Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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? CHAPTER IX ? Continued ' ;V'U ?11? At the head' of the single street Don Jaime looked back. "A contented peo ple," he declared. "Chilli peppers dry lnx on every roof and ample corn for the tortillas; a tiny garden for onions and lettuce and beans, labor exchanged for bright calico and overalls and gingham at cost at the ranch commis sary; no debts, no rents, no lawsuits, freedom from a puritanical code of mora la Sometimes I could wish I, too, were a peon. Boll-weevil and the ^orlce of beef bothers them not, nor Hkxcs 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." Crooked Bill was wondering why his niece was such a poor correspondent, when Harms, the butler, entered with the mail. Crooked Bill pounced upon It. Two envelops, one slim and the other fat, bore the return address of the Rancho Valle Verde, so Crooked Bill opened the slim one and read : "My dear Mr. Latham: "I wired you for permission to pay my court to your very lovely niece. Miss Roberta Antrim. In granting the desired permission, for which I am deeply grateful, you saw fit to give me .some wholly unnecessary and rather silly advice on how to be suc cessful in love. "My dear Mr. Latham, you know nothing of your charming niece's dis position. 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 in terest in me that causes you to be so free with your foolish advice? I sus pect you would like to get me In Dutch. "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 c winging is to keep her guessing, but ? quien sabe 1 If you have any other suggestions for helping along the game of your old friend Patricio Jesus Hlg uenes' son, let them fly. "Sincerely yours "J. M. HIGUENES." Crooked Bill read and reread this remarkable document and with a huge ?lgh laid it aside. "I've overplayed my hand," he murmured, and took up Roberta's letter, which ran as follows : "Dear Uncle 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 Jim my) that I haven't had time to write. "Uncle Bill, he's marvelous. Every body thinks so and says ho ? conse quently It must be true. He Is very bold, he sings and plays divinely, be Is a sort of feudal baron and he rks hard all day with his men. Ho has thousands of acres of cotton, thou sands more of alfalfa, thousands more of cattle range, and all the cattle In the world. 1 "I haven't thought of Glenn Hackett more than twice since coming here and then only to compare him, to his dis advantage, to this amazing Jimmy. If he'd only make love to me like a rea sonable man should I think I'd fall for him ? hard. "I enclose a number of photos. The one of Jimmy is excellent. Write soon. "Your loving "BOBBY." With the calmness of despair Crooked Bill scrutinized the photographs. Tho one of Don Jaime showed him on a gray horse with a day-old calf draped across his lap. "Caramba !" murmured Crooked Bill. ?This fellow Is no fat, oily, perfumed, lazy Mexican with a 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 some thing and It muy pronto. I don't want Roberta to marry Into a mixed breed like the Hlgueneses. J "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. . , . mil Latham, you've got to get that girl back home in a hurry. Those Infernal sheep 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 Hlguenes bandit ever gets on to the Identity of the purchaser, he'll induce her to soak me so hard, when I'm un able to defend myself, that Ml never have the heart to eat a mutton chop -again. Glenn, my boy, fighting your fight is going to be mighty expensive,^ ? but aa an adjunct to the family I 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 contem plated? that of swindling himself 1 In due course he arrived in Los Algodones and put up at the Mansion 'tootise. Neither the town nor the hotel 'had changed a particle in the twenty ; . 7;' ? v- ? ?>-;< ?;<?? ?,? ? ? - ?> i five years that had passed since he had seen It last Nobody knew him, nor did any of the faces of the loungers In the chairs tipped back agalpst the front oi tho hotel awaken In Orooked Bill tbd faintest flicker of recognition. At the general store he purchased a pair of 1 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 clilzen of the wide open spaces. Thus garbed he called upon Don Prudenclo 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 Prudenclo nodded. "Are they for sale?" "A sale might be arranged, weeth the consent of the court, Senor Blod gett," Don Prudenclo answered guard edly." "Fine," said Crooked Bill. "I'll buy them. I've a notion I can make a turn on those sheep. I understand An trim's heir lives In New York, so I presume she'll be glad to sell and git rid of a nuisance." Don Prudenclo shrugged. "Maybe so." With his eyes he Inquired what Senor Blodgett's offer might be. Hav ing looked up the market quotations In an El Paso paper Crooked Bill promptly named a figure one dollar per head above the highest market quotations. Don Prudenclo stirred slightly. "I weel sell you those sheeps, subject to the confirmation by the court." he purred. "I am the executor for the ee-state. 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 thou sand dollars, no? I am queeck trader ? like you." ?Til 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 Prudenclo Alvlso might have looked sleepy, but behind those slight ly liverish eyes he was very wide awake. Within ten minutes he had William B. Latham sewed up on a contract of purchase and sale, pro vided the court approved Don Pruden clo's action as executor. When Crooked Bill had the contract safely tucked In his pocket he com menced talking with Don Prudenclo about the deceased Tom Antrim, and learned that for a few days following Antrim's death the sheep had re mained in charge of one Bill Dingle. Antrim's foreman. Later Dingle had been rather forcibly relieved of his charges by Jaime Hlguenes, of the Hancho Valle Verde. "That Dingle might be a good expe rienced sheepman to care for these sheep In case the court approves the sale," Crooked Bill suggested hope fully. "Where might one get In touch with him?" Don Prudenclo gave him minute di rections 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 pheep 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 Hlg uenes 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 Dqn Prudenclo Al vlso 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 tho telephone rang and Don Prudenclo answered, "Oraclas." lie hung up and wrote on a scratch pad tho Initials W. B. L. Thereafter he continued to stare at the wall for an other hour. The following night he appeared at the ltancho Valle Verde. Itoberta was dressing for dinner, and Don Jaime was lying In his long chair on the gallery, with Ken Hobart beside him. "Hello, Prudy, what brings you out?" Don Jaime hailed him. "I am mystified," Don Prudenclo re plied, and forthwith related In meticu lous detail his Impending sale of the Antrim sheep to a fat-headed old gen tleman for a very great deal more than they were worth.- "He said his name was Blodgett, and signed the contract William I* Blodgett," the law yer 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 he seemed to me to be quite too anxious to buy the sheep. So I telephoned to the Mansion house to Inquire If he was stopping there and when I described him they said they had a guest there from New York by that name, but that his baggage carried the Initials W.B. L." "Hum-m-m !H Don Jaime grunted and sat up very straight "He Isn't a very good liar, Is he? What does W. B. L., of New York, want of the Antrim sheep, and why should he pay such a high price for them? This Is Indeed very mysterious, Prudy. Did he de posit the ten thousand?" "He did. It was telegraphed from New York." "I wonder what the old Idiot Is go ing to do with those sheep?" "I imagine he's going to get Bill Din gle to care for them." "Not on my range. Prudy, the min ute those sheep pass out of possession of the estate of Thomas Antrim, de ceased, they're going to # get off the Hlguenes 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 "I Gave Dingle and Hia 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 >ne in making his decision, naturally he will sign an order of sale. Have a drink, after that long and Interesting report 1" "Weeth delight," said Don Pru dencio. The following morning Don Jaime motored In to Los Algodones, and Ro berta accompanied him. As they swung down the main street past the Man sion house, with its row of chair-warm ers on the front porch, Roberta started and laid a half-detaining hand on Don 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 ho had Uncle Rill's clothes on I'd get out and kiss him without question. Good gracious, what a marked resem blance! 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 parked In front of the bank, ex cused himself to Roberta, entered and sought the cashier. "Kd," he said, "yesterday ten thou sand dollars, was wired here to the credit of the estate of Thomas Antrim, as a first payment on account of the purchase, by one Rlodgett, of the An trim sheep. That young lady outside in my car Is Antrim's heir, Miss Ro berta Antrim. I want to know what New York bank wired it" "Certainly. I don't think I violate any confidence The Twelfth Na tional." ^'Who ordered the transfer?* "A man by the name of Glenn Hackett." ii *a'd Don Jaime, and climbed back into the car with Ro berta. When they were half-way back to \alle Verde he said to her very casually, "Do you know a man In New rork by the name of Glenn Hackett?" rta 3erked ert*t with surprise. Why, yes! He's one of my dearest friends and my Uncle Bill's attorney. Do you know Glenn, Jimmy?" "N?? and I hope I never do. I dis like him very much. He's In love with 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 Hackett?" The fairies," Don Jaime replied enig matically. And though Roberta pressed him to tell her more and em ployed 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 Koberta's curiosity. "Jimmy." she pleaded, "would you care to save a human life?" | 'So me humans. You. for instance." "Then tell me what has lowered my Innocent Uncle Bill In your estima tion." "He's crooked." "Oh Jimmy, he Isn't! His 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 Hackett person to you and to depress mine." Roberta smiled a small and knowlne 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 plav fair?" H J He luld finger on lip. "Hush ' It'* a secret." "Evidently," Roberta replied bitter ly. after waiting about twenty seconds for him to Impart the secret. * I think I'll go back to Los Algo dones," he announced suddenly "There's something about the atmos phere of that town that aids my Dow ers of divination." Am I Invited to ride back with you' Qr must I mope around the house un til you return?" I think you had better mope. I 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 light In his eyes. "Are you enjovlng your visit at Valle Verde. Bobby? Yve wondered If you didn't feel a bit lonelv and neglected here." "Oh no. Jimmy! You're such a friendly, comfortable person when you are around the house. Will you return rrom Los Algodones In time for dinner Jimmy?" I don't know. 1*1 do my best to 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 e^yes." "You mean ? " "I mean that your foreman, Bill Din gle, hns been across the Line, and something tells me he went there to hire some renegade to bump me oft I don't particularly blame him for that. A man acts, according to his lights and I gave Dingle and his men a Dretty tough deal." "But you went to town today un armed, Jimmy?" He shook his head, half removed his tropical whipcord coat and displayed ? gun under each arm, in a shoulder Even Ordinary Mortal Is Rich in Ancestors "A pedigree like thin Is, of course, such as few can claim, " Bay* the Cana dian Mining Journal, commenting on an article on the subject of heredity. But, with reference to the pedigrees of very ordinary mortal* like our selves, It Iff Interesting to recall that a distinguished legal commentator hns estimated that at the fortieth gene alogical remove? that l? to say, In the course of sixteen or buventeen centnrlea-^the total number of a man's progenitors Is morh than 1,000, 000,000,000. M 'All of us have now subsisting,' wrote the great Itlackstone, 'nearly 270,000,000 of cousins In the fifteenth degree; and If this calculation should appenr Incompatible with the number of Inhabitants on the earth. It is be cause. by Intermarriages among the descendants, a hundred or s thousand different relations may be consolidat ed In one person, or he mny he relat ed to us In a hundred or a thouHnnd different way*!* | "What n field of speculation this train of thought opens up I Small wonder that each of us la supposed to have a 'double.' " W*leom??l New Daughter The letter to her new daughter In law which Martha Waahlngton wrote, considered by critics an almost per fect example of expression, was an follows: "My dear Nelly: ? Ood took from Me a Daughter when June Hoses were blooming ? lie has now given me another daughter about her Age .when Winter winds are blowing, to warm my Heart again. I am as Happy as One so afflicted and so niest can he. I'ray receive my Henedlctlon and a wish that you may long live the lov ing Wife of my happy Ron and a Lov ing Daughter of Your Affectionate Mother, M. Washington." holster. . "I try to appear nou-polson ?0IT Lthe ranch-" he explained 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 Hobart with me. He's very reliable." With a careless nod he left her, to drive over to the men's quarters for his foreman. Roberta stood In the patio entrance and watched him? saw Ken Hobart 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 Imagination pictured Don Jaime Miguel Higuenes, all bloody and limp, lying In the deep gray dust of the road to I,os Algodones. In the cool of the late afternoon Don ? Jaime dropped Into a vacant chair be side Crooked BUI on the veranda of the Mansion house, after first Inquir ing. In Spanish, if by an chance the chair was reserved for any friend of nls. "NTot at all," Crooked Rill replied In the same language, albeit haltingly, or 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 spenk Spanish too well. I beg pardon for addressing you in that tongue, but olv servlng that you appear to be of this country I supposed you spoke the lan guage of the country." ?"Never was much of a hand at for eign languages." Crooked Bill replied with the utmost friendliness. Don Jaime produced two cigars and landed one u> his neighbor. Crooked Bill favored the weed with a swift furtive appraisal, kaw that It was a brand that retailed at three for a dol lar. and decided he might risk it. Much obliged," he murmured. "I'm a stranger here." he added. *Mv name's Blodgett.? William Blodgett.'" I am pleased to met you, Mr. Blod gett. I am Jaime Miguel Higuenes." Crooked Bill started noticeably. e h~ 1 are!" he burst out, un guardedly. "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 dell cate subject. I believe you're the young man who wafted old Tom An trim into the bosom of Abraham." "I had the pleasure," Don Jaime replied modestly. "Would you mind shaking hands with me, Senor Higuenes? By the holy poker, that was a first-class Job of work you did on Tom. I'm de- ! lighted to meet you, sir." "The pleasure is mutual, Mr. Blod gett. You knew Antrim?" "I should tell n 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. "I 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 (Jod. But we'll pass up the tequila, because I have a couple of quarts of thirty-year-old Bourbon in my room. The h? 1 of It Is there's no Ice In this hotel." "I will got lee from the soda clerk nt the drug store, Mr. Blodgett. Mint, also, is available, and if you will per mit me, I will make a Julep after the manner taught me by my father. Al though of Spanish persuasion he mar ried a lady from Virginia and she taught him the great secret." (Jet on the Job," ordered Crooked Bill, "and come up to my room. Num ber K<5." Five minutes later Don Jaime rfv turned with the Ice nnd 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 limp. Yes, beyond the peradventure of a doubt this sly old wretch In Ro berta's uncle, nnd If I don't nnd out what he's up to before we part I'm far from being the boy I used to he." l/p In Number 80 Don Jaime ml*ed the Julep, shaving the Ice with a bowle^ knife sorted out from under his coat tall. Crooked Bill watched him, fas cinated. "What part of our glorious ?<one Star state do you hall from Mr Blodgett?" Don Jaime Inquired pres ently. "I come from Kl Pnso - This wan true. Crooked Bill had changed trains there. "Thinking of settling In thin rfnrt of the state?" " Oh no I Fact In, I came down here to buy those sheep from Tom Antrim's estate." "Th's Is most unfortunate, Mr. Blod gett, I am n cowman and I had no Idea J was fraternizing urith a sheep man. Were It not for your antiquated liquor It would be Incumbent upon me to retire Instantly." (TO nw CONTINl/K ? } IMPROVED UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY I chool Lesson <?jr REV. P. B. FITZWATDR, D. D~. M?ui be* of Faculty, Moody Blbl* Institute of Cble??o. ) ?. ltaa. W??tem N?w?p?pk Union. Lesson for December 25 GOD'S GIFT TO MAN (Christmas Lesson) Luke 8:1-20. GOLDEN TEXT? For Qod so loved the world, that he gave hit only begot ten Son, that whosoever belleveth In him should not perish, but have ever lasting life, ? John S:16. PRIMARY TOPIC ? God'a Best Gift to tho World. JUNIOR TOPIC? Goda Greatest Gift intermediate and SENIOR TOP Ic ? What Christmas Means to Me. YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULiT TOP IC? Jesus the Source of Peac# and Go Will. I. The Birth of Jesus (v*. 1-7). , 1. His birth foretold. a. Predicted by Mlcah (MIcah 5:2). The prophet Micah foretold the birth of the Messiah some seven hundred years before. There seemed little like lihood that this prophecy would be ful filled even shortly before It took place. Jesus mother was miles away In Nazareth In Galilee. God moved upon the Iloman emperor to enforce the decree of taxation' which brought Mary to Bethlehem at the proper time. b. His birth predicted by Gabriel (Luke 1 :20-38). Gabriel, the archangel, was sent by God to the little town of Nazareth to Mary, a Jewish maldeui, who was betrothed to a carpenter by the name of Joseph, solemnly an nounced to her that she should give birth to the Messiah and that this Son should not be Joseph's but the child of the Holy Ghost (Matt. 1:18-21). This was In fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14. Though at first perplexed, Mary ac cepted the announcement with re markable courage and devotion. To be told that she was to be a mother was nothing startling, for this was a normal desire of every married Jewish woman. However, under the circum stances she accepted motherhood at a tremendous cost. She was conscious of her virgin purity. She knew that to become a mother under such cir cumstances would expose her to un utterable suspicion and shame. Later the angol of the Lord appeared to Jo seph also making to him the same announcement and added that the child should be called Jesus (Matt. 1:21). The virgin birth was contrary to Jewish thought and expectation; therefore, It could not have been in vented by them. 2. The prediction fulfilled (vv. 1-7). Christ's birth took place at a most opportune time. It occurred when all systems of rellgloim worship were tot tering upon their foundations. The whole world being under the power of Rome made It possible for Christ's ministers to go from city to city and from country to country unmolested. II. Jesus' Birth Announced to the Shepherds (vv. 8-14). This was the first Christmas service. 1. To whom the announcement was made (v. 8). His birth was announced to the shepherds who were keeping watch over their flocks by night. Their humble state In life and their being busy with common duties did not pre vent them from hearing this glorious message from God. Moses, Gideon, Amos, and UUsha were all called of God from the activities of life. 2. By whom the announcement was made (v. ?). The first gospel sermon was preached by an angel of the Lord. We thus see these holy beings Inter ested in men, and having part In the announcement of God's plan for their salvation. 3. The nature of the message (vv. 10-14). It was "good tidings of great Joy." The darkness of heathendom which had so long covered the earth was beginning to vanish. Tho cast ing out of Satan, the prince of this world, was about to take plnce. Lib erty was soon to be proclaimed to those In bondage. The way of salva tion was to be offered to all. No longer was the knowledge of God to be confined to the Jews, hut offered to the whole world. So glorious was this news that a multitude of the heavenly host accompanied it with songs of praise, III. The Shepherds Investigating (vv. 15, 10). They did not stop to argue or raise questions, though these things were, no doubt, strange to them. They went Immediately to Hethlehem where they found everything as reported. Hero they had the prlyllege of first gazing upon the wondrous Savior, the very I/ord of glory. They returned with gratitude In their hearts, praising God for all these wonderful things which he had rovoaled Into them. IV. The 8hepherds Witnessing (vv. 17 20). When they beheld the Lord of glory they could not remain silent; there fore, they went back praising God. Those who receive this gospel Into their hearts must tell It out to others, GLEAMINGS The crown of all virtues Is love a sympathy. ? ? ? Fellowship with God Is the hall for bruised hearts. ? ? ? God Is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. ? ? * It may weJl bo that the good we unconsciously do exceeds the sum of our purposed benefaction*