The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1933-03-09

| Have some bacon and eggs.
cured that bacon myself and an
personally acquainted with the
hens that laid the eggs"
Had he noticed her confusion
and was this gay, frivolous banter
merely his kind way Of helping her
cover it? Roberta had an idea Il
was. His two settlers slouched
apologetically to the table and he
appeared to forget Roberta. to be-
come absorbed in the dogs. feeding
them strips of bacon and little
pieces of bread stepped in bacon
grease, talking affectionately to
them the while as If they were hu.
man. Roberta reminded herself
that Don Jaime was the first young
man who had ever neglected her
to curry favor with palr of Eng.
lish settlers. and was interested to
discover that she did not resent his
action. ~.
"What are you going to do about
Robbie?" she inquired presently.
"Oh, Robbie. Nothing very much
wrong with him. suspected the
fix he was in and. in order to veri.
fly my suspicious, l had Mrs. Gan.
by bring him here. He's been kept
in the house because his mother,
despite the fact that she is a
trained nurse, mother-like consid.
cred him too delicate to he allowed
out very much. She had to make
a living for the two of them, so
necessarily she has been forced to
neglect the boy" ....s ss.,.. .-
HE adores you, Jimmy"
"Well, If children and dogs do
not like a man that's a sign he had
better begin to take stock of him.
self. like Robbie. likesall chill.
dren, even terrible children. I'm
godfather to one hundred and
eighty-seven and after mass this
morning I'll take on the one hun
dred and eighty-eighth."
"Why are you so popular. Jim
my?"
''For two reasons. If Pm god
father to the child of one 0f my
people then, while an Higuenes
lives at Vale Verde. that child will
always dwell under the mantle of
the Higuenes philanthropy. He
can't he fired off the ranch. if hes
a male, and he'll get something in
the way of hope chest if he's a
female"
"YOu strange man! OF course as
godfather you have to promise
that if the parents neglect to give
their child religious uPbringing
you will attend to the matter"
Haven't | built a little church
and haven't padre on my pay
roll? Imported him from Mexico.
The archbishop of this diocese
doesn't know he exists. 80 the old
boys as free as air. I'm strong
for freedom myself"
is that why you have never
married? Or have your
81 haven't. When an Higuenes
marries 1t takes. And haven't
married because you've heen such
long time showing I'D at my
ranch"
"Wly. Jimmy ]"
81 thought for a while I'd surely
have to 20 to Hillcrest, D0bbs Fer
ry, Westchester county. New York.
and point out to you the error of
your way. but thanks TO your
Uncle Tom | was spared that ex
pensive journey. Then. too. | prob
ably wouldn't have showed to such
good advantage in your country.
because of the competition. | loathe
competition. II makes me just a
little bit Jealous
For the life of her Roberta
couldn't help laughing. She had a
habit of laughing at men when the.
were proposing to her or on the brink
of it. She was ar ease now no
longer inhibited by some quality in
this man which she had never met
in any other If he WAS In love
with her she had him fot,l-where
fore she laughed.
To her chagrin he laughed with
her. and instantly horrible sus
DiciOn crossed her mind Was this
Texas lon.llurn merely innrlsin2 In
mild filtration with herr a hot
rage swelled in Roberia's heart
and. her laughter ceased abruptly
..T'his is very sudden. Jimmy
Her Voice was cool.
..Thaf habit ct being sudden is
trait that runs in the ilignenes
blood. My father was very sud
den man. When he made UP his
mind TO marry my mother. ne ap
reared al her fathers house and
said to the old man: I've COME to
marry your daughter What have
YOU GOT to say about it? Why. moth
ing at ALL Here's the license and
the priests outside. Where's the
bride?'
We'll IT mad been the bride
your Respectable parent would have
received the jolt of his career
INnn Tairnn