The herald., 1894-12-25
GRINGOS AND ONE DON.
a Aheronl
fBy Gertrude Atherton.l ]

"Wa-a-l," said Mr.. Hiram Stump,
seating himself upon log and smirch.
ing the golden California poppies with
tobacco Juice, "thsre's an old ssyin'
that finders is keepers, and seein that
I've found this yer land. believe I'll
keep it,"
But" demonstrated younger man,
who kept his tobacco in a pipe, and
whose overalls and flannel. shirt were
cleaner than his scompaniou's, 'you see,
1t kinder belongs to someone else.
These Spanish folks have claimed it
for nigh on to q hundred years, I'm
told.'
"Ws-a-l. il they have they amt
had no right to. What's dagos, any,
how? What right had lot of priests
and furriners to camp here and take
possession Of free American eoilP Grants
be d--dl Tho Mexican government
hadn'tno right to square inch OF soil
that was by rights American, whesher
America owned it or not. I'd like ter
know II the United States didn't prove it
when she licked 'em out in '46? Cali
tornia is under United States territory,
and United States citizens has got
right to her land, and, what's more,
they'll take it. If the dsgos want it
they'll hev to go to law or pay fur ii. and
II they do the fust they III get licked, and
if they do the last it's all right. If the
SENIOR DON Julio Sanchez wants this
yere section of the Rancho Liadersister,
he kin pay fur it in United States gold
coin, and pay il to Hiram Stump,
esquire, and John Comfy, esquire. Here
/ am. and here Im going to stick.
Amen"
"Well." replied his partner. sit
those be your sentiments, Pm with you
but it don't seem to be exactly right.
Seems painfully like takin' what don't
belong to you."
"John Comfy" said the older man
solemnly. 1--WE came down here to squat
and II We can't find government land
to suit us, we'll squat on dago. It's all
the same in American English, and
what's more, might ia right. This yere
square mile of land will be known
hereafter as Potato farm, property OF
Hiram Smith. esquire. and John Comfy,
esquire. Now just put your conscience
to bed and git ON the bacon and cook
dinner. We've had tramp and I'm
powerful hungry"
A few days later valuable mare es.
: capped from the corral at Linda Vista,
and for over week was lost among the
hills and gulchss Of the vast rancho.
At last she was tracked and captured by
one OF the vaqueros, and driven toward
home with endearmenta and execra-
eons.
'Ay, mother of GedI Thou wretch,
thou thief, thou assRssinl | am shaken
to Jelly looking for thee. But il thou
hadst fallen over O bluff and broken my
pretty neck, my beloved one! Ay. vi!
Ay, vi! Juan would have wept for thee.
Get on, thou lazy devil! Dost thou
think 1 have naught to do but crawl at
thy heels?'
"What's that gibberish that man is
sheutin'?" demanded Hiram Stump,
dropping the hand whieh was giving the
completing touches to his log cabin.
''Spanish, guess. Pm quick at lin.
goB and I've picked up few words"
At that moment ] uan turned his head
and caught sight of the two strangers
and of the cabin. He stared incredu-
lously, then raising himself in his stir
rups and lifting his bride dashed up to
the intruders.
"What do you do here ?" he cried in
angry Spanish. "Who are you that you
dare to build house on the rancho of
the Senior Don Julio Ssnchez?"
whats all that?" asked Stump,
calmly continuing his work.
''He wants to know what We are doin'
on his masters land"
''Jest tell him."
"Well, young man." said Comfy, in
poor and halting Spanish. "sesing We
liked the place we thought we'd settle
here for O time"
"What! What" screamed the va
que.o. "You build q house on my
seSor's land and intend to live here?
How long? How long?"
"Oh. we'll stay, guess"
The vRquero stood up in his stirrups
and swung his riats as il to rope the in
truders, at the same time suffering a
voley OF oaths. But the impsrturba-
bility OF the Americans nonplused him,
and wheeling suddenly, ne galloped at
full speed up the ranch, followed at
long range by the forgotten mare.
Supper WAS over In the great adobe
house at the upper end OF the ranch.
The family OF Don Julio Sanchez was on
the long corridor watching the shadows
gather on the plateau. Don Julio sat
before the open door of the living room.
black elk handkerchief knotted about
his head. His skin was brown and with
cred, his nose high, his lips thin. Don
Julio was something of a martinez. His
brown silk short clothes and lace ruffles
were scrupulously neat. He leaned one
ieweled hand on cane and placidly
surveyed the broad acres which made
him one of the Rrandees of the land.
By his side sat his wife, Doiia Josefs,
brown and fat and kindly, embroidsr-
ing by the falling light. Several young
men lounged in hammocks. Three girls
in white frocks, their dark hair hanging
in long braids, were grouped in cor
ner, laughing and whispering. A half
dozen or more children ran about, ad-
monished occasionally by Dofla Josefa.
Don Julio was very proud of his IA
sons and daughters.
Suddenly the sound Of galloping
hoois broke above the hoarse crosking
OF ne frogs and the shrieks of the chill
dren. One of the young men opened
MS sleepy eyes and sat erect.
Juan, it must be-" he said. "Vsl-
gams Dios! Has he found La Pulga?"
Sure" said Don Juan. "He would
not return. else."
But moment later Juan dashed mp
TO the house without the truant mare.
A chorus of reprogches greeted him. but