The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-03-24

you sell This ranch and move TO H0uS
ton or Dallas or San Antoine or"
1.-THE Higuenes men do not take or.
ders from women" Don Jaime in
terrupted. And this rancho will
my family have owned II and fought
for it. | love it."
swell, If she asks 1t, you'll buy her
a town house and live there with her
part of the year, will you not?"
asking Is not ordering or deliv-
ering ultimatums-"
"Ultimata, Jimmy" the ranger cor
rected him, mischievously..
"At any rate" Don Jaime resumed
declining the argument, '.it would ,e
a delight to be led but hi to be
driven"
"Well, when some girl starts lead
ing you, you'll need good manager
for this ranch, Jimmy. I'm growing
weary of the reckless, modestly paid
life or a ranger at least | could
be depended on to keep this range
free of Sheep"
hCA e al dISO DCioW
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."
"As a 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 comfort, you
would have to be very careful 1t is
better to be the head of mouse
than the tail of a lion. However.
Friend Ken, if the time should come
for me to tie myself to girls apron
strings ! shall send for you"
Don Jaime lifted from the floor be-
side his chair a copy of pretentious
magazine devoted to country life In
America. "Here is a photograph of
girl" he said. turning the pages in.
dolently. whose face and figure would
cast halo over Texas Now. If she
were as good and sweet anu womanly
as she is beautiful-'Miss Roberta
Antrim" he interrupted himself to
read from the caption, zone of the
enthusiastic members of the West.
chester 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 casual
ly. 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 other
wise? At least you'd start with one
when this magazine went o press"
Zone Antrim at a time, Ken. When
I've disposed of Tom 1t will be time
to dream of having a look at RO-
berta."
'You aren't afraid they're related,
are yor?"
Don Jaime favored his guest with
a 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"
"Yes," Ken Hobart answered even
ly, ''he was my half-brother. And |
tracked him and captured him. A
black sheep will crop out in the best
of regulated families. you know"
Don Iaime's hand caressed that of
his friend. II did not know. am
sorry. my friend"
Ken Hobart turned bleak eyes upon
his host 81 want to quit the rangers.
Don Jimmy. | wasn't jesting when
| said I'd like to be the manager of
Rancho Vale Verde if you should
ever need me-"
You are the man | have been seek
ing, Ken. When you reach town to-
morrow wire your resignation to the
governor of Texas. and as soon as
you are released return here"
"Hope you'll be here when / arrive,
Jimmy You've got to fight that An
trim outfit, and when you do for the
Lords sake be careful | really want
this job"
sistant general manager. If | am
not here you will be general manager
and executor of my estate. will
make a new will tonight. Your salary
will never be less than the one you
enjoy at present. Write your own
ticket" he added, with touch of the
tremendous prodigality of his Cas-
lillian blood-a prodigality developed
to an excess growth doubtless. be-
cause of the tremendous incense
quence of his rugged environment.
Don Jaime made his will and hand
ed IT to Ken Hobart at breakfast the
following morning. "Your instruc-
tons are all in that envelope. too" he
explained, Gin case | should be unfor-
tunate. | have some Mexican first
cousins; they're emigres, living in Los
Angeles. and I'm leaving them the
ranch in trust, with you a trustee
and manager. The revolutions have
ruined them and | support them now
Socially. I'm proud of them, but the
fact remains that they're id spend
thrifts. and II they had their way
they'd sell this ranch and the cattle
for fifty cents on the dollar in order
to start splurging again. And a Mex.
lean grandee is much too conscien-
tious a splurger to continue on the
Job Indefinitely. Consequently |, with
my acquired American conservatism,
must look after the poor devils.'
don jaime" Hobart protested
"I'm your employee now. I'll wire
the governor of Texas my resignation
and. without waiting for its accept
ance. I'll ride back in time to be pres
emf when Antrim's sheep come to the