The record-union., 1897-08-01
M'KENzIE SAVED HIS BACON.
AN ARNO FARMERS EXPERT
ENCE WITH A HOBO.
The Latter Stole His Load of Pigs
and Came Near Sell
ing Them.

Long before dawn yesterday morning
Colin Mckenzie, an Arno farmer, load
ed twenty fine porkers into his wagon
and started for Sacramento with the
intention Of turning them into coin
of the realm. Mr.. Mckenzie is one of
the substantial tillers of the soil in
the Arno District.
He met with no adventure worthy of
note until he neared the city, when he
was accosted by a citizen of the genus
hobo, who had a whip with which he
desired to raise the wind" As farm
er McKenzie's horses were somewhat
blown the pilgrim who had the whip to
sell thought to strike an easy bargain,
and opened negotiations by Offering to
10 take two bits for the implement Of
torture.
Mr.. Mckenzie protested that he need
ed no spur for his team, and the pos
SCISSOR of the whip came down to 10
cents, and tried to close a bargain at
no cents. But Mr.. Mckenzie sturdily
refused to be tempted
In the meantime the weary citizen
who had a whip to sell had ingratiated
himself into the confidence of Farmer
Mckenzie until the latter was pre-
vailed upon to give him lift into the
city.
When Sacramento was reached, about
40 o'clock, Mr.. Mckenzie was hungry
and the pilgrim was thirsty. The
former started for the nearest hotel,
first hitching his team to a nearby
rack, and the latter Sighted his inten-
tion of exchanging his stock in trade
3the Whip for a long schooner of dusky
beer.
But the cupidity of the hobo had be-
come aroused at the thought of the
good hard dollars that might be real
lied from the sale of the fat Arno
porkers, and while Farmer Mckenzie
was enjoying his late breakfast his
late passenger had disposed of the
whip, and probably the beer of which
he had been dreaming, and had re-
turned TO take another look at the
tempting pigs.
Then the hobo resolved to play a
leading role. He united the team, and
climbing upon the seat Of the wagon
drove down into the classic precincts
of Chinatown and began bartering with
the heather for the safe of the swine.
He was not hard to please concerning
the price, and the Chinaman who con-
ducts the place at 124 L street soon
to pay So % per hundred, gross, for
Mr.. McKenzie's porkers.
The weigh bill was promptly made
out but the versatile vender got no
further.
Farmer Mckenzie finished his break
fast in due time and was not long in
discovering that his team, wagon and
swine had disappeared. He was at his
wits. ends until somebody suggwJed
that he tell his troubles to the police.
He concluded to follow the advice, and
forthwith started for the Police Sta
ton. but when he arrived at Second
and I streets he was agreeably sur
prised to see his team, wagon and pork
ers. together with the man who had
made a quondam of him standing
alongside the sidewalk in front of the
Chinese store.
But the hobo had his eyes about him,
and caught sight of Mr.. Mckenzie at
the same instant the latter detected
him. He had played his game and
lost. and, as it transpired, knew when
he had enough He made fast time
out through the alley between Front
and Second, [ and~J streets, and 'he
never came back
Thus Farmer Mckenzie recovered his
property, and it will probably be many
a long day before he allows a hobo
with a whip to sell to get into his good
graces. He visited the Police Station
and swore out John Doe warrant,
and gave the officers a good description
of his acquaintance of the morning.