Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-12-02
: The Broken Record :
! ky G. E c. Peabody. :
SASASASA0A@iASA@nOzs.S


huence of the perfect California dav
as he meditatively chewed the end OF
lemon sucker and watched the las
load of oranges leave for the pacxin.
house, with the Mexican Manur
Perched high on top. his tall peaked
sombrero bobbing wildly up and down
as the heavy loaded wagon jolted oyez
the narrow winding trail that by cour.
tesy was called road.
Il 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
hitl told tibet miserable greaser 10
look out for tibet chuck hole, and now
he's in hit up to his hub!"
What 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 fourishing 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 a tenderfoot ~ith 40
acres of wash" grunted Muggins.
Well, it serves you right L toldycu
20 never trust him out of your sight. /
never saw greaser yet who knew
enough to herd beesI"
'Since when, Beth" answered her
father, drily, has this yere ranch
been given over to pettycoat govern
ment?"
Ever since you married MON. [
reckon" she answered, demurely.
Look at himl" calculated Mupgips
again pointing in the direction of the
Perspiring Manuel and ignoring the
home thrust, for it was 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 thet
he is swearin' in SPANISH Thar goes
the other shoulderl He's swearin' with
United States nowl Thar they both 90
together! Thet means thet he is hold
ing an international cussin' conventionl
Stop thet!" he beloved; "PlI knock
. you of from tibet thar wagin If you
don't stop beatin' thet off hoss!"
Pop" said Beth, taking hold of her
fathers arm and pointing off TO the
j southwest, do you see that bright line
along the horizon?"
"Of course! Hits the oceani You
don't suppose, do you, tibet I have lived
here % years to be told where the
ocean is?"
"A little further on Their is an island"
continued his daughter.
l"Meanin' Catalina?"
A'ENactly. They say the goat hunt
ing over there is excellent"
''Wul, / amt thar, be I2''
mo, and you amt down there
either" answered Bess dryly, pointing
at the stalled wagon. Leave the
greaser alone. If he isn't able to swear
the wagon out of the rut the case is
hopeless. How many more loads are
there to go?'
Tibet thar reptile down thar has got
the end of 'em-Humph, he has got
out at lasti If he gifts thet wagon
stalled again I'll murder himi"
1.-THE last! cried Beth, glancing I'M
consciously at the rancher's clock-the
sun. "Then you are coming out short
on your estimator"
mot n bit of hit! On the contrary
I am coming out with rs more boxes
than thought had.'
''They must have been an uncommon
spry lot oof pickers," was Beth's COM
ment.
''They ,wuz," chuckled AIuggins.
The fact .wuz, thet promised the
rcritter 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 'did!" snapped his daugh-
ster, turning full upon him with an an
CRY look in her eyes. 'Well, all can
say is that / hope you can deliver the
goods! Pretty pop you are, I'd like
to see myself dancing with a greaser or
q Chinaman just because he happened
to pick the most ,oranges!"
-"Wul, you see" said Muggins, apollo
getically, ~them oranges had to be
picked, an didntt> see any other way
10 get them to do hit
Beth threw the poppies she was car
rying upon the ground and stamped
upon them.
Il won't have anything to do with
It'll" she exclaimed.
Il asked mom," returned Muggins.
She said she guess hit wuz all right"
but a greaser or-or a Chinaman!"
burst out Beth. Besides, promised
Arthur Bray that he might have the
hrst dance. and 1 mean to keep my
word"
who's hi4n?" demanded Mucgins.
following with his eye bnzzard that |
was wheeling over their heads.
You know as well as I do" retorted
Beth.
"Meanin' tibet thar one-lung tender
foot, I'm supposin'. Wul, he's in on /
hit, TOO. He kim down to the orchard |