The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-04

bank account, which was very large one,
would not be increased any, but on the
contrary would be reduced TO the extent
Of several thousand dollars. This nearly
dove him crazy and he refused to meet
any OF his obligations until he was COM
PEELED to. 1t was at this time that he com
menced to meddle with other peoples
business and got into all sorts of trouble
with his neighbors. He would accuse
people of stealing his cattle, and the num-
Der of had things that were said about him
would bring blush to the face of the III OSt
hardened convict in San Quentin. Just
how much of these stories was true it is
impossible to tell. but the last act of his
that is proved is bad enough to lead one to
believe mat his worst enemies have been
TOO easy on him.
hen 10 rains fell last year Dan saw he
wsgysoing To have another year as bad as
Tie two previous ones, and concluded 10
ec0namiZe in some way. He thought it
better 10 ecouomiZa around his house,
alth 2cGh TO make up for the worry
caused by his losses he had spent th0usan ds
of dollars in dissipation in the different
towns IN the Territory.
The astronomical move he made was to
discharge his cook and then as the vac
queros grumbled at having no food pre-
pared he discharged them. and it looked as
If things would surely go to ruin.
One day when he was alone on the ranch,
everybody else having quit his service, lie
felt as if he must do something. and as MS
brain slowly worked he hit on the idea
that it would be a good thing to get mar
Tled. The more he thought of this the
more pleasurable it seemed and he thought
he saw way of ecunOmizing and at the
same time sustaining his dignity.
He was not over - years old, was fairly
GoOd-lOOking for a man of his age and had
plenty of money What more could he
ask for when going TO purchase in the
market of matrimnny? He had no sooner
made up his mind than he took his best
team and started for the nearest railroad
station, where lie took a train for Ell Paso.
He had too much sense to attempt to obtain
r wife in the country where he was
known.
The first night he was In town Dan for
got his m ssion and spent it in his usual
dissipated manner. but the next morning
be remembered and changed his behavior.
He put himself liz the hands of a clothier
and barber and when they were done
with him he was really reSpectable-look-
Ing individual. He gave up both liquor
ana tobacco and soon managed in some
way to be introduced to several ladies'. He
seemed TO take to a Miss Minnie - from
the start, and soon became very devoted.
The Young woman was not much over
% years old and at the time was working
as typewriter for well-kn own business
house. At first she was amused at Dams
AZ gil AI''ilSs puI a. IL Z ottliltu SDOu anu ue-
voted 10 her she gradually changed her
mind. He tcld her a great deal about his
large ranch in Arizona, and she gained the
impression that he was well-to-do. A later
investigation proved him to have consider
able money, and as Miss Minnie had no at
tachmentS She encouraged his suit, and
wien he proposed accepted him.
They were married about a week later
and went on a trip TO the City of Mexico,
after which they went TO the ranch some
time last January.
The ride over the dry and almost path
less mountains was a hard one to the
bride, and when she saw the place she was
going TO she insisted she had not changed
hor name. Dan had acted decently so far,
put mad been very careful to impress on
her mind the fact that ne was boss
Nhen they reached the ranch her heart
sank; She had pictured, at least, COM
Portable farmhouse, surrounded by trees
and meadows, but, instead, was taken to
large dllapidaied adobe house on barren
hillside OF sand and gravel. The root was
of great deal of the house, and windows
were broken in every room. The walls
were nothing but plastered mud, with the
remnants of some of the paper that was
once on Them hanging in patches The
furniture consisted principally of old
boxes. and few creaky chairs and
broken bed.
Everything was just as Dan had left it
-FOUR months ago. The unwasbed tin
dishes still remained On the table and other
ranch articles were lying around in con-
fusion. As they stepped into the bedroum
wildcat Jumped ont the window and a
lew lizards ran hurrying TO safe corners.
Doors and windows had been left open.
ana beasts and birds and reptiles had held
possession during Dams absence.
The young woman hardly dared beIieve
that thls chreriess place was to be her
nome out Dan told her to make herself
comic tapie, while he went to put his
noIs- IN me corral She made herself at
nome by standing up in a corner and CRY.
Ing. Everything was so dirty she did not
dare to sit down. 1t was plain there was
nobody else at the place and she knew
there could not be another woman in
miles. she realized that she was at her
husbands mercy, and there was nothing
TO do but make the best of it aud wait for
chance to get back to civilization.