The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1933-01-12
cHAPTER II-continued

ron truly ian
with, and she reeprocates your pas
siU "sbe.. ouoth Don Jaime Miguel
Hiruenes solemnly, "shall be the
mother of my children"
aWhere? Here"
sWbere she will, my friend" Don
1aime replied with simple sincerity.
mThen, Jimmy" said Ken Hobart
~ hone. for purely selfish reasons
vouu meet your fate before long
snd that she'll refuse to marry you
nntil you sell this ranch and move
~ Houston or Dallas or San Antoine
or"
: .The Higuenes men do not take
orders from women" Don Jaime
interrupted. "And this rancho will
never be sold. Four generations of
INV family have owned it and fought
for It. love it."
swell, when some girl starts lead
Ing you, you'll need a good mana
ger for this ranch, Jimmy. I'm
growing weary Of the reckless, mod
estly paid life Of ranger. .
at least l could be depended on to
keep the range free of sheep"
"There are also bandits from be-
low the border who raid my cattle.
The cemetery Of the Rancho Vale
Verde has grown fast of late years"
"Border fighting is right up my
alley, James. old son."
Gas q ranger you fight with the
law behind you. You start with a
moral victory. But as manager Of
this ranch, which God placed too
close to the Rio Grande for COM
fort, you would have to be very
careful. 1t is better to be the head
of mouse than the tail of q lion.
However, Friend Ken, If the time
should come for me to tie myself
to a girls apron strings shall send
for you" ..I.#
Don Jaime lifted from the floor
beside his chair a copy of a pre-
tentious magazine devoted to coun-
try life In America. "Here is pho
tograph of a GIRL" he said, turning
the pages indolently, "whose face
and figure would cast a halo over
4 Texas. Now, If she were as good
4 and sweet and womanly as she is
beautiful-.Miss Roberta Antrim !"
he interrupted himself to. read
from the caption, "sOne of the en-
thusiastic members of the Westches-
ter County hunt, mounted on her
crack hunter Croppy Boy Must be
an Irish hunter" Don Jaime opined.
Look at that, Ken, and see if you
can work up a cheer or two"
The ranger studied the page cas-
ually. swell, why don't you pull
out for Westchester county, New
York, secure an introduction to her
and see If she's too good to be
true or otherwise?'
"One Antrim at a time. Ken
When I've disposed of Tom it will
be time to dream of having a look
at Roberta"
"You aren't afraid they're re-
lated. are you?"
Don Jaime favored his guest with
whitening glance. "a man named
Jim Hobart was hanged at Austin
last week." he retorted. "Was he a
relative of yours-this train robber
and murderer 49,. s.
9es." Ken Hobart answered
evenly, "he was my half-brother
Anc | tracked and captured him.
a black sheep will crop out in
the best of regulated families, YOU
know" >. V"
Don james hand caressed that
or MS friend. 81 did not know. l
am sorry, my friend"
Ken Hobart turned bleak ewes
upon mis- host. 81 want TO Quit the
rangers, Don Jimmy. wasn't lest
lhs When | said I'd like to be the
manaser of Rancho Vale Verde if
yon Should ever need me-"
LOU are the man | have been
eeAliis' Ken. When you reach town
ts aoifoW Wire your resignation to
ne governor of Texas. and as soon
- ~. you are released. return here"
~, h"pe you'll he here when | ar.
th.. simmy. You've got to fight
~ , antrim outfit. and when YOU
w. ro.u LOT the Lords sake be careful. l
ea az! want this job"
,,s;a, am still here you will be
vii, S.aal general manager. If not. YOU
for general manager-and execu.
MIN Nj u my estate. will make q new
nara. tonight. Your salary will
at oe less than the one you enjoy
ticto.m esent. Write your own
tha ne added, with a touch of
.,as,;,;e uendous prodigality of his
yelona olood-a prodigality de-
-sless = 70 an excess growth doubt
eonsoo eaose of the tremendous in
fonment. ~ 'usseu eh'l
b. Ion Jaime made his will and
fas, :. IL to Ken Hobart at break.
ins,, sle following morning. "Your
ton ~ .'ions are all ia that enve,ope