star state do you hail from, Mr.
Il naa II LII