Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-01-04
JERRY'S CHOICE.

W ueeun u GU OueaSy JeSU DecauSe OH
Podgers hez offered ye u dollar a month
more'n I'm payin ye. I reckon I've got
about ez much money an kin afford to pay
ye about ez much ez Podgers kin or mebbe
a little more.
EYER q fust class worker, Jerry, I'll
admit that, an I don't want ye to be get
tin dissatisfied or thinkin Of diggin out,
SO I'll make a bargain with ye right now
before we go any further. If ye stick to
me an work ez well ez ye'vo bin workin
right along fer the next two years, I'll pay
ye the same as Podgers offered ye, an at
the end Of the two years I'll give We the
best critter or the place. Yes, stree, Jerry,
ye kin take yer pick of airy critter on tho
hull place, from a sheep up to u horse, or
even a giraffe or elephant, if I happen to
have one of EN- on hand when it comes
time to take yer choice.
"What dye say to that, Jerry? Is it a
b~argain?"
"I1l do it," answered Jerry Brant
quietly, land there's my hand to bind the
bargain"
"That's the way to talk; that's jest
what I wanted to hear" exclaimed Farm
er johnson, grasping Jerry's extended
palm and giving it a hearty shake. "Now
that biz'ness is settled satisfactory to all
hands, an we kin pitch into the work with
clear co~nsciences."
No further mention was made Of the
bargain between Jerry and his employer
until they were seated at the dinner table
later in the day, and then Mr.. johnson,
with a merry twinkle in his eyes, glanced
across the table at his better fraction and
said:
well, mother, 1 had to discharge Jerry
an hire him over ag'in today"
You seem to be In very good humor
about it, so / judge the difference couldn't
have been very serious - commented Mrs.
johnson, who used to be a Yankee school.
ma'am before she married, and therefore
did not handle the United States dialect
with the offhand familiarity Of her hus-
band.
"Serious? Ye kin bet it is!' calculated
Mr.. johnson. why, I've got to pay him
81 a month more'n I did before, an at tho
end of two years, If he stays right along,
he's to have his pick out of the critters on
the place to take along with him IN keep
for his own. 1 expect he'll take a horse,
but l can't help it. L wasn't goin to let
old Podgers hire him away from me an
then 20 around chucklin over it behind
my back for the next six months"
"Mr. Podgers made an attempt to hire
him, did hep"
Eyes, an a purity nervy attempt at that.
Offered him 81 more a month, but | set.
tied the matter In a hurry by pilin the
best critter on the place ON top of that.
But If he stays the hull two years I reckon
he'll earn 1t, eh, jerry"
Jerry blushed, and answered that he
would do his best.
Didn't you exempt my pony, papa? ]
really can't think of allowing Mr.. Brant
to run off with that, even if he does earn
It'll" exclaimed Farmer Johnson's pretty
18-year-old daughter May, with a side.
long glance of admiration at Jerry's broad
shoulders and manly features.
ooh, Jerry wouldn't be mean enough
to take the pony, | guess" %interposed her
father.
"No," said Jerry, II don't want the
pony-unless the rider goes with 1t, " he
added, sotto voce.
"Eh, what's that?" demanded Mr.. John.
son. "Unlcss whats l didn't ketch the
tail end of that remark exactly"
''Jerry's face turned crimson, and he
was about to repeat his remark when the
quick witted young lady came to the res
cue.
"Mr. Brant"-she always called him by
that title, because she considered it more
becoming and dignifled than Jerry-''Mr.
Brant says he doesn't want the pony un.
less the bride goes with it, l believe" she
explained ingenuously.
"Huh! I reckon a halter is all he'll get
with her If he takes that pony. There
want anything in the writin's about
THROWN in q bride, y said Farmer John.
son.
"You needn't worry, father. l think
Mr.. Brant will be generous enough tc
spare me my pony" said May reassuringly.
Eyes, you may keep your pony" agreed
Jerry, with an undisguised glance Of adj.
miration at the pretty face opposite him.
Mays eyes fell before his, but not until
they had flashed back Il look that caused
his heart to beat high with hope.
The fact Of the matter was that stall.
wart, good looking Jerry had long ad-
mired his employers handsome and &C.
oomplished daughter, but today was the
first. time he had dared to let her know 1t
either by look or speech. After that, how
ever, their acquaintance rapidly ripened,
and a few weeks later Jerry surprised MI.
johnson by asking for the hand of his
daughter in marriage.
Mr.. johnson was engaged In the pastoral
occupation Of milking q COW at the mo.
mcnt this question was sprung upon him,
and he nearly fell of the stool in astonish.
ment.
Want to marry my darter, Maya" he
gasped. II guess not, young mani Not
II the court knows itself. I've bin edyer-
catin her fer suthin higher than margin
her fathers hired man.
"Oh, II that IL the only objection, it can
easily be removed, /" interposed Jerry. II
don't expect to remain anybody's hired
man after my two years are up. I believe
I told you when I came here that l had
just graduated from college and intended
to make the pursuit Of agriculture my life
business instead of going into medicine or
law or any other Of the already over
crowded professions. I believe q man with
brains can put them to as good use and
make o. much money In farming as In
anything else, and ! propose to prove It. I
am studying the practical side Of the bust
meas now, and at tho end Of my two years
! ! propose to 50 west and buy . ranch and