The Coolidge examiner., 1933-01-20

present, dl icdSl-
This adroIt speech flattered Ro-
berta, since it was corrobOrating a
belief she had always entertained,
|. e., that she could look through
men as If they were glass. Her re-
spect for Hackett's intelligence and
ability increased at once. "I'll 10
to Los Algodones just as soon as
l can get ready" she declared.
That's fine, Roberta" He es-
corted her to the elevator and upon
returning to his Office pressed a
buzzer three times, whereupon his
secretary ushered in to him from
an adjoining room no less a person
than Crooked Bill.
well, have you sold her the
idea that she should go to Los Al
godonesP he demanded of the
lawyer.
81 have. She promised me she
would go as soon as she could get
ready"
Crooked Bill rubbed his hands
pleasurably. Hackett handed him
the assignment which Roberta had
just given him, and Crooked Bill
set fire to 1t and dropped II into
Hackett's metal waste basket.
Have you confidence in this
Jaime Higuenes, Mr.. Lathamr'
Hackett queried.
How do | know? He's a perfect
stranger to me. However, his ia
ther and grandfather were both
muy cabalero to nth degree and
never cared enough about money to
get II by crooked or unfair means.
And I'm a great believer in hered-
ity. However, why should | worry
about a smear of sheep? / don't
care two boots in a hollow If they
all starve to death. I'm solely In
terested In promoting for Roberta
journey to Los Algodones, In or
der that she may see the other side
of the picture. Don Jaime Is un-
married Q've discovered that and
If he fails to fall in love with Ro-
berta. he's fit for treason. strategems
and spoils. If she doesn't quarrel
with him about that, they're bound
TO fall out over business. because
no man ever managed a woman's
business affairs without discovering
in the long run that he had per-
formed a thoroughly thankless
task"
Il wish / didn't have to mix In her
affairs. l dislike deception-even
innocent deception, Mr. Latham"
"You ungrateful pupl Why, I've
placed Bobby under a tremendous
obligation TO you and made 1t pos
sible for you two to share a de-
llghtful secret In common-all OF
which Is equivalent to scattering six
incnes OF tanbark on the hard.
macadamized road of true love. By
pretending to lose my fortune /
drive Off about so per cent Of your
competitors and shoe Bobby out of
her set, In which she might find
other competitors for you. AS a
promoter ! think I'm just about the
bees knees myself"
But you're giving Don Jaime a
free field"
"And why not? He's short and
fat, weighing about two hundred
pounds. If he isn't, the scientists
are all wrong about heredity."
IL have known tall, graceful and
extremely charming Irishmen. Mr..
Latham -
"But the Spanish blood predom-
mates in Higuenes. At least II did
in his father. They were originally
Asturianos, and Asturianos are all
medium sized and stocky. But to
return to Don Jaime. In all prob
ability he takes a bath after the
fall roundup and has never seen a
bathtub except in hotel He will
have a luxuriant, Niagara falls type
of black mustache and use per-
fume. He will talk with a strong
Spanish accent and four-fifths of his
life is undoubtedly spent in his
shirt-sleeves. He's just a husky
Border cowman. ! tell you. Do you
see Bobby falling for a man like
that?"
"No-o-ow
You're suspicious Yankee,
Glenn. Your motto is: Trust ev-
erybody but cut the cards i.
Well. must be toddling along. |
think I'll take on line of United
Drugs. I've had tip that they've
been quietly absorbing about
twenty-five hundred chain drug
stores. Meanwhile you keep pick
ing on Roberta to get her out of
town; and in order to soothe your
New England conscience I'm going
to spread about a hundred thousand
margining line of United Drugs
for you. If the deal shows a profit
by the time you marry Roberta. II
will be yours. II 1t shows a loss
send me a reasonable bill for pro-
fessional services"
"As a pinch-hitter for Cupid
think you're total ruin," Glenn
Hackett declared