The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-10-28
The Broken Record

fuence of the perfect California day,
us he medisativeiy chewed the end Of
q lemon sucker and watched the last
load Of oranges leave for the packing
house, with the Mexican Manuel
perched high on top. his tall peaked
sombrero bobbing wildly up and down
as the heavy loaded wagon jolted over
the narrow winding trail that by cour-
tesy was called road.
II knew hit" rumbled Muggins
from within the depths of his throat,
as he saw the wagon lurch to one side
and come to a sudden stop. II knew
hit, / told thet miserable greaser to
look out for thet chuck hole, and now
he's in hit up TO his hub!"
'Whnt is the matter. pop?"
Muggins' daughter. laden with pop
pies fresh from the mesa, rivaling the
glow of health upon her cheeks, had
come up where her father was stand
ing shaking his fist at the excited
Manuel, who was wildly flourishing his
whip.
'Matter enough" grumbled Muggins.
Look tharl" he exclaimed, as he point
ed in the direction OF the now crazy
Mexican, who was jumping up and
down in his excitement.
stuck" asked his daughter, shad-
ing her eyes with her hand and looking
down the road.
"Worse than tenderfoot with 40
acres of wash" grunted Muggins.
swell, il serves you right! / told you
to never trust him out of your sight. l
never saw a greaser yet who knew
enough to herd beesl"
"Since when, Beth" answered her
father. drily, "has this yere ranch
been given over to pettycoat govern
ment?"
Ever since you married nom, l
reckon" she answered, demurely.
Look at him!" calculated Muggins,
again pointing in the direction of the
perspring Manuel and ignoring the
home thrust, for it was a matter of talk
throughout the whole district that
although Muggins bossed all the men
within 20 miles, he himself was bossed
by his little wife, who only tipped the
scales at 100 pounds. See him hitchin'
up his right shoulder? Thet means tibet
he is swearin' in Spanish! Thar goes
the other shoulder! He's swearin' with
United States now! Thar they both go
togetheri Thet means thot he is hold
Ing an international cussin' conventionl
Stop thetl" he beloved; "I'll knock
you off from tibet thar wagin If you
don't stop beatin' tibet off hoss!"
Pop" said Beth, taking hold of her
fathers arm and pointing Off to the
southwest, do you see that bright line
along the horizon?"
"Of course! Hits the ocean! You
don't suppose, do you, tibet have lived
here 25 years TO be told where the
ocean is?"
"A little further on Their is an island"
continued his daughter.
'Meanin' Catalina?"
Exactly. They say the goat hunt
Ing over there is excellent"
"Wul, / amt thar, be I?'
"No, and you amt down there
either" answered Bess dryly, pointing
at the stalled wagon. leave the
greaser alone. III he isn't able TO swear
the wagon out of the rut the case is
hopeless. How many more loads are
there 10 go?"
"Thet thar reptile down thar has got
the end Of 'em-Humph, he has got
out ut lastl III he gifts tibet wagon
stalled again I'll murder himl"
''Thc last!' cried Beth, glancing UNI
consciously at the rancher's clock-thc
sun. "Then you are coming out short
on your estimator"
'Not bit of HIT On the contrary
1 am coming out with 7s more boxes
than thought had"
''They must have been an uncommon
spry lot Of pickers,' was Beth's COM
ment.
"They wuz," chuckled Muggins.
1.-THE fact wuz, thet i promised the
critter what picked the most oranges
tibet he might have the honor of the
first dance with we tonight when we
celebrate the close Of the pickin'."
"Oh, you didl" snapped his daugh-
ter, turning full upon him with an an
CRY look In her eyes. "Well, all / can
say Is that ] hope you can deliver the
g,ods. Pretty pop you arc! I'd like
70 see myself dancing with a greaser or
a Chinaman just because he happened
10 pick the most oranges!"
"Wul, you see" said Muggins, apollo
getically, "them oranges had to be
picked an / didn't sec any other way
TO get them TO do hit"
Beth threw the peoples she was car
rying upon the ground and stamped
upon them.
II wort have anything 10 do with
It'll" she exclaimed.
81 asked mom," returned Muggins.
"She said she guess hit wuz all right"
But n greaser or--or Chinnman!"
burst out Beth. Besides. / promised
Arthur Bray that he might have the
frst dance, and l mean to keep my
word"
"Who's hlm?- demanded Muggins,
following with his eye buzzard that
was wheeling over their heads.
"Nou know as well as 90, retorted
Beth.