Evening Star Newspaper, April 22, 1930, Page 21

JIM THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, THE CONQUEROR By PETER B. KYNE o 288 2 R s By A7 T FIRST INSTALLMENT (Continued.) ‘The only thing he had been decent @mough to refrain from doing was laugh 8% her, but, of course, he had been much %00 an, to do that. He had contented himself with glaring at her in & most unlover-like manner, which demon- strated all too conclusively that his pro- testations of love made a minute before had been unpremediated, unsound, inse- cure and wholly inconsequential. She lad now that she had found him out, use for & month she had been asking herself if it could be possible that she was becoming seriously inter- ested in the man. She decided now that his unusualness, @a compared with the average run of men, was what had challenged her in- terest and attention, for, of course, she could never afford to admit, even to her- self, that he had aroused every drop of ing blood in her sporty little body. e fact that he had been indifferent, sentinfentally lethargic—a bit dull, in fact—had constituted a challenge to her, and she had resolved to demon- strate to him that he was not, nor by any possibility ever could be, where she was concerned, the captain of his soul, the master of his fate! And he had proved to her what a monumental failure she had turned out to be in an art where, to quote Crooked Bill again, she was supposed to be 150 Pper cent perfect! Suddenly Roberta began to laugh. Buch a hearty, merry, mellow little laugh it was. “Thinks he's won a great vic- tory,” she decided. “Well, like John Paul Jones, I have not yet begun to ]fl‘&hl. I'll bring that unusual man to knees and when I have him there I'll—well, I'll not do anything so un- ladylike as to put my foot in his face, but I'll laugh at him! I swear I will T'll laugh out loud!” There is alwavs a feeling of comfort | when one has come to a decision after wrestling with a knotty problem. Ro- berta had her poise back again; she felt again that she was ready to conquer new worlds and make them like it. So she went into her sitting room and opened the door leading into the hall and the window that overlooked the ve- randa. Then she sat down at her little boudoir grand piano and played loudly “I Don't Care If You Never Come | Back.” When she had finished that and ‘was trying to think up another musical insult, somebody commenced whistling “In the Gloaming” from the veranda. ‘The words of the first verse ran through Roberta’s brain: In the gloaming, oh, my darling. Think not bitterly of me, ‘Though I passed away in silence, Left you lonely, set you free. “He’s a bit of a dog,” thought Ro- berta tranquilly. Then she remembered the city of his birth, which he had long since left, so she banged out furiously: “Back, Back, Back to Baltimore!” Whereupon Mr. Hackett went back, but not to Baltimore. He went back to the days of sickly sentimental ballads, and Roberta heard him sing—or rather chant, for the man was tone-deaf—— “She was happy till she met you, And the fault is all your own, If she wishes to forget you, You will ple2se leave her alone.” Roberta stuck her red head out of the window. “Hey! Hey!" she called. “We're silly.” “Your apology is accepted,” Glenn Hackett called up to her, without show- ing_himself. “It's a terrible thing to have to hate a human being so,” Roberta decided, and closed the window. Then she went downstairs and found Glenn Hackett and Croked Bill in the library. | “Let's be good frionds, Glenn,” she | said in her most ingratiating and fas- | cinating manner. “You are so intelligent | one can't help being attracted to you, and usually you're very nice. Really, if your bank account should ever be brought to the sear and yellow leaf, you should set up as a fortune-teller and mind-reader.” “I thought I had read yours correctly. T see now I did not.” ‘Indeed, you did. You’re marvelous.” ‘You'll marry me when I get ready to marry you,” he charged amiably. ou tell jokes, don’t you?" Crooked Bill saw that the is- sue was far from clarifying. “No more of these lovers’ quarrels, Roberta. Glenn 1s staying for dinner. You'll join us, of course, honey?"” “Why, certainly, Uncle Bill. How de- lightful, Glenn!” Any man who thinks he can outfence & woman is & fool, and suddenly Glenn Hackett realized he was all of that. Such realizations always disturb a manly man. “If I remain for dinner, Mr. Latham, I fear I'll not be able to do justice to your excellent cuisine. Therefore, with your ion, Bobby, and yours, sir, I'd e to motor back to town.” Crooked Bill was upset. He had placed his money so to speak, on young Hackett and now the Ingrate was run- ning out on him to employ a colloqual- ism. He was prepared to enter a vig- orous protest, but the maid, entering ‘i::lh & telegram, rendered that impos- sible. “A telegram for you, Miss Roberta!” “Thanks, Minna. May I?” With uplifted | | sionless. “She's very polite, no matter what her other faults may be,” Hackett re- marked to Crooked Bill. Roberta ig- nored him and read aloud: LOS ALGODONES, Tex., June 21, 1925 Miss_Roberta Antrim, Hilicrest, Dobbs Perry, N. Y.: Your uncle Tom had an argument with a cowman yesterday. Stop. There will be a funeral tomorrow. Stop. got your address by frisking Uncle Tom, him of the second instant. you insist I will send him to you charges prepaid. Stop. However, if you will take the advice of a well in- tentioned stranger you will permit him to await the trump of resurrection in the land his sheep made fallow. Stop. If you have any interest in his estate 1 suggest you take steps to protect it. Stop. If unable to do this immediately wire me authority and I will take charge of it. Stop. Most usually I am honest. Stop. Reference Federal Trust Company, El Paso. JAIME MIGUEL HIGUENES. SYNOPSIS. Roberta Antrim has just received word of the death of her uncle, Tom Antrim. She reads the message to Bill Latham, an uncle-in-law, with whom she makes her home. and to Glenn Hackett, a suitor, whose suit is mot progressing any too favorably. SECOND INSTALLMENT. | ILL LATHAM'S voice was the | first to break the silence when Roberta had finished reading this remarkable communication. “It's true. There's a Provi- dence that marks the sparrow's fall— " | and your Uncle Tom was a bird.” Well, now that he's dead, Uncle Bill, you might be charitable and speak {kindly of him. At least he was my last of kin," said Roberta. “All right, honey, I'll not say another word.” Glenn Hackett thought the situation, while a bit clouded, deserved the cus- tomary consideration. “I'm very sorry, Roberta,” he said. | “That's kind of you, Glenn. I never | knew Uncle Tom. He wasn't a very lovable character, I'm afraid. “He was & turkey buzzard,” Crooked Bill declared with finality. ‘‘Roberta's paternal uncle,” he went on to explain for the benefit of Hackett. “There was | something unstable about the whole Antrim tribe. Roberta’s father went in for the nigger minstrels and Tom took to raising sheep. I reckon the old bandit must have been worth consider- able, and so far as I know, Roberta, you're his next of kin. So it looks as if you're in the sheep business in Texas.” rta read the letter again. “Judg- ing by the name of the sender of this telegram, Jaime Miguel Higuenes, it would appear that Texas boasts at least one very intelligent, very thoughtful, very frank and very humorous Mexi- can. He expresses himself like an edu- cated American. Uncle Bill, you spent a great many years down there. Do 704 happen to know the Higuenes fam- Crooked Bill's face had worn his most. crafty smile while Roberta was speak- ing, but now it was blank and expres- “It's been 25 years since I operated in Texas, Roberta, Higuenes! Higuenes! I can't seem to remember anybody by that name.” “It would appear,” Reberta decided presently “that I have need to engage a lawyer to investigate Uncle Tom’s es- tate.” She glanced with frank interest and approval at Hackett. “Certainly. Of course,” Crooked Bill agreed, and thought more kindly of Uncle Tom for having provided an op- portunity for these two to forget their recent differences and be friendly again in the name of business. “Hackett is the very man.” “Hackett isn't,” that harassed person declared with finality. “Jaime Miguel Higuenes is. That man is honest and fearless. I can tell that much from his telegram. Also he gives bank refer- ences. If you desire, Mr. Latham, I shall telegraph the bank he mentions.” He made Roberta a slight, deprecatory bow. “I am venturing to presume that with the details of this case. be confusing and annoying to you to have to attend to it personally.” “Certainly, Glenn. Uncle Bill is the natural and inevitable bearer of all my burdens.” “If the bank's reply would seem to indicate the advisability of request- ing Higuenes to take charge of your Uncle’s Tom’s estate for the present, may I send him a telegram, signing your name and requesting him to do so, Roberta?” Roberta was rereading the telegram. “I think,” she declared, “that Jaime Miguel Higuenes must be a perfectly fascinating person. In 23 words he gives one the whole dramatic story of a bloody shooting scrape out on the range and gives one the impression—in fact, the convict’on—that the result was no surprise to him aad that he is not sorty the tragedy occurred! He is re- sourceful, not squeamish and has initi- ative, because in the pursuit ef infor- brows to her uncle and his guest, she commenced to tear the envelop. mation he dared to pick a dead mans on whose person I found your letter to | Stop. If | you are going to intrust your Uncle Bill | It would | pocket. He is kind and friendly and thoughtful and wants to help & person substance and takes a justifiable pride in his personal and financial standing.” “Oh, those Spanish dons are as proud as Lucifer,” Crooked Bill assured her. “He is also good-natured and easy- going, otherwise he would not bother himself with the probably thankless Itask of protecting the interests of a |stranger—and an American at that. {Probably he acted thus because I am a jwoman, which proves he is gallant a~d chivalrous.” “A sort of knight-errant,” Crooked Bill murmured maliciously, and Hackett ishot him a look of displeasure. “Well, Mexicans, of whatever class, tare very polite to a lady. They always 'make a great to-do about women. The |chances are this Higuenes is an edu- I [icated halfbreed Aztec Indian.” “I don't believe it.” Roberta declared iwith _conviction. “I'm sure he's pure Castilian and most delightful.” “Probably older than Cortez,” Crooked |Bill hazarded. “Nonsense, Uncle Bill. He's young; \of course he is. There's a note of care- lless youth in his telegram, and I'm sur- prised that you have overlooked it. He is very handsome, with raven-black hair and white teeth. He is about 6 feet tall, has small hands and feet and isings and plays the guitar under ladies’ iwindows. When he greets a lady he ibows over her hand and kisses it, oh, so lightly and respectfully! I adore men like that.” Glenn Hackett fidgeted uncomfort- ably. He knew he was under fire, but from ambush. However, he decided to try a chance shot. “If he should ever |meet_you, Bobby, he would undoubtedly ifall in love with you, and, of course, iyou'd tease him on for the mere joy of Hhe conquest, and when he awakened ito the true state of affairs his love |would turn to hatred and he'd tuck you |laway in the local cemetery with your late Uncle Tom.” “That's right, Hackett. A girl can’t play fast and loose with her Mexican |sweetheart. They have their .women jtrllned down there and lead them in the way they should go. I wish Hig- juenes had informed us who killed Cock Robin. He merely says it was a cow- man.” “1 wonder if he got hurt?” Roberta murmured. “Does it matter particularly.” For a reason he had not even tried to analyze, ibut which had been born of a subcon- :scious resentment of the man who had made it possible to interject Jaime Mig- uel Higuenes into Roberta Antrim's thoughts, Glenn Hackett spoke. Ten thousand cunning imps peeped for an instant from Crooked Bill's old eyes. “No, he didn’t get hurt—at least, not_badly.” “How do you know?” Hackett de- manded. and Roberta looked at her uncle inquiringly. “I don’t know. I just feel it, bud. Did I ever tell you that I am the sev- enth son of a seventh son and that I was born with a veil?” No, you did not, and this is the first I have heard of it.” Roberta chal- lenged. “I believe you know Jaime Miguel Higuenes.” I couldn't make an affidavit to that, Roberta. I cannot recall having met him or even heard of him, so help me!” “You're somewhat mysterious.” “That’s why he’s called Crooked Bill,” Hackett informed her. “I'm not at all mysterious,” the old rascal protested. “I know you're not, Uncle Bill. You're perfectly obvious, but you adore appear- ing mysterious.” And just then the butler entered to announce dinner. “Better reconsider your decision and break bread with us,” Crooked Bill urged their guest. “Yes, do,” Roberta pleaded. “Thank you, I think I shall not.” ‘Then to the butler. “Harms, will you be good enough to get my hat and coat and telephone the garage for my car?” When Glenn Hackett's car had rolled away down the drive Crooked Bill turned to his ward. “Round two for little Bright-eyes. I'm placing my money on the red.” “Who,” the girl demanded firmly, “is Jaime Miguel Higuenos?” “I don't know, honey. I can only suspect, and some day I'll verify my suspicions and tell you.” “Please tell me your suspicions now. there's a dear,” and Roberta smiled her most coaxing smile and put her arms| around Crooked Bill's neck. “Ah,” he murmured, “a man can struggle along under a mystery, but it drives a woman crazy. A moment ago you stated I adore being mysterious. Honey, I'm an old man with only you and my love of appearing mysterious making life worth the living, so I'll not tell you what I suspect and you are perfectly powerless to drag it out of me. Moreover, you've treated that boy scan- dalously, because he's much too fine a young fellow to be accorded the same treatment the sprays of sweet clover. you've been accustomed to, have re- recelved at your hands.” “?fin‘t s:oldt,""yflnbemm pleaded. “Then don'f out of things I cannot tell youp"'-’ 5 “For 2 cents,” Roberta threatened, “I'd go down to Los Algodones and in- vestigate Jaime Miguel Higuenes per- sonally.” “If you do, you'll get the surprise of your sweet young life, my dear,” ! Roberta’s brown eyes danced. No- | body knew better than Crooked Bill how | she cherished surprises. Figuratively speaking, she would swim a muddy river | if a surprise awaited her on the oppo- site shore. “I think I should go down to Uncle ‘he has never seen, and he is a man of | be Tom's funeral,” she suggested. “I'm the last of the Antrims and it would rather indecent of me to permit strangers—and not very sympathetic strangers, I fear—to bury him.” Crooked Bill was always practical, even if mysterious. “I wouldn't do that, honey. I'm afraid Uncle Tom won't keep until you get there. I have never heard of ice or undertakers in Los Algodones, and as for hermetically sealed caskets, there just aren't any. have a friend down there, however, and I'll wire him to attend the obsequies and send flowers for you and a wreath of cactus for me.” “Why have you always disliked Uncle Tom 502" “Because you're his niece, not mine, and he’s never showed the slightest in- terest in you, except to send you $5 at Christmas and on your birthdays; because I staked the unholy wretch in the cow business, and he sold out the cows, refused to pay the loan, went to Mexico, where I couldn’t collect, and set up in the sheep business; because he was ornery from birth and looked it; because, from the day I married your aunt until the day of her death Uncle Tom grafted off me on the strength of the fact that I was a relative-in-law: because it was to approach every proposition in life from the side or rear, never from the front. Your father was not what I would call a mental giant, Roberta, but he was kind agd amusing and on the square, wherea: ur Uncle Tom was & throw- back, a ck sheep.” “Every@family has them,” the girl defended. “Well, Joney, you haven't yours any more!” The folbwing evening Glenn Hackett, having recovered marvelously from his indisposition of the day before, called for dinner. “The bank gives the man Higuenes most flattering recommenda- tions, Mr. Latham,” he announced. “He has plenty of cash and worldly assets and his record is clean. He is kown as a man of honor and can be trusted implicitly.” Crooked Bill nodded, as if this re- port was{not a matter of surprise to him. Hackett resumed: “I cannot go to Texas to attend to this matter of yours, Roberta. It will be necessgry to engage a lawyer down there to handle your affairs there, and I suppose Higuenes can direct you to & good one. I amagine you will have to proceed to Los Algodones immediately, and I syggest that when you do you provide xurself with a birth certifi v An Easter Array of D. C, TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 1930. and afdavits proving your relation- ship to the deceased, “I shall start tomorrow,” Roberia decided, and added maliciously: “I can hardly walt to meet that adorable Jaime Miguel Higuenes!” ‘To be continued.) JOBLESS WOMEN MARCH 30 English Textile Workers Trek to London as Protest. LEEDS, England, April 22 (#).—Thirty unemployed woman textile workers from Bradford reached Leeds last night. Footsore and exhausted after one day of their march protesting unemployment, they are due in London April 29. Members of the local Communist party gave them tea, ointment for their feet and accomodations for the night. Later they held a public meeting, ap- pealing for heavy walking stockings and knapsacks for the demonstrators. —_— Continued mild weather permitted the continuation of Denmark’s building boom through the Winter. : introducing New Troy Sun Furniture New and fascinating, this gloriously colored furniture for Summer and playtime ...and more fashion-important than ever this season. become weather-resistant; chairs have clever devices that allow them to give to your body, and recline for you—glass tables achieve the color of the can- vases through clever painting, and newest gliders have sun-shades all their own. Notice the New Prices Rockers ..........$1150 Chairs .......%650 to $11 Reclining Chairs %9 to $19.75 Tables. .. ..%7 to $10 Gliders. .. .%25 to %90 FURNITURE, SIXTH FLOOR. A Service Unique—for Homemakers Don’t Forget the Address \ T IUD 13th St. N l W_§ Troy fabrics have An Efficiency Line-up....for Spring House Cleaning This advertisement is practically an employment agency . . . every efficiency expert listed specializes in making your home “spic and span . You may employ one, or all of them, with confidence. for Spring Brushes—Mops Other Polishes and 'O homeowners whose windows are equipped with du Pont Tontine window shades — The Shade Shop has added a new department to the business of shade making—a laundry, in fact, where your ed scrubbed and thoroughly cleansed to look like new, at a nominal expense. Call District 3324 for Estimate District 3324-3325 ORES SAMMONS Italian Pottery,%1 A gift—at one dollar—that is dis- tinctive and smart is much sought after. That is why this gift collec- tion of Italian pottery is so note- worthy. Choose individual vases and bowls from the glad array of unique designs and color combina- tions from the old world. g Porrery, Frrrn FLOOR. Dusters—Mops Dustless Dusters. . ...50c Chamois Dust Cloths, 25¢ Cheese-cloth Dusters, 20c Broom Covers.......40c Window Cloths, Scrub Brushes, 2S¢ and 50c Silver Brushes, 35¢ to $1.15 Lamp Shade Brushes, 50c Bathtub Brushes, 40c to 75¢ 45¢c and 90c Silver Cleaning Cloths; Sponges ....... S0c to $1 various sizes, 40c to 75¢ S Canvas Gloves; pair, 20c Chamois Cloths, 90c to $2.50 Serub Cloths..20c to 35 Metal Polishes Wizard Polish. .25¢ to $3 Electro Silicon _ Silver Polish Cream, 2S¢, 40c Wright's Silver Cream, Cleansers New Relief for Constipation! Solarine Putz Metal Polish, 45¢c and 65¢ Ching Fow Furniture Polish 40c and 75¢ Furniture 25¢ and 50¢ . .$1 and $1.75 Stafford Renol, 50c and 75¢ Ching Fow Stain Remov. ish Mops, $1 to $1.50 Wizard Wall Brushes . Deck Mops. .. Bathtub Mops .. Self-wringing Mo; 85¢ to $§1 Wall Brushes, $1.25 to $1.90 Dust Brushes, 65c to $1.35 Toilet Brushes, 65¢ to $1.35 Furniture Brushes. ..65¢ Lemon Oil Sunshine Polis| ture, Automobile: Brass Beds..... 30c to 65¢ ‘Old English Paste Wax; Silva Putz Polish, [65¢ 5 25¢ and 50c iqui H Gorham Silver Polish, 35¢ .i......60c to $3.50 Wizard Silver Polish, Old English Waxer and Whisk Brooms, 30c to 85¢ 25¢ and 50c Polisher .. Radiator Brushes. .. .50c Gorham Silver Soap, 35¢ Porcella Enamel and Bed Spring Brushes, 50c Burnshine Metal Porcelain Cleanser, 35¢ Floor Sweeps, $1.75 to $6 25¢ to 75¢ Sani-Flush for Drains, 20c Hovuszwares, Firte FLOOR. Bran is now delicious Post’s Whole Bran does good, of course. But best of all it tastes good, too. That’s the combination the world was waiting wastes out of the system—and you enjoy Post’s Whole Bran with never a thought of “duty.” Eat this delight- ful new cereal with milk or cream. Sterling Gifts for. It’s been a success from the start ... Mow, #ll who need full can form the habit of eating it every morning and liking it. crunchy-crisp, good to eat. You get the bulk you need to clear digestive strength bran bran muffins It is tempting, morning. Get osls WHOLE FULL STRENGTH BRAN A Product of General Foods Corporation Try it in muffins. It makes the best full strength bran that you'll eat be- cause you like it. you ever met in the started today with the RAN FOR CONSTIPATION 9130,8.7.0my. Our Silverware Room is an impor- tant gift-shopping center. . .these two popular-priced gifts are partic- ularly well liked. Sterling Compote; stunning in its simplicity . .....5$9.50 Sterling Candlesticks; choice of desipns. PEIP ioionsinensen§Bi00 SiverwaRe RooM, Frst FLOOR. No-Moth Your Clothes Closets Now Let Us Demonstrate It You can make your closets mothproof in 30 seconds by installing the No-Moth device. It gives absolute protection for an entire season. $2. Refill $1.50 HOUSEWARES, FIFTH FLOOR. Reconditioned Hoovers, $24.75 Specially Priced A Hoover is an essential with all ef- ficien© homekeepers. These Hoovers have been reconditioned with new belts, brushes, and overhauled motors—and are fully guaranteed for ninety days. NOT A GENUINE HOOVER FACTORY REBURT ‘WITHOUT THIS