New-York tribune., 1901-06-16
TONY'S SACRIFICE.
From The ArgOnaut.

Lambert of the original on t'uSdiChS' tu'hN'
his telegram into his vest pocket with loVlhe
little pat. This the moment he had beeh
working and living for all these long months
veterinary daffodil jinks it read, and' trans
lated by his private cipher code. it meant he was
to go ahead. buy the whole tract and draw on
the company for the first payment
The burning August sun beat reIentIessIy upon
his unaccustomed head his collar took on the
hue of the road his face was blistered and his
evebaIIs scorched by the heat. but so absorbed
was he in the schemes that unroed themselves
before him that he forgot to furne because OF
his discomfort. He chuckled gIeefully TO him
self Notwithstanding the act involved the
breathing of a mOuthful OF Kern County dust
for this was the climax he had almost despaired
of reaching Although he had never for mo-
lost faith in the richness of this little strip
of foOthill country the company had never until
now been willing To raise the money for the hrst
payment and the erection of the works necessary
for its development. and he had come to realize
that of a verify, faith without works is dead 4"
His company was not rich: Lambert. its heav-
lest stakeholder was worse than poor. being
heels over head in debt There We're plenty Of
people he did not dare To meet because of
overdue notes. several clubs he could not go near
on account Of delinquent dues. and numberess
underlined tradesmen who made his life bur
den. But in the success Of this deal he saw the
end Of all his troubles.
Th,. Ioungers around the little hotel eyed him
curiOusly he drove up. and followed at his
heels he made his way into the office for
such turnout vas not often in that part
Of the country. Lambert pushed his way
through the crowd without seeing them. and
drank champagne 10 his risir., fortunes as the
uncoolcd beer trickled down his dusty throat.
The name of Johnson, Of the Mammoth Mineral
Monopoly. on the register made him open hrs
eyes trific wider. OF course there was no rea-
son Why Johnson should not be- there he
chose but there was Coolness between the
members Of the two companies. especially be-
tween Johnson and himself
The county records showed the title Of thu.
Land 10 be- vested in one Antonia Maria Lopez.
So early the next morning Lambert started off
20 hnd her. But once cut the country roads.
in the wastes of brown stubblchrlds the dircc-
tions h. haG received at the hotel became con
fused No one seemed to know anything about
the distance, and IL had been variously esti-
mated from bout fifteen mile to twenty.
After following Tor several hours a read that
seemed To have no turning he looked about for
some one of whom hc might inquire the way.
and the first sign of life that came In sight was
tut when ne was almost near enough to address
her she stopped. drew her sun bonnet over her
eyes tucked h-r skirts into one hand and
Sc ealed the four rallied fence as neatly as a boy
might have done. Then looking over her shout
der toward the dustclOud down the road. she
slipped behind bowlder and waited for the.
wheels To pass. A. the dust enveIoped her in a
binding cloud the smart trap was brought up
short with clankins of chains and silver
mountings
Gould you tell me whether or not this is the
road To the Lopez place. Lambert asked
The sun bonnet Jerked forward in an sfIirna-
tive nod
Then perhaps you will be so good as To direct
me 20 it," Lambert continued.
Yep. answered the girl. tits right here
pause followed. while the man in the cart
looked over the girls head at the abominaton
of desolaton epitomized in the prospect before
him-the tumbledown fences the unpainted
half finished house the rickety outbuiIdtnrs
then al the forlorn little figure beside the
b"wlder- His eyes sought hers for further in
formation. but the bonnet had closed down over
her features like the shell of an oyster
Then. perhaps you are Miss Lopez" he vent
ured. the heiress To the estate?"
Nope" returned the bonnet I'm Tony To-
PEE; my folks are dead. and this here ranch
won't be mine till I'm OF age. that's ALL
lt was evident, Lambert told himself as ba
followed the sirl To the house. that the DUR
chase would be an easy matter. for she certainly
had no idea of the value of her scrawnv acres
Il an liapf nj