The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1933-03-23
CHAPTER x-continued

~ think I'll go back to Los Ago
donesp he announced suddenly.
aTbere's something about the at
mospbere of that town that aus
INV movers of divination."
aam I invited to ride back with
ron9 Or must | NOPE around the
honse until you returnT' ~
~ think you had better NOPE. I
have need to do some think'ng-
and you ditch my train OF
tboueht.. He looked at her Keen
". earnestly, and without the
flicker of love-light in his eyes.
.Are you enjoying your visit al
vale Verde. Bobby? I've Won
dered If you didn't feel a bit lone
" and neglected here"
aOb. no. JimmyI You're such q
friendly. comfortable person when
Won are around the house. Will
YOU return from Los Algodones In
time for dinner. Jimmy"
81 don't know. I'll do my best
to complete my business and be
back in time. | don't relish drlV-
ing around this country at night
because just at present, for me, at
least the night has a number OF
eyes"
"You mean"
~ mean that your foreman, Bill
Dingle, has been across the Line,
and something tells me he went
there to hire some renegade to
bump me off. l don't particularly
blame him for that. A man acts
according to his lights. and ! gave
Dingle and his men pretty tough
deal"
aBut you went to town today un-
armed, Jimmy?"
He shook his head, half removed
his tropical whipcOrd coat and dis
played gun under each arm. in a
shoulder holster. II try to appear
non-poisonous off the RANCH" he
explained. swell. I'm pretty safe
in daylight, but coming home in
the dusk I'd just as lief have a
good man for company. So you
stay home, Roberta. and I'll take
Ken Hobart with me. He's very
reliable"
With careless 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 car
bines 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 a vacant
chair beside Crooked Bill on the
veranda of the Mansion house. after
first inqniring. in Spanish. If by
any chance the chair was reserved
for any friend of his.
Not at all" Crooked Bill replied
In the. same language. albeit halt
ingly. for the years had been long
since his tongue had caressed so
many vOwels. Help yourself. my
friend"
u thank YOU" Don Jaime replied
In English. II observe you do not
speak Spanish FOO we'll beg par.
don for addressing yon in thar
tongue. but observing that you DIP
pear to be of this country sup.
posed you spoke the language of
the country"
Never was much of a hand at
Foreign languages" Crooked Bill
replied with the utmost friendli
ness. "lm stranger here he
added. My names Blodgett-Wil
liam Blodgeft."
i am pleased to meet you. Mr..
biodgett. ] am Jaime Miguel Hig
ueneS" = ---- = H.. 81
Crooked Bill started noticeably
The hi you are;" he burst out.
unguartiedly. ~.
An. you have heard of me?. Don
1allne's face betokened mild sur.
prise and inquiry. ia. ">
Why, yes. Senior Higuenes-if
you will forgive NE for bringing
up delicate subject. believe
you're the young man who waited
olu Tom Antrim irto the bosom of
Abraham"
mad the pleasure" Don Jaime
replied modestly.
would you mind shaking hands
WIN me. Senior Higuenes! by the
aoly poker. thai was a first-class
!oo OF work you did ON Tom. I'm
aerlrhfed to meet you. sir"
The pleasure is mutual. Sir
niodgett. You knew Antrim?"
should tell a man. He
Ta iiled me on cow deal once
Iua' rascal was so low he could
knees"