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Show o o o o o o o o o o Uflnnn o years that bad passed had seen it last five Continued Boll-weevi- Crooked Bill was wondering why bis Iilece was such a poor correspondent, when Harms, the butler, entered with malL Crooked Bill pounced upon It Two envelops, one slim and the other fat, bore the return address of the Itancho Talle Verde, so Crooked Bill opened the slim one and read: edly. Latham : "I wired you for permission to pay By court to your very lovely niece, alias Roberta Antrim. In granting the Beslred permission, for which I am deeply grateful, you saw fit to give me some Mr. wholly and unnecessary how to be suc- rather silly advice on cessful in love. "My dear Mr. Latham, you know toothing of your charming niece's disposition. The finest way in the world for me to kill my feeble prospects would be for me to wrangle a guitar under her window and sing 'Sobre las Olas.' And anyhow, what's your Interest in nie that causes you to be so free with your foolish advice? I suspect you would like to get me in Putch. "I think she likes me, but she doesn't know whether I'm crazy about her or not, even when I swear I am. I figure that the best way to get her winging Is to keep her guessing, but Qulen sabe! If you have any other suggestions for helping along the game s f your old friend Patricio Jesus Bon, let them fly. "Sincerely yours "J. M. HIGUENES." Crooked Bill read and reread this remarkable document and with a huge "I've overplayed Sigh laid it aside. my hand," he murmured, and took up Roberta's letter, which ran as follows: Dear Dncle Bill: "I am ashamed of myself for having neglected you so, but the fact Is I have been having such a wonderful time at Don Jaime's ranch (I call him Jimmy) that I haven't had time to write. "Uncle Bill, he's marvelous. Everybody thinks so and says so consequently it must be true. He Is very bold, he sings and plays divinely, he Is a sort of feudal baron and he works hard all day with his mea He has thousands of acres of cotton, thousands more of alfalfa, thousands more of cattle range, and all the cattle In the world. "I haven't thought of Glenn llackett more than twice since coming here and then only to compare him, to his disadvantage, to this amazing Jimmy. If he'd only make love to me like a reasonable man should I think I'd fall for him hard. "I enclose a number of photos. The cne of Jimmy Is excellent Write soon. "Your loving "BOBBY." With the calmness of despair Crooked Bill scrutinized the photographs. The one of Don Jaime showed him on a calf draped gray horse with a day-olacross his lap. "Caramba 1" murmured Crooked Bill. "This fellow Is no fat, oily, perfumed, lazy Mexican with ft mustache. The boy has sized Roberta up right not the width of a gnat's wing out of line and he'll win In a walk, as sure as death and taxes, unless I do something and do it muy pronto. I don't want Roberta to marry into a mixed breed like the Higueneses. "Well, Roberta says if he'd only make love to her like a reasonable man she'd fall for him hard. That means she's still safe, . . . Bill Latham, you've got to get that girl back home In a hurry. Those Infernal cheep and my foolish scheming sent her to Texas, and in order to get her home those sheep must be disposed of in a hurry. God help me, I'll have to buy them myself and if that Higuenes bandit ever gets on to the Identity of the purchaser, he'll induce her to soak me so hard, when I'm unable to defend myself, that I'll never have the heart to eat a mutton chop again. Glenn, my boy, fighting your fight is going to be mighty expensive,I but as an adjunct to the family guess you're worth it" He telephoned to his office In New York, Instructing It to secure him transportation and a drawing room to Los Algodones, Texas, and the following day was en route to consummate the crookedest piece of business he had ever contemplatedthat of swindling himself In due course he arrived in Los Algodones and put up at the Mansion house. Neither the town nor the hotel had changed a particle In the twentyIlig-Oeue- d 1 since he Nobody knew him. nor did any of the faces of the loungers in tlie chairs tipped back against the front of the hotel awaken In Crooked Bill the faintest flicker of recognition. At the general store he purchased a pair of overalls, a canvas coat and a gray sombrero, which, combined with a soft white shirt and black tie and the boots (a relic of other days) which he habitually wore, metamorphosed Crooked Bill Into a very fair imitation of a Texas citizen of the wide open spaces. Thus garbed he called upon Don I'rudencio Alvlso. "My name's Blodgett. Mr. Alvlso," he announced, and soothed his con science with the thought that it was his middle name. "I understand you're the attorney for Tom Antrim's estate. I also understand he left quite a smear of sheep." Don Prudencio nodded. "Are they for sale?" "A sale might be arranged, weeth the consent of the court, Senor Blodgett," Don Prudencio answered guard- At the head of the single street Don Jaime looked back. "A contented people," be declared. "Chilli peppers drying on every roof and ample corn for the tortillas; a tiny garden fur onions and lettuce and beans, labor exchanged for bright calico and overalls, and gingham at cost at the ranch commissary; no debts, no rents, no lawsuits, freedom from a puritanical code of Sometimes I could wish I, morals. l and the to, were a peon. price of beef bothers them not, nor taxes nor notes at the bank." "Nor sheep," Roberta supplemented. "Speaking of which," he continued, "we will ride out and visit the woollies after luncheon. If you care for a ride." dear BSy IPefieir EB. E&yme WXU Serrlca. 11 "My o Copyright by Pater B. Xjre, CHAPTER IX the CcDmanunceir EIr tinn o o o o o o o o o o o ! "Fine." said Crooked Bill. "I'll buy them. I've a notion I can make a turn on those sheep. I understand Antrim's heir lives In New York, so I presume she'll be glad to sell and git rid of a nuisance." Don Prudencio shrugged. "Maybe so." With his eyes he Inquired what Senor Blodgett's offer might be. Having looked up the market quotations In an El Paso paper Crooked BUI promptly named a figure one dollar per head above the highest market quotations. Don Prudencio stirred slightly. "I weel sell you those sheeps, subject to the confirmation by the court," he purred. "I am the executor for the The sheep have been count' recently and I weel guarantee the count. I weel write for you an offer for all those sheeps, wheech you will sign. Then I weel accept, subject to the confirmation by the court and you weel pay me now on account ten thousand dollars, no? I am queeck trader like you." "I'll have the money wired to the credit of the estate in any bank you name. It will be there tomorrow. You've sold something." Don Prudencio Alvlso might have looked sleepy, but behind those slightly liverish eyes he was very wide awake. Within ten minutes he had William B. Latham sewed up on a contract of purchase and sale, provided the court approved Don Pruden-clo'- s action as executor. When Crooked Bill had the contract safely tucked In his pocket he commenced talking with Don Prudencio about the deceased Tom Antrim, and learned that for a few days following Antrim's death the sheep had remained In charge of one Bill Dingle, Antrim's foreman. Later Dingle had been rather forcibly relieved of his charges by Jaime Higuenes, of the Uancho Valle Verde. "That Dingle might be a good experienced sheepman to care for these sheep In case the court approves the sale," Crooked Bill suggested hopefully. "Where might one get in touch with him?" Don Prudencio gave him minute directions for finding Mr. Dingle, and with a heart beating high with hope Crooked Bill took his departure. "Tomorrow I'll hire a car and driver and hie me out to saw those sheep off on Bill Dingle," he decided. "I'll give that grass thief a bargain he Just nat urally won't have the heart to refuse. Then I'll get an airplane to freight me back home in a hurry, because I mustn't waste any time with that Higuenes bird always on the Job. Once home, I'll wire Roberta I'm very 111 and to come home Immediately. After that the Deluge." CHAPTER X For a long time after Crooked Bill had left his office Don Prudencio Alvlso sat In his swivel chair and stared hard at the opposite wall. He was thinking equally hard. Presently he took down the telephone and called the proprietor of the Mansion house and with him held a conversation in Spanish. Then he hung up and waited. Presently the telephone rang and Don Prudencio answered, "Gracias." - He hung up and wrote on a scratch pad the Initials W. B. L. Thereafter he continued to stare at the wall for an other hour. The following night he appeared at the Rancho Valle Verde. Roberta was dressing for dinner, and Don Jaime was lying In his long chair on the gallery, with Ken Ilobart beside him. "Hello, Prudy, what brings you out?" Don Jaime hailed him. "I am mystified." Don I'rudencio replied, and forthwith related In meticulous detail his Impending sale of the Antrim sheep to a fat headed old gentleman for a very great deal more than they were worth. "He said his name was Blodgett. and sicned the contract William L. Blodgett." the lawyer continued. "He did not say where he was from, but I could see he knew nothing of sheep and was a city man. He did not bargain with me and be seemed to rue to be quite too anxious to buy the sheep. So I telephoned to the Mansion bouse to Inquire if he was stopping there and when I described him they said they had a guest there from New Vork by that name, but that his baggage carried the initials W.B. L." "Hum mm!" I km Jaime grunted and sat up very straight. "He isn't a very good liar. Is he? What does W. B. L, of New Vork, want of the Antrim sheep, and why should he pay such a high price for them? This is Indeed very mysterious, I'rudy. Did he deposit the ten thousand?" "He did. It .was telegraphed from New York." "I wonder what the old idiot Is going to do with those sheep?" "I Imagine hes going to get Bill Dingle to care for them." "Not ou my range. Prudy, the minute those sheep pass out of possession of the estate of Thomas Antrim, deceased, they're going to get off the Higuei.es range. If they linger there'll be a fight or a foot race." "Do you suppose Miss Antrim will agree to sell the sheep, my friend?" Don Prudencio queried. "Sell them? Of course she'll sell them. You are her executor and you recommend the sale. I am her friend and business adviser and I certainly The Twelfth Naany confidence. tional." "Who ordered the transfer?" "A man by the name of Glenn Haikett" "Thanks," said Don Jaime, and climbed back Into the car with Roback berta. When they were half-wato Valle Verde he said to her very casually. "Do you know a man In New York by the name of Glenn Haekett?" Roberta Jerked erect with surprise. "Why. yes! He's one of my dearest friends and my Uncle Bill's attorney. Do you know Glenn, Jimmy?" "No and I hope I never do. I dislike him very much. He's in love with y you ?" "That's none of your business, and besides, if he were, Jimmy, you couldn't expect me to discuss the subject with you. Who has been telling you about Glenn Haekett?" "The fairies," Don Jaime replied enig Roberta And though matically. pressed him to tell her more and employed every feminine wile to break down his resolve not to, he refused. As they alighted at the hacienda the outrageous man still further mystified her by saying: "And I don't think so much of your old Uncle Bill, either." This statement when there was not apparently any reason why Uncle Bill should ever be the subject of thought was the final feather that broke the back of Roberta's curiosity. "Jimmy," she pleaded, "would you care to save a human life?" "Some humans. You, for instance." "Then tell me what has lowered my innocent Uncle Bill In your estimation." "He's crooked." "Oh, Jimmy, he isn't! nis friends call him Crooked Bill because he's well, rather joyously sly, cunning and prudent. But dishonest never!" "He's out to boost the stock of this Glenn Haekett person to you and to depress mine." Roberta smiled a small and knowing smile but said nothing. "No, he doesn't play fair," Don Jaime protested. "He says one thing and means something else, so just for that I'm going to take your Uncle Bill's conceit down a couple of notches." "How do you know he doesn't play fair?" "I Gave Dingle and His Men a Pretty Tough Deal." recommend It, and as the probate Judge knows nothing of sheep and will be guided by such experts as you and tne in making his decision, naturally he will sign an order of sale. Have a drink, after that long and Interesting report !" "Weeth delight," said Don Pru dencio. The following morning Don Jaime motored In to Los Algodones, and Roberta accompanied him. As they swung down the main street past the Mans sion house, with Its row of on the front porch, Roberta started hand on Don and laid a Jaime's arm. "Jimmy, look! See that man sitting on the right of the line the one In the blue overalls and canvas coat?" "Yes." "He's a replica of my Uncle Bill. If he had Uncle Bill's clothes on I'd get out and kiss him without question. Good gracious, what a marked resemblance! Why he and Uncle Bill are as near alike as twins." "So?" murmured Don Jaime and stepped on his foot throttle. "Now that's mighty Interesting." He pnrked in front of the bank, excused himself to Roberta, entered and sought the cashier. "Ed," he said, "yesterday ten thousand dollars was wired here to the credit of the estate of Thomas Antrim, as a first payment on account of the purchase, by one Blodgett, of the Antrim sheep. That young lady outside in my car is Antrim's heir, Miss Roberta Antrim. I want to know what New York bank wired it." I don't think I violate "Certainly. chair-warmer- g He laid finger on lip. "Hush! It's a secret." "Evidently," Roberta replied bitterly, after waiting about twenty seconds for him to impart the secret. "I think I'll go back to Lns Algohe announced dones," suddenly. "There's something about the atmosphere of that town that aids my powers of divination." "Am I invited to ride back with you? Or must I mope around the house until you return?" I "I think you had better mope. have need to do some thinking and you ditch my train of thought." He looked at her keenly, earnestly, and without the slightest flicker of love-ligin his eyes. "Are you enjoying your visit at Valle Verde, Bobby? I've wondered if you didn't feel a bit lonely and neglected here." "Oh. no, Jimmy ! Vou're such a friendly, comfortable person when you are around the house. Will you return from Los Algodones in time for dinner, Jimmy?" I'l do my best to "I don't know. complete my business and be back in time. I don't relish driving around this country at night because Just at present, for me, at least, the night has a number of eyes." "You mean " "I mean that your foreman, Bill Din gle, has been across the Line, and something tells me he went there to hire some renegade to bump me off. I don't particularly blame him for that. A man acts according to his lights, and I gave Dingle and his men a pretty tough deal." "But you went to town today unarmed, Jimmy?" He shook his head, half removed his tropical whipcord coat and displayed a gun under each arm, In a shoulder 00000000000000000000OOC0 Even Ordinary Mortal Is Rich in Ancestors "A pedigree like this Is, of course, such as few can claim," says the Canadian Mining Journal, commenting on an article on the subject of heredity. But, with reference to the pedigrees of very ordinary mortols like it Is Interesting to recall that a distinguished legal commentator has estimated that at the fortieth gene aloglcal remove that Is to say. In the course of sixteen or seventeen centuries the total number of a man's progenitors is more than 'AH of us have now subsisting,' wrote the great Blackstone, 'nearly 270,000,000 of cousins In the fifteenth degree; and If this calculation should appear Incompatible with the number of inhabitants on the earth, It Is because, by Intermarriages among the descendants, a hundred or a thousand different relations may be consolidated in one person, or he may be relat ed to us in a hundred or a thousand different ways!' "What a field of speculation this train of thought opens up! Small wonder that each of us Is supposed to have a 'double.' " Welcomed New Daughter The letter to her new daughter-in-lawhich Martha Washington wrote, considered by critics an almost per feet example of expression, was as follows: "My dear Nelly: God took from Me a Daughter when June Roses were blooming He has now given me another daughter about her Age when Winter winds are blowing, to warm my Heart again. 1 am as Happy as One so afflicted and so Blest can be. Pray receive my Benediction and a wish that you may long live the loving Wife of my happy Son and a Loving Daughter of Your Affectionate Mother, M. Washington." iiiuruuiizeaw. Keeps Skin You? tkm uul mil Mwu nc. u mm ' of f.L '""J .A. holster. "I try to appear ous off the ranch," be explainer "Well, I have a few friends who keep me advised on matters In which I am Interested. I'm pretty safe In daylight, but coming home in the dusk I d Just as lief have a good man for company. So you stay home. Roberta, and I'll take Ken Ilobart with me. He's verf reliable." With a careless nod he left her, to drive over to the men's quarters for his foremaa Rolierta stood in the patio entrance and watched him saw Ken Ilobart come out of the saddle room, receive his orders and go to his own adobe bungalow for his coat and a couple of carbines and ammunition belts. Then the two drove away, and Roberta, with terror in her heart, went to her room and wept, as her lively Don Jaime pictured imagination Miguel Higuenes, all bloody and limp, lying in the deep gray dust of the road to Los Algodones. fl pmml nlvwtv. Ymm U h4 fc torun out tha ''. ' jSS 111 POLTTECHMC COLLEGE EKIHBun. OF Uib and Maduon Su Oakland, COME TO OAKLAND his. "Not at all," Crooked Bill replied In the same language, albeit haltingly, for the years had been long since his tongue had caressed so many vowels. "Help yourself, my friend." "I thank you," Don Jaime replied in English, "I observe you do not speak Spanish too well I beg pardon for addressing you In that tongue, but observing that you appear to be of this country I supposed you spoke the language of the country." "Never was much of a hand at foreign languages," Crooked Bill replied with the utmost friendliness. Don Jaime produced two cigars and handed one to his neighbor. Crooked Bill favored the weed with a swift, furtive appraisal, saw that It was a brand that retailed at three for a dollar, and decided he might risk It "'Much obliged," he murmured. "I'm a stranger here," he added. "My name's Blodgett. William Blodgett." "I am pleased to met you, Mr. Blodgett. I am Jaime Miguel Higuenes." Crooked Rill started noticeably. "The h you are!" he burst out, Iflfilah invite young men to come to tis lege with assurance of the best ficiiV'er VVe 1 ' Civil, Electrical, Mining, Mk Aeronautical, Radio, Archil ecturaliZv B8 Condition. This KfrigatinK college main tains contact Engmunga within T corporation! and engineers who empiorac8 graduates. Many students earn part it 'a Eros penses while attending. If ycu want thorough work, you at the Polytechnic College. Known on ognired as the leading school of its ki. the west. iempai Students may enroll at anv time. lartltore for free catalog of informatiun and ifl application for enrollment before the uL?an is advanced. We have a life membership or an nnlta, scholarship for those who desire that aSaf ThlS liegrees awarded in all the above crxTaresidf Recommended by many ki?h school LV Offers a chance for boys ho thiak ""001 have failed. mnlot W. I. Wood, W. E. Gibson, Pres. caa.e'"' aafa Brtrtalii jonaldt - -j- World' In the cool of the late afternoon Don Jaime dropped Into a vacant chair beside Crooked Bill on the veranda of the Mansion house, after first inquiring, in Spanish, if by an chance the chair was reserved for any friend of vagi Largest Organ rith tea The organ In the convention Atlantic City Is now virtually t tid plete and Is by far the largest litem l in the world in number and si pipes, wind pressure used and Mrs. power employed. This was &.Vrerao sary, due to the Immense size fitates. which Is the borse i auditorium, building of Its type In the workMny I has a total seating capacity 000. The organ Is being built the general bond funds issued t city of Atlantic City for the hi. of the auditorium proper am equipment, and Its cost Is $3GS S tf Plan Honor for Insect Premier Moore of Queensland.' tralia, proposes In all seriousne,' erect a statue to "cactoblastnt- Insect which destroys the casm prickly pear. Cactus was spra over millions of rich acres whs Insect was Imported. Now for are returning to lands whid plants had made unfit for e "The 'cactoblastus' Is the mil our state," says Moore. .. ; mtJIitQaiddl TO iiliiiawili al! 1 "Ah, you have heard of me?" Don Jaime's face betokened mild surprise and Inquiry. "Why yes, Senor Higuenes If you will forgive me for bringing up a delicate subject. I believe you're the young man who wafted old Tom Antrim into the bosom of Abraham." "I had the pleasure," Don Jaime replied modestly. "Would you mind shaking hands with me, Senor Higuenes? By the s holy ioker, that was a job of work you did on Tom. I'm delighted to meet you, sir." "The pleasure is mutual, Mr. Blodgett. You knew Antrim?"' "I should tell a man. He skinned me on a cow deal once. That rascal was so low he could kiss a rat without bending his knees." Don Jaime smiled. "1 believe, Mr. Blodgett, that you and I have interests in common. Suppose we cement our acquaintance in two fingers of tequila. I know a place where we can get it." "Boy," said Crooked Bill, "you're a gift from God. But we'll pass up the tequila, because I have a couple of Bourbon In' quarts of The h 1 of it Is there's my room. no ice in this hotel." "I will get ice from the soda clerk at the drug store, Mr. Blodgett. Mint, also, is available, and if you will permit me, I will make a julep after the manner taught me by my father. Although of Spanish persuasion he married a lady from Virginia and she taught him the great secret" "Get on the job," ordered Crooked Bill, "and come up to my room. Number 8(i." Five minutes later Don Jaime returned with the Ice and the mint, and Crooked Bill arose and led the way upstairs. "My ruse to get him to walk worked," thought Don Jaime. "He has a slight Yes, beyond the perad venture limp. of a doubt this sly old wretch is Roberta's uncle, and if I don't find out what he's up to before we part I'm far from being the boy I used to be." Up In Number 80 Don Jaime mixed the Julep, shaving the Ice with a bowie-knif- e sorted out from under his coat-tai- l. Crooked Bill watched him, fascinated. "What part of our glorious Ixne Star state do you hail from, Mr. Blodgett?" Don Jaime Inquired presently. "I come from El Paso." This was true. Crooked Bill had changed trains there. "Thinking of settling In this part of the state?" "Oh no! Fact is, I came down here to buy those sheep from Tom Antrim's first-clas- thirty-year-ol- I V.T livfXAil - cold, clear your conuenlon. ( old! la Fir and thrlreon waatt-t- i lntetlnea. A cup ind 8(1 Garfield Tea cleaam" art ouiihly, gently up the ayatem ingesa tour dnnttsfi). rcu B1 ample mi: aarflald la Co.. p.o.Mdertzgg pior the) tne a!n di lueer t lelf COD Closeness "Mr. Dustin Stax says he i ; friend of yours." "One of the closest ever," f Senator Sorghum. "He is so' he won't give up 550 for mj; paign fund." Washington Star,: "My birthday party was sp when mycougk bad that I had i to bed. Motheri after this she'll ways keep a Rronehi-LvDt- a and cough At your druggist's, write to 732 cerea Ave- but! ll - cold Lns At Chance for Trainers d If people can train nafei'iia ttuu mill can't they train selves (Fla.) to the uci them to fleas rnish tb confine, dogs?- - .Tacts' Mind wl Times-Unio- 6 jver be H-frOiif- uaintai.uv Bother You?! ItMayWamofKicbty Bladder Irregularities A persistent backache, j bladder irregularitiei a tired, nervous, dePr feeling may warn of sob' ordered kidney or bladders dition. Users everywhere f on Doan's Pills. more than 50 years by Pw! PJ 11 ."ul druggists. estate." "ThisJs most unfortunate, Mr. Blodam a cowman and I had no Idea I was fraternizing with a sheepman. Were It not for yonr antiquated liquor It would be Incumbent upon me to retire Instantly." gett 1 (TO BE CONTINUED.) W. N. U Salt Lak City, N 5 Orer M the S treat cau |