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Show • Friday, November 18, 1932 THE MIDVAI..E JOURNAL •• •• •• •• •• he • • • By Peter H. Kyne • • • BEGINNING THE STORY, FOR NEW READERS Roberta Antrim, beautiful EasterD •oclety cirl, who lives with her uncle, William B. Latham, known ... "Crooked Btll'" because of his amusing slyneaa. receives a telegram from Ja.lme Miguel Hlguenea, owner of the Rancho Valle Verde, ln Texaa, Informing her her Uncle Tom Antrim has died a violent death. At the advice of Glenn Hackett, who 11 In love wJth her, Roberta. plan• to go to Texas to protect her Interests, 8lnce abe Ia her uncia'• •ole heir to thouu.n4• of •beep which .Antrim ha.d Impudently driven to graze on land controlled by Don Jaime. Don Jaime, unmarried and romantic, halt Spanish and haU Irlah, Ia attracted to Roberta's picture In a ma.G"azlne. Antrim la warned to take hla abeep otr Don Jaime'• ranch at once. Antrim ambushes Don Jaime. The young ranch owner Is wounded and Tom Antrim killed. On his body are tound Instructions to notify Mlsa Roberta Antrim In the event of his death. Another Hlguenes' t elegram tells Roberta her uncle waa killed by Jim Htgglna (Don Jaime's anglicized name). Latham tells her his fortune Ia in danger, and abe decides to go tn Texas to get Antrim's estate, to save lt. Don Jaime Invites Mrs. Ganby, his nurse, and her crippled son Robbie, to stay at hta ranch with the Idea of preserving the proprieties it Roberta, as he hopes, visits the ranch. "Crooked Bill" lets bjs niece believe he bas lost his fortune, furthering a acheme he hopes will t:orwa.rd Hackett's courtship. Hackett, despite misgivings, "plays up'' to Uncle Bill's scheme tor lnfl:uenctng Roberta. In his tavor. Don Jaime, actuated chiefly by hfa roma.ntle Interest In the pictured Roberta, a allows the Antrim sheep to continue to graze on his ranch. CHAPTER V-Continued -71'1 know you're not, dear Uncle Bill You're a perfectly good old aport. I have just had a long telegram from my lawyer in Los Algodones, Texas. He Informs me that the af!alrs of Uncle Tom's estate are in excellent shape and that he dled lea vlng even more sheep than was at first suspected. There are about ten thousand lambs that wlll soon be ready for market and which should bring ten dollnrs a head and there are upwards of a bundred thousand pounds of excellent wool worth thirty cents a poundWhy, It would seem that Uncle Torn's estate wLU run close to half a million dollars. We should worry and grow Wrinkles and gray hair, darling." The butler announced dinner-and between th~ fish and the roast, as per Hackett comGlenn agreement, menced to question Crool{ed Bill adroitly as to the exact nature or his operations in the market. Roberta noted a grim little smlle playln{.t across Hacl<ett's PuritanJcal face from time to time, so presently, wltb her customary impulsiveness. she asked bim to share Ute joke with them. un•s on your Uncle Bill,'' he replied. "It Is my duty to Inform you, Bobby, that your Uncle B111 Is an antedilu Tiao idiot who can't see the woods for the trees. If be could he'd see a path out of this mess be's in-a path as wide as the boardwalk at Atlantic Oity. Let us eat, drink and be merry, tor tomorrow Oncle B111 will no longer be a financial corpse. Be will bave commenced bls resurrection." ..Bow are you gofng to save Uncle Blll ?" Roberta demanded. Hackett proceeded to outline to her, ttatlently a.nd in words of one syllable, his plan for the salvation of .C rooked 4 Bill. "1 understand perfectly, Glenn," Ro. berta said when at lnst be finished. wonderful wonderful, "You're • friend." "''l'lle plnt~ Is vetoed.'' Crooked Bill declared virt~ously. "Friendship will bear up under anything except the Indorsement of notes or the swift heavy touch." "But, Uncle BJil-.. Uncle Bfll raised his leonine bead and his cold, steel-gray eyes flickered murderous llgJlts at her. ..There will be no furtl. er dlscassion of this un· pleasant suoJect.'' be Informed ber coldly. When Crooked Bill looked and spoke In that tone of volce, ,Robf'rta knew from experience that obt~ dlence was incumbent upon her. Her eyes tilled with tears; In a tremulous voice she begged to be excused and wlthdrt:w. Crooked Bill's wild eyebrcnvs went np as the girl left tbe room. ''She's as big a crook as 1 am." he declared proudly. "She isn't at all distressed She's just pulling the old stuff-not on me this time. but on you, my boy. She expects you to follow her out and comtort her. Do not disappoint her. li'or· ward I'' .. Are you quite certain she wouldn't prefer to be left alone, Mr. Lutbarn? She's all upset." "Listen to me. son. J know my Varuonions. The girl's play·acting. ose!" Glenn Hackett "Yamosed." Within five mlnlltes he returned with Roberta on hts arm. •'Rum !" Crooked Bm reflected. ..And she spent at least a minute making up her face! Four minutes to put over her lov;ng plot against me. The llttle crook!" He beamed upon h er. "I'm so sorry I spoke crossly to my little girl," he announced with nypocrittcal unction. Bobby klssed hlm tondly and gave him a llttle hug. Crooked Bill was not one to gum up hls own finely laid plans, and presently, wlth a full realization of the truth of the old adage that three fs a crowd, he withdrew to his room, leaving Glenn Hackett to make what progress be could with the rebellious Roberta. But Crooked Bill did not reti-re. He s'molced until ten o'clock, nt which hour be tmew Glenn Hackett, a creature of habit, would depart for the <!ity. So Crooked Bill went down the back stairs, crossed the lawn and Waited for Oackett at the entrance to "Did it work?" he deHillcrest. manded. "OrerUmE>," Duckett responded. "'Vas s.be nice to you Mter 1 left?" .. Well-er-ab-Platnnic. " ''Aggh!" Crooked Bill growled deep In his throat, like an aged tiger. •·op ht\we, you jellyfi~b. You·~ be a bach eltlr in the South Sea tslunds- ·and on an t~land whPr~ they pra,.ticP- pl)lyanClry ,. ·ungs, my boy, However, why should I worry about a smear of sheep? I don't care two boots In a hollow If they all starve to death. l'ru solely intere~ted ln promoting for Roberta a journey to Los Algodones, In order that she may see the other side of the picture. Don Jaime is unmarried (I've discovered that) and tf he falls to fnU In love with Roberta he's fit for treason, stratagems and spoils. U she doesn't qunrrel with hJm about that, they're bound to ran out over business. because no mao ever managed a woman's business affairs without discoverJog In the long run that be had per· formed a thoroughly thankless tnslt." ~'1 wish I didn't have to mtx In her affairs. I dislike deception-even in· nocent deception, Mr. Latham.'' Why, I've "You ungrateful pup! placed Bobby under a tremendous ob ~lgatlon to you and made It possible for yon two to share a delightful secret In common-all o! which ls equivalent to scattering six Inches or tanbark on the hard, macadamized road of true love. By pretending to lose my fortune I drive ofT about SO per cent of your competitors and shoo Robby out of her set. tn which she might find other competitors for you. As a promOter I think I'm just about the bee's knees myself." "But you're giving Don Jaime a free field." "At.td why not? He's short and tnt. weighing · about two hundred pounds. If he Isn't, the scientists are all wrong about heredity." ••1 have known tan, graceful and extremely charming Irishmen, Mr. Latham!" "But the Spanls.h blood predom· !nates in Hlguenes. At least lt did ln bls father. They were originally As· turianm;~, and Asturlanos are all me-dium·Sized and stocky. But to return to Don Jaime. ln all probability be takes a bath after the fall round·up and has never seen a bathtub except in a hotel. He will have a luxuriant. Niagara falls type of black mustache and use perfume. He will talk with a strong Spanish accent and rour fifths or his life is undoubtedly spent in bis shirt-sleeves. He's just a husky Border cowman, l tell you. Do you see Bobby fal1ing for a man like tha,t?" "No-o-o I" ••You're a suspicious Yankee, Glenn. Your motto is: 'Trust everybody but cut the cnrds.' . • • Well, I must be toddling along. I think I'll take on a line of United Drugs. I've bad a tip that they've been quietly absorbing about twenty-five hundred chain drug stores. Meanwhile you keep picking on ltoberta to get her out of town i nnd in order to soothe your New England conscience I'm going to spread about a hundred thousand margining a Une or United Drugs for you. lt the deal shows a profit by the time you mnrry rtOberta, It will be yours. If It shows a loss--send me a reaSonable bill for professional services." "As a pfncb-hltter for Cupld 1 thtok you're a total ruin;· Glenn Dackett declared. "Bow come?" "I'm satisfied that Roberta tsn't In love with me.'' "So am l. But l'm also satisfied that she thinks a thousand per cent more or you than of a.ny mn.n 11vlng. and tr you remain Indifferent to hereven let her see you out with another girl occaslonnlly-you'll have to marry her in self-defense... Be shook his Thoroughly disgusted he returned to the house. He bad a presentiment that Fate was, In a manner or speaking, stacking the cards agnlust him. Nen morning Crooked Bill caught an early train to the city, explatning that the sooner he swept up the fragments of his scattered fortunes the better tor all concerned. Roberta motored in a Httle later and went at once to Glenn Hackett's otllce, where he prepared and she signed a forQJal assignment of all of her right, Utle and 1tnterest In and to her Uncle Tom's efJtate to Hackett, for and In consideration of certain moneys to be advanced to her by Hackett. 11 Now, then, Roberta," Oa<·kett said when tl1e document wns signed, "you onderstand that this is a business deal from first to last. Not a speck or sentiment In It so far as l am concerned. While yflu have given me security for tt.e funds I am to advance, 1t may be that I will be cnUed upon to advance a sum In excess of the total ''Blue of your Uncle 'l.'om's estate. Consequently, It Is or the utmost Importance that the estate should be administered wisely and conserved. I have looked up yot.'lr lawyer at Los Algodones, Don Prudenclo Alviso, and be appears to have an excellent record for probity but Is a poor busl· ness man. It 1-" "He assures me Don Jaime Miguel Rlguenes is most rellable and Is do!ng all that anybody can do to conserve the estate." Roberta hastened to assure Hackett. "I know. But the thought occurs to me: Why Is Don Jaime Miguel Higuenes taking all this trouble? Whnt do you mean to him? Re Is a cattleman, so why should he bother with your sheep? My dear l3ohhy, I am hl~hly suspfcJooR or that fellow." Bobby's llp drooped. She had not thought of Don Jaime In that Ugh! before. and he.r common sense warned her that tltere ml#:"ht be more than a mocJJcum of truth in (1ackett's suspicions. He saw the douht he had planted burgeoning, and hastened to aid Its growth. ''As f told you before, it ts impossible for me to go to Texas to look after your atralrs, Bobby. Your un· fortunate uncle dare not leave New York at this time either. His credItors might think he wns endeavoring to flee the country. Consequently, I think It ts of tbe utmost Importance that you go to Los Algodones Immediately nnd investigate everything thnroughly." "But, Glenn, 1 don't lmow a thing about business, and ['m arruld it's too big an order." ''l dtsngree with you. You bnve a feminine Intuition of the hi.(:hest degree of development. rr you go there, get acquainted with your lawyer nmt Don Jaime and, after a few weeks, discover that you have nhsnlutely no meotal resenntions re~nrdlng either or both, l shall think It quite safe to leave your afl'alrs in their hands for the present. at least." This adroit spe~b ftnttered Roberta. since It was corroborating a belief she bad nlwuys entertained, I. e., that she could look through men as If they were glass. Her respect for Anrkett's intelligence and ability Increased at once. ul'll go to Los Algodnne~ just as soon as I can get ready," she declared. .. That's fine, Roberta." fie escorted her to the elevator and upon returnIng to his office pressed a bm:zer three • times, whereupon his secretary uslT· ered In to hlm from an adjoining room no less a person than Crooked Bill. "Well, have you sold her the Idea that she should go to Los Algodones?" he demanded of the lawyer. Social e~olution a.mon~ ants stretches "1 have. She promised me she hac'k at lflast One- hundred million would go as soon as she co.uld get years. whiiP human society could hard ready." l:v be snfd to have existed two million Crooked Bill rubbed b1s bands pleasyears a~o. Thus human soetety ts a urably. Bnckett banded him the asmuch more re<'ent evolution. and we signment wbich Roberta bad Just would eXpt:>{'t the Tnrlivldual hnmnn to given him, and Crooked Bill set tire to exhibit a- grpn.ter degree of '.11dlviduai· it and dropped it Into Hackett's metal lstlr hE•hnvlor romrarE"d to social be· waste basket. havior thnn In the case or the lndl JAime thJs in virtual ant. Htttmm society has ha~ to "lia ve you confidence Hnrk6i>tt Latham?" Biguenes, Mr. hnlld merhnnlsms for controlling- prevqueried. alt'-nt antl·MC'inl tent1Pncles. We nil uni1Pr):::o rig-id training through thP nc· ''How do l know 1 Be's a perfeC\. stranger to me. Oowever, his father \ tlvities of parPnts, ten<'hers, and oth and grandfather were both muy cnhal lero to the nth degree and never ca1·ed Historic ValJey enough about money tH get tt by \'alley ts more Slwnunrloub The crcwked or unfRlr meun!oi. And T'm a anlj Vlll'ies In long mllea 100 thQn great believer ln berec!Hy. I h:\\-'e )1. widtH rrom 20 to 30 miles; Inclu ded strong suspicion thnr Oon .Tufme IR within Its area &re Berkeley and J ef. l:li or tqulpped with a complete se1 rerson counties. W. Va., n.nd Freder ne\·er herninn inner work$;, and 1 h1n·e Clnrk<•, Wn.rren, ShPnnt11lonh. ick, known a hl~hly courageous mnn who Rorklngham Uld Augu:-t"' counPage. \vas a wt::-ak man. Tbe cronl<!'l or thi:Va ties. Wf)rlit ""l.l'e recruited from the we1-k stlck at BacketL ••Remember, JOur battle-cr1 1JI 'On to Texas ! 1 " CHAPTER VI Roberta shopped for two weeks, spent another two weeks on a booseboat party among the Thousand islands, and departed for Loa Algodones. "'Vhere shall I address you, Bobby?" Crooked Bill queried. ..At the Man~ slon house, tn Los Algodones?" "No, dear. Address me ln care of Don .Talmo Miguel H.lguenes." "What?" Crooked Bill started as 1t bee stung. "You going to put up at the Higuenes hacienda? Why-why, the man's a bachelor." "How do you know?" ''1'\'e been maklng inqnlrles about him." "Well, his housekeeper, a Mrs. Gan· by, has written me, Inviting me to be his guest. Don Jaime was ill at the time and cou1dn't write me personally, but be did write, at the bottom of Mrs. Canby's letter, 'Official: J. M. R.' Mrs. Gaoby says they have a lovely place and that 1'11 be much more comfortable at the Rancho Valle Verde than at any hotel In that country." Crooked Bill was assailed by the feeling that, in some lnexplicable way, his well-laid plans were doomed to go aft agley. "You'll Write me frequently and tell me all about it, won't you, honey?" Roberta promised and kissed him good-by. Five days later she and Mignon, her malc;I, with three huge trunks and five pieces of hand baggage, were deposited on a lonely, sun-warped platform at the little fiag station o·t Valle Verde. "So tills," said Roberta, looking around her after tlie train had re· sumed tt.s journey, ••ts Texas. Good gracious, Mignon, what ts that noise?" "It sounds like a zoo at feeding time," snld Mignon apprehensively, and looked behind her. ••oh, It's cat· tle," she added, relieved. A quarter of a. mile out on the plain, In a compact mass, a huge herd of wb.lte-faced cattle were mllllng slowly and bellowing continuously. •'Why, there must be thousands of them!" Roberta gasped, and was grateful that the station platform, which was at least Hve feet off the ground, appeared to ofl'er reasonable sanctuary from attack. From around the corner of the sta· tion a man appeared, hat 1n hand. "Miss Antrim?" he queried. "Yes, Indeed," said Roberta gratefully, and waited for him to name bimself. ''I'm Bill Dingle, your Uncle Tom's general manager. I got your tetter tellln' me you'd arrive today and In· structln' me to meet you at the B.iguenes rancho tomorrow." ..Yes," Roberta murmured, wondering tf she ought to Introduce Mignon to Mr. Dingle, who was eyeing the maid as a fresh cow LD a pasture eyes a dog. "So I thought I'd meet you here, miss, and explain to you how come it won't be possible for me to meet you there.'' Mr. Dlngle went on. bls embarrassment Increasing at every word. •tit's about twenty mile straight east from here to your Uncle Tom's ranch, which Is your ranch now, 1 reckon, and I figgered maybe tt•d be better for all hands I! you put up there t.nstead of at the Hlguenes rancho. I reckon you and this other lady'd be as safe and comfortable there as anywhere.'' "That Is very kind of you, Mr. Din· gle.'' Roberta hesitated, then, in her usual frank manner, plunged. "Why Is tt Impossible for you to meet me at the Higuenes rancho, Mr. Dingle?" Mr. Dingle scuffed a foot along the station platform and his embarrass· ment Increased vlslbly. ,.Well, ma'am, In this country, when a feller's enemy warns him not to set foot on his ranch again untJI he's sent for, unless he wants to be made a colander out of, It's reasonable to figger the warnin's meant.'' <><>< "Individualism " in Ants and Mankind Compared •• •• •• •• •• ISPER(D Lrorot Complexion Seuet! Who warned ;rou 1" "Don .:Jalme Hlguenel." "Indeed. Wh7, I had no Idea Don Jalme Hlguenes was such a blood· thirsty man I Is the trouble between you something that cannot be recti.. fied? :t should be bappy to act ne peacemakP.r, Mr. Dingle." Btu Dingle, remembering hts oftenses, was honest enough to declare that the trouble could not be rectifted and added something about the easiest way out of trouble belng to go around it. Then he was silent for qulte a while. meanwhile scuffing his toe and gazing a bit helplessly around the horl zon. Finally he said: "I reckon you didn't think u much of your Uncle Tom as he used to let on yon did. Don't you feel no resentment agln the man that murdered him?" "Not the slightest. From all that we can learn, officially, Uncle Tom was not murdered. The sheriff' of this county wrote that Uncle Tom made the mistake ot taking ln too much territory, which is a fatal error and tantamount to sufclde. It seems he ambushed Jim Higgins and shot him three times. Then Higgins got under cover and stalked Uncle Tom and killed him. I am Informed that he didn't know the identity o:t his assailant until he saw the body." "That's the story, but It ain't true. This killer ordered your Uncle Tom to quit grazin' his sheep on the free range or he'd kill htm. A warnln's a warnin' tn this country, an• It a teller don't choose to obey it be's justltled in arguin' the matter 1n the smoke the first time btm an' the warnin' person meet up. Your uncle didn't see no valid reason why he should have his liberty restricted by a private citizen. He considered his life 1n danger, so when they met up on the range 1t was a case of who could get into action quickest_ It was a case of an old man agio a young man, an' the young man won as usual. But your Uncle Tom never tried to kill nobody. He just naturally defended hls own U:te an' failec;I to do a good job. An', of course, a sheepman ain't in good standin" in a cattle country. Personally, I'm only a hired man, but I got my private opinions, an' I'm here to say It just naturally don't look right tor yoU to be the guest ot-" Mr. Dingle raised hts glance from the station plattorm ·nnd gazed across toward the approacWng herd o:t cattle. He appeared alert. poised for fl.lght; whatever had been ln his mind to say remained unsaid, and he was profoundly Interested ln a horseman who was galloping around the flank of the he rd, evidently with the lntentlon of passing on In front o:t It, "I rockon I'll be moseyin' along, ma'am," said Mr. Dingle. "'Ve can discuss our buslness when you come to the Antrim ranch." The horseman bnd cleared the herd and was coming on at an easy gallop; behind him a boy on a small pinto pony labored to keep up. "There's the man that kllled your Uncle Tom," Mr. Dingle almost hissed. ..1 reckon I don't care to meet that hombre until I can choose tbe time and place myself." And without standIng upon the order of his going Mr. Dingle went-in a flying leap off the station platform. Be Itt running and continued on to a disreputable old automobile; Ln an incredibly short space o:t tlme he was on his way home.. The horseman. observing Mr. Dingle's departure, spurred his mount td n furious gallop; apparently lt was hls intention to intercept the latter as he fled down the dusty road that ran parallel with the trac.ka. ''Be's going to shoot," :Mlgnon screamed. "Oh, the brute!" SiX pistol shots rang out and Roberta saw little putrs of dust leap up beside Dingle's right rear tire. A pause of about two seconds-then six more shots and slx more pu.tr.s o:t dust beside the same tire. Then the .horseman pulled up, turned and jogged quietly up to the station. He dismounted a little stltrty, dropped the reins over his horse's head, and ad.. vanced limping to the station plB.t· form, upon which he climbed laboriously and disappeared into the station. "'Thls ta exactly llke the movies." Mignon quavered. ''It's wonderful. So thrilling I Oh, I'm so glad you brought me with you, Miss Roberta I" ••\Vhen that man emerges you'll experience some more thrills," Roberta warned her maid "I'm gotng to tell him some things about himself be has not. In all probability, been. told be11 4 ers which tend to stimulate the social reswnses and suppress or redirect the anti-social resr)onses. Even after we reach adulthood, we have -need of policemen. lawyers, governments, ant] rntntsters to force or persuade us to conform to the social pattern. Ants do not need such mechanisms, for the,. tore." are born perfectly socialized. They do "Do be careful, Miss Roberta. He's not need to be taught or persuaded Of" so desperate--" forced to react socially, for their anti "I'll reduce him to pulp. rm not sorial tenrlencles were eliminated loog afraid of his guns. I Intend to protect ng-o through natural selection.-Boston my foreman. That ts the duty of an Herald. employer. We can testify to his effort to kill Mr. Dingle. I shall have him Labtern Decoration• arrested nud tried for attempt to comTbe vogue for Lanterns as house mit murder. The bloodthirsty wretch I" dE>('Oratinns spread trom Frnnce to The station aoor swung open, and England enrl.v in the Eigllteentb cen- Don Jaime Btguenes iirnpe<J out., stood 'I'hey were nu1de of glass with as erect as his damnged underpinning tur~· . frames or copper. brnss, or walnut. would permit, bowecl from the h.lf)S and were most frequently used as cell and all but swept the stntion platform tog fixture~. Aside from their prnt'wfth bis somhrero. Then he straighttlcal qualftle~ . they were bight.., dec· ened nnd sald: ":\lees-1 , mean Miss orntlve, and gave added interest to Antrim-1 am Jfevn.Rtated to think_.. th P room~ to whlch they were nsed (TO Bill OONTI.NUED.) Wind Carried Off Hay A whirlwind near the home ot Stanley Mucha, in Ware, Mass.. caused several men working In h.1a hayfield to gaze In wonder when a pUe of hay they had raked up, read7 to be loaded on a truck, was seen to rise In the air and sail along for some distance, nppa1·ent1y without any reason. The haypfle was carried up In the alr about 200 feet and remained 1n a compact mass for a considerable distance before dropping to the ground. Logical Explanation "Does a family called Greenlee live here?" 4 ' No, but there is a Mister Green a few doors down, and over the roa4 a Mrs. Lee." •·oh, they must have been dJ. Torced. "-Vart Hem (Stcx:kholm). To open thenostrihtand ... promote clear breathing use Mentholatum night and morning. ,.,..;;..., ••tgnorea" Jt Kennard, age eight, delights 1n u• tng big words. At dinner, when cabbage was be. lng served by his father. he accept· ed hls plate wlth a wry face and ex.. claimed: ••J just Ignore cabbage.'' • Terribly Nervous Fagged out ... always melancholy and bloe. She should tala: Lydia E. Pinkham's Ve~etable Compound. Irs tonic action builds up the system. Try it. Creoleo 'I'he word 1 'Creole" Is used in the United States in reference to the white persons descended from French and Spanish settlers ot Louisiana a.nd other Gult states. because we had to leave the picture ehow when I couldn't Next atop bot .. time tie Try the Fire Department Is this the city bridge de-partment?'' 11 Yes. What do you want?'' "Bow many points do you get for a Uttte slam?"-Unton Paclflc Maga~o~Hello! z!n•. Your Kidneys/ Don"t Neglect Kidney and Bladder Irregularities If bothered with bladder lr· regularities. getting up at night and nagging backache, heed promptly these symptoms. They may warn of some dis· ordered kidney or bladder condition. For 50 years grateful users have relied upon Doan's Praised the country over. by all druggists. W. N. U., Salt L;~.-:e C ity, No. 47--1932. |
