Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-11-13
THAT WATER MELON.

II was quito q youngster when got
the ranch fever and started out with
cousin of about my own ngc for big cat
Tie rnnoh In Texas In which hlsfathcr was
financially Interested IL was our nrst
trip Of the kind. and We were both young
and pretty grccn--typical tcndcrieei' In
fnct
1.-THE ranch was 95 long, weary miles
from tho nearest town and railroad, and
you can fancy our feelings whom. after rid
Ing over this distance on two Of The most
angular littlo Texas hronchos ever given
90 equestrian noyltos, we arrived nt our
destination, IN ind no one NJ home bat
the cnrcthkcr and q couple of men, all tho
rusi having gone 81 on long round up,
II was early autumn md nno weather,
bat tho piaor looked dismal enough. not
suggestion II civilized comfort Tho care.
taker advised ~ 10 rumain. Said We might
b. sent Tor any moment 10 Join the outilt,
A. theru wns short count ~ men Just
then. but told " frankly We would lave
" tough IL, as provisions VEN rvtty low.
"1t wasn't precisely what We had nntici
mated when we made our gilt edged plans
NJ home. but We couldn't turn baek 20
once. and. to toll the honest truth. wg
didn't want to strike that roturn trnil 10
tho rnilruad until our bruises had healed
up a little We did rough Il for sun.
Our dict was principally bansnnd tallow,
not appctlzlng although We wcru hungry
enough at monl times b. eat Shoe leather.
We gonofnlly pfacticcd riding and ruplng
nll DAY under tho tuition Of the canrnkcr
~ order 10 ON the bill N sent for Hnldcnly
b. Join the outfit. and We took general
lesson IN caring for tho stock and working
round the place
After about thru waoks ~ Il ms cousin
nave out. snid his stomach wouldn't stand
any morn beans and be was going 10 start
for civilization lie bad had enough of
ranching In lnst him lifetime SO be- lcit
IN disgust. but siaid on. Ind come 20
stay. I expected ~ rough u good deal,
and, although didn't altogether enjoy n,
Iwan,cd to acc tho thing through
~ week later word WINS received 81 tho
ranch that ono NJ tho boys had been hurt,
and na | was tho most available Of the
homo fore was notified 20 start "a and
take his place Perhaps you eau Imagine
my Importance. 1 fairly hristlcd with
youthful pride. The outfit was about $50
miles O. the south ~ no, and on my way
thor was Obliged TO piss through tho H.
Ito town whore my cousin and left tho
nilfoad on arriving Ia 1exns II occurrei
~ mo that under the circumstances ~ Tho
past month, and presumably Of some futurr
months, good, square meal would aid the
present moment aud possibly lend haloto
both past and future, 20 Ipruccctlod 90 look
up tho best restaurant in tnwu-aort 81
feeding trough IA the slough Of ciyllizn.
ton, u proved, with thcquccrcat old duner
standing In the doorway.
clio was using toothpiok upon the one
tooth which graccd his jaws, had jeans
Trousers stuffed into cnwhldo boots and a
dirty sombrcro on tho haok Of his Rrisxlod
old hiad, bat his pspnnsos 20 my Plea for
dinner gave him for tho moment an i'm
portanoc aud attractive personality not
possessed BY th. governor 81 the state.
Have you any nice bccfstcnka' asked.
"'Nou bet
"'Can you broli me u good biz onoi'
"'You bot"
"can you fry mo some nice potatoes,
cfispi'
"'Nou lct'
"'And coiIeci' But didn't walt for
another You bct.' gavo the order and
sat down In the bar, my mouth fairly wa
tcring In anticipation ~ rial dinner onco
more Aflor month OF beans and tallow,
you cnn fancy what visions Of juicy stcak
aud nicely Drowned potatoes fitted through
my hrain. could Just catch the fumes ~
tho onion and pork frying dcliciously aud
fancied could hear the little si2zle as tho
potato Sites were dropped In.
81 was 10 intent upon tho thought Of
my coming feast that | never notlocd a
great hulking fellow who walked into the
bar, aud, ugSluring - large watermelon. cut
itopcn and began 60 eat Presently heard
him say Ia very mild toncs---t should have
takon warning from that very inlldncss,
but l hadn't sonso cnough-'IIayo some
melon, sonny
"'No, thanks, g,id l carcicssly.
"'Oh do. les tine
"'1hnnks, but Two ordered my grub
Really, yer better try lest a little
This rathor insinuatlugly.
III had not bocn ~ Internally green,
might have taken warning As II was.
what with my swcllcd head at the prospect
Of h.ouming IN" nudgcd cowboy and
tho-o dinner air castles. lost my temper.
I've already told you my grub Is ur,
dcrcd. don't want your melon
Whal, now, I ruckon yen change ycf
mind, sonny, now, won't cher aud Tho
hIpt thing knew | was looking down III,
mouth Of his gun, pointed right at my
moss and not foot away. Talk OF can
nonsl Why, that revolver barrel looked
big enough for me % crawl into thinl
1 must hnyc turned grecn instead Of
whta
." reckon yer changed yer mind now
haln't yer, sonny
III ever any one felt like murder, dit
that moment Hut tell you was scared
begged pleaded with tho old rufilan
told him had been illllng up on bean
and tnli0w for u month aud Just had thl
chance Of ono decent meal 1 urged HIN
10 Join mo, brlbcd him with drinks /
was no use jest lootle biz, sonny; jOs
lootlo bic more, be drawicd, when
finally concluded II best 10 sail In and jos
n lcotlo moro II was until had finishes
every morscl Of that wrltchcd melon. Will
ho-hlamcd old boggar-hcld his gun a
my head.
Talk about rccordsl must hold IN
championship easily When found ha
n cat, wentnt Il double quick l didn'
like the look In the old sinners eye.
didn't know what other schcmc might b
working In his fertile brain Aud, q
courao whcn my steak and potatoes al
rived there ! sat, 10 fun of watermelon
couldn't eat a muuthful more Ynn CO
scarcely blame me Tor mover having touchu
watermelon since "--!.sohauRr.
ARTEslAN DRAINAGE.