Henderson daily dispatch., 1938-06-20
] A. !
CHAPTER SO

| THE GUITAR and song held
that ethereal, floating quality that
music can have only at night and
at a distance.
"Must be her radio or phono-
graph" Bill decided. Then in
stantly he knew it wasn't. Some
thing about the singing voice was
too natural. Moreover, it was IA
miliar.
ANYHOW it couldn't be dan
gerous, or important. Or indeed,
any of his business. Bill turned
over determinedly and shut his
eyes.
That seemed to amplify the
music little, and it fioated to him
more clearly now, e.. love comes,
again, on wings Of morning, {.
bringing, for me, a new LIES
dawning :" he unconsciously
translated the Spanish words of
the song. Something in the mel
ody and the stunning was
haunting. "Gripe!" muttered Bill,
and got up.
He slipped on trousers and
shoes, walked out ways toward
Ellen's house. The girl slept, he
knew, in the main second-story
bedroom. Her adobe home was a
Spanish adaptation of pueblo
style, suggesting those which the
prehistoric peoples had built in
this region centuries ago; but to
her windows had been affixed bal
comics with iron grilles. Her side
window was lighted, and he could
see the form of Ellen herself sill
houetted in it. He walked ways
farther, still listening, and saw the
man underneath.
"Wen I'll be eternally doggoned
DAMNED! growled Bill Baron to
himself. '"That mug has come all
the way up here J,st to serenade
H1erw
He quietly sat down on nearby
rock, oblivious Of the midnight
chill, and we tched tie romantic
scene there SO yards or so from
him. He had it all straight now
Felix Montoya had done what any
good Mexican boy or man is likely
to do when smitten by love-he
had come a-singing in the light OF
the stars.
The devil Of it was, Felix really
could sing. He had a tenor that
was almost velvety, and for which
a guitar was the perfect accom-
paniment. Bill thought some OF
sheaving a stone at the Mexican
then running. Then he decided ii
would be better to lift his own
voice and bray as much like a
mountaineer's burro as he could, a
real jackass bray. He thought Of
getting lasso and dragging Felix
around some in darkness. He con.
sidered walking up to him an6
cracking him one with hard fist
But Of course he actually die
none of these things. Instead, the
big Texan sat on the rock there ir
the darkness and scowled. Wher
Ellen laughed and applauded al
the end of the first song, he could
see Felix bow courteously. Wher
she then played her part a Bit
farther, went inside and returned
with blossom which was one Of 6
bouquet always kept in her room
and tossed it to Felix, Bill felt as il
somebody were jabbing at his SOU
with a pitchfork.
He skunk ON back to his room
then, feeling like a teen-age kiC
and mad at himself for feeling so
He got back in bed, but in a min.
ute he came to his senses and got
up again, dressed hurriedly anc
went to Ellen's house.
Hi, there, Felix, glad to see
you'll" Bill greeted the late caller
Heard your music. Say, boy, yor
can sing! I envy YOU"
The last statement at any rate
was true. And If Bill really wasn't
glad to see Felix, he did not lei
the guest know it. Together tn,
two men and Ellen sat up unit
two o'clock, talking as if they wer,
old schoolmates. Ellen cooked u,
some coffee, found assorted cake:
and other things to eat. Storie.
and jokes and music and laughtel
made it a gay party, and in spit,
OF his original reactions Doctor Bill
Baron had a tip-top time.
When it seemed the tactful mo
ment to do, so, Bill volunteered hi
own bed and apartment for tn,