The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1933-03-16
CHAPTER TX

calling it's last summons to the
faithful when Roberta and her host
left the house on foot.
Don Jaime led her down the main
aisle of the small church and
crossed with her over to the or
gan which stood against the wall.
The choir sat on benches in the
rear of the organ and an uphol-
stored chair stood beside the or
gan seat. - #". #
For company" Don Jaime MUIR
INJURED, and indicated that Roberta
should occupy it.
The padre, in his vestments, en-
tered from the sacristy, and as he
advanced to the altar Don james
little organ crashed into sono-
rous prelude then his brown choir.
taking the cue from vigorous nod
of the masters raven head, sang !:
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
| And in our hearts take up thy rest.
The girl watched Don Jaime,
who knew not one note from an
other but who played amazingly
well by ear because God had Gre
ated him a troubadour. His dark
face was alight with the delight he
CLEANED from his simple task; for
all his huge body, there was in his
eyes something that proclaimed to
her again the odd. little-boy quality
in him, touching her as she had
never been touched before.
Strange. strange man." the girl
reflected. There he sits with a
look of exaltation on his face, and
yet know he prides himself on
/ being too stern and original q
thinker to be an orthodox church
man. to accept the Scriptures as
literal, to have even the most re-
mote interest in the ultimate dis
posal of his immortal soul. He
killed my Uncle Tom and is too
honest to think of pretending to
me that he regrets it. He's a
strange mixture. yet there is moth
i ing complex about him. He thinks
straight. talks straight. and acts
straight. He couldn't dissemble If
he wanted to. Oh, dear. I'm afraid
wish ] had never met him. He's
one of those terrible men one must
take seriously"
The service proceeded. Roberta
i dreamed on. Don james
low voice reached her. Nov. then.
Bobby. do your stuff"
She sang as she had never sung
before. "See their eyes, Don
Jaime whispered as she sat down
''The poor devils. They loved it.
Handel's .Where'er You Walk isn't
sung in our church. but who here
knows the difference. and who
cares? An encore. Bobby
She sang it. Then she sat
through a sermon in Spanish. at
the conclusion of which the padre.
addressing Don Jaime. begged him
to convey his thanks and thar OF
his pObrecitOs to the American
senOrita. Don Jaime translated
his message. and few minutes
later she saw him STOPPING over
the lap of girl and lifting there
from an infant. She watched him
holding the stoIid infant while the
sacrament of baptism was admin
istered: she marked the pride and
pleasure in the young mothers face
at this signal honor conferred
upon her and hers. when. the cere-
mony over. Don Jaime kissed the
infant and handed the mother the
customary largess. To the god
mother. too. he made a gift of
money: then with pafernal pat
on the shoulders of all concerned
including the padre. he rejOined
Roberta and Together they walked
back through the pueblo to the
hacienda
AT the head OF the single street
Don jaime looked back. "A con
tented people" he declared. "Ghili
peppers drying on every root and
ample corn for the tOrtillas; tiIky
garden for onions and lettuce and
beans. labor exchanged for bright
calico and overalls and gingham at
cost at the ranch cDmniss;iry; no
debts. no rents no lawsuits. free
dom from puritanical code of
morals Sometimes could wish 1
too. were a peon. Boll-weevil and
the price of beef bpthers them not
nor taxes nor notes at the bank
Nor sheep" Roberta supple
mented.
Speaking of which," he contin
ued. 1--WE will ride out and visit the
woollies after luncheon. if you care
for a ride" .-t
Crooked Bill was wondering. why
his niece was such poor CORE
spondent. when Harms. the butler
entered with the uIail ..
Crooked Bill p0unced upon 1t
Two envelopes one slim and the
other fat bore the return address
of the l,ancho Vale Verde. so