Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-01-29

bert, mopplng his brow, "Ah, bah
Jove, deah boy, just tell ne how to
ask this good woman for drink OF
water, will you?"
Jack smiled grimly and said, "Oh,
just say, Olga viejd India deme un
vaso de aqna" essay, you old Indian,
give me glass of water.")
Now, nothing will insult Mexican,
man on woman, more than to call
him or her an Indian, and Jack knew
this we'll; hence he put these insult
ing words in Herbert's mouth. The
old woman, hearing herself SO inso-
lently addressed by Herbert and the
additional insult of his staring
eye-glass, looked angrily up, and
hastily filling a glass with soap
suds, she flung it glass and all straight
in the astonished Herbert's face,
nearly strangling him, saying at the
the same time, "Tomo, Gringo"
(Take it, you Yankee.) The glass
smashed Herbert's single eye-glass
into thousand pieces, while the soap
suds found their way into his mouth
and went trickling down underneath
his shirt front.
Jack enjoyed it hugely. "She's
queer body" he explained to the as
tonished and terrified Herbert, "and
doesn't like Americans. Better come
away" and he led him off with his
collar hanging limp and starchless,
and his beloved eye-glass thing of the
past. Jack, as soon as Herbert had left
him, laid down upon the grass, kicked
his heels up in the air and yelled with
delight. He laughed until bis sides
ached. Truly in this case, revenge
was sweet.
Shortly after this episode, Jack per-
suaded Herbert to accompany him
upon a short hunting trip, picturing
in vivid colors the delights OF such
an excursion and when unsuspecting
Herbert went, revengefull Jack led
him over brush and cactus and
through water and mud until Herbert
was so dilapitated a specimen of hu-
manity as even Jack cared to see.
After an exciting days hunt-that is.
for Jack, who made Herbert carry all
the game,-and occasionally he would
fire off his gun so close to his
rivals head as to keep him in
a constant state of excitement
Returning home, they stopped at a
ranch house to get something to eat.
but before entering, Jack cautioned
Herbert to be careful about offending
the inmates "you know" said Jack.
1t is the custom out here in California
for the people to Immediately set q
meal before visitor to assure him of
his welcome, and the Mexican people
are very sensitive about the etiquette
of the table, regarding it as an insult
to the family cook not to eat all that
is set before the guest.
cav, bah Jove! Glad you told me
old chappie. / wouldn't offend them
for the world, you know, deah boy, as
visions Of the treatment he had re-
ceived at the hands of the Mexican
washerwoman flashed over him. As
soon as their wants were made known
a table was Immediately set before
them. First came huge platter of
tortillas. then an immense dish of
frijoIes beans, then tamales red hot
with cayenne pepper, then there
was enchilddes and chili-con-c0rne
all so dear to Mexican hearts. There
was enough for six people, and Jack
chuckled to himself as he beheld the
vast quantity Of food he had made
Herbert believe he was compelled to
eat. AS soon as Jack had satisfied
the cravings of his appetite he left the
room on slight pretext, and after
bidding the family grateful good
bye, started homeward, laughing
heartily over the predicament of his
rival. AS for Herbert, he was manfully
endeavoring to dispose of all the
food set before him. He ate away for
dear life, and inwardly wondered why
Jack didn't come in to assist him.
All of the family gathered in the
dining room to entertain the estrangero
(stranger>, but Herbert imagined
they bad assembled to see him eat all
of the food, and he attacked the
victuals with renewed ardor. He ate
as long he could, but the red-hot
tomales burnt his mouth and
made his eyes water, the
frijoles left greasy feeling
in his mouth, and all the rest bur-
dened his overloaded stomach, until,
unable to resist the desire any longer,
he rushed outside and relieved his
digestive organs of their superabund-
ance of nutriment. The. family, see
ing him so sick, hastily harnessed
the family horse to the wagon and
conveyed him home, too sick for ut
terance. Jack witnessed his appear
ance with great contentment and felt
pleased all over.
"Pabrecito mio," sympathetically
cried good Donna Maria, as she gently
ministered to his distressed condition.
Soon after messengers were dis
patched with invitations to the sur
rounding neighbors to attend the COM
ing festivities that Rafael and Edwards
were arranging. Once again the old
rancho teemed with life and merri-
ment. Early in the evening a molly
crew of boregeros assembled in the
courtyard and, accompanied by the
strains OF numerous guitars, warbled
forth sweet Spanish love songs, Or
some wild patriotic ode of the days
when loved Mexico was free. Later
in the evening the bale took place,
and all the damsels and young and
old men and women were gaily trip
the light fantastic to the sound Of
numerous lnandolins, guitars, accord
ians and violins.
Herbert was in his glory. He was
graceful and accomplished dancer,
and was soon in high favor with all
the beautiful Senoritas, especially
Carmelita, who cast mischievous
glances at Jack as she foated airily
around the room clasped in Herbert's
arms.
"D- that dude!" muttered Jack,
savagely biting his moustache. "1'll
fix him." and he hurriedly left the
room. Rushing into the kitchen he
begged from old Dofia Chona, the
patrona of the culinary department,
couple of rotten eggs, and then
armed with these he sought the dance
room, wearing a smile Of grim satis-
/ e ~ nm t~ n ,1,nt-