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Show 11 Fresh M Fish By Richard H. Wilkinson tN HEAVEN'S name," Tommy Hunter cried, "why can't we get married? We love each other! There is nothing that stands between be-tween our complete happiness, but the consent of a bl " "Of my father, Tommy," Dolores interrupted him gently. "That is a big obstacle, my 3. . . , dear. In my MiniltS country, girls do Fiction not marry wtn- I out the consent of their parents. ' It is tradition, Tommy." "Rats!" said Tommy. "You mean you won't break it! You don't love me!" "Tommy!" "All right," he said. "I can't see it your way, but I guess I've got to take it and like it." He left her abruptly, crossed the sun-bathed patio of the old Spanish hacienda and entered the door on the opposite side. Inside the small room Tommy saw a white-haired old man taking his ease in a chair near a window. "Senor Jacinto," the youth began, "I come to you again and for the last time and in all humbleness to ask the hand of your daughter. I " "And for the last time," interrupted inter-rupted the old man angrily, '"1 refuse. My daughter is descended descend-ed from a noble and proud family. fam-ily. She deserves a husband of distinction and wealth." "You mean," said Tommy, "that you will sell your daughter to the man who will lend you enough money to increase your measly fish business. A fish peddler dishing oux stuff about noble ancestors! Bah!" "Get out of my house, you Amer-a Amer-a lean adventurer! And if you come ST back once more, I will turn you over to the police!" Back at his hotel Tprnmy's spirits sank to a low ebb. He had not the remotest idea how to persuade Senor Jacinto to consent to his marriage to Dolores. Suddenly Tommy leaped to his feet. He could not provide funds to help Dolores' father expand, but on the other hand. ... Early the next morning the streets of Ortegna rang to the cry of "Fish! Fresh Fish!" delivered in a strange and foreign dialect. Housewives rushed to their doors and smiled over the odd sight of a blond-haired American youth pushing a cart in front of him on which reposed a ... J' ' canvas . tarpaulin covering great quantities of fresh fish. Curious, they stopped and questioned him, were astonished to learn that his price was far below that of Senor Jacinto. NEWS of the oddity spread rapidly rapid-ly and before noon Tommy had sold out his supply. On the next day it was the same, and again on the day following. A week passed and Tommy . had worked up a nice business. Occasionally he saw Senor Jacinto, Jac-into, but the old man passed him by with never a word, but glowering looks. On the eighth day Senor Jacinto stopped him on a deserted street. "This is an outrage! Ortegna is not big enough for two fish dealers. One J of us will have to go.". I "What a pity you are planning to leave the land of your birth where you own a fine house and have many friends." Senor Jacinto choked with rage. "It is you who will go. I was here t . 'RESH FISH J I On the eighth day Senor Jacinto Ja-cinto stopped him on a deserted street. "This is an outrage! Ortegna Or-tegna Is not big enough for two fish dealers," he said. first. I built up the fish business here. You will have to go!" "Gladly," said Tommy. "The moment mo-ment you consent to my marriage to Dolores. I am not a fish dealer by trade. 1 am a surveyor. I would like to continue to be a surveyor, but not alone." " - "Never!" shouted the angry man. Tommy shrugged and shook his head sadly. "It is a pity. Fish!" he called at the top of his voice. "Fresh fish!" Senor Jacinto nearly burst a blood vessel. "Stop!" he shrieked. "The very sound of your voice is like a knife in my side. Take my daughter and the devil with you both! Only leave me in peace!" Dolores was waiting in the patio when Tommy came for her. "You are a very good fish peddler." ped-dler." she said. "Will you always be a fish peddler?" "Only," said Tommy, "if your father should change his mind about consenting to our marriage." |