The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1903-05-01

the valley.
The young man opened up modest
Office in the village and flung shining
shingle to the lazy breeze that crept
down from the range. But fees were
scarce as molars on hen-farm. Might
ruled in the valley. The Mexicans
and greasers settled their differences
with fists and knives, and Jim eked
out his scanty income by working at
the dipping station just outside the
village.
In years time Jim had gathered
hundred ewes into his tiny corral.
Fits of alternate hope and despair had
bridged the interval. When a eve
gave birth to twins, Mercreda straig ght-
way predicted that an epidemic had
set in, and rosy fingered Hope piled
the calculating pencil on double basis.
But when gay ranchero rode into
town, or blithe young cowboy from
the foothills swung through the village
streets, despair held Jim in its paralyz-
ing clutch.
But great day dawned for Jim and
Mercreda 1t found the former, clad
in buckskin pants and jumper, busy at
the dipping station. The focks of
Tony Gomez filled the corrals and
were struggling through the annual
dipping process to prevent disease.
Jim, the erudite, held the post of honor
on raised platform above the steam
ing vat. From the yards below mar
row chute led towards him, up which
a steady stream of sheep was forced
by the willy collies. Jim dropped the
frightened creatures one by one into
the hot sulphur dip with the non
chalance of housewife shelling peas,
and shouted orders to the Mexicans
armed with throat.hooks who guided
the foundering sheep through the long,
narrow vat towards the dripping-pens
From his elevation Jim saw vast
flock of lambs draw near outside the
dipping station, surrounded by snap
ping collies and dark-skinned herders
A dusty horseman plunged into view,
a burly Westerner, whose name was
known to every sheepman on the range,
and asked for the owner OF the station.
The owner was absent from the valley
and there was no one to represent him
jim called old Gomez, who came forth
with glowering face and angry mein.
The stranger demanded immediate pos
session. He made the startling state
ment that he had contracted for the
station for the entire week, and drew
forth a written document to substan-
tiate his claim. He explained his
haste, and insisted that the Mexican
should give way to his focks. lie was
under contract with score of ranch
men in Colorado. A special train was
to meet him at the nearest station, and
the law required that the lambs should
be dipped before crossing the State
line.
With mellifluent flow of Spanish
vowels, in striking contrast to his vol
canic manner, old Gomez called upon
the residents of heaven to witness his
intention, and the fires of hell to eter-
nally consume him if he budged an
inch for a luridly modified Yankee.
The stockman coaxed, threatened, and
finally turned his pony's head towards
the village for legal assistance.
Jim hurried home to change his
clothes, and was quietly seated in his
office when the stranger sputtered in.
Jim explained the futility of the usual
legal process when the ugly Mexicans
were aroused and suggested compro-
mise, to which the stockman gladly
consented. All day Jim camped on
Gomez's trail. His native instinct,
illumined by his Yankee wit, wen the
day. With smooth words and twenty
dollars the corrals We're cleared. The
delighted storkman slapped Jim on
the back and told him to come to the
hotel that evening for his fee.
Jim hurried home to consult with
his mother, and stopped on the way to
tell Mercreda. IL ought to have fifty
dollars" he insisted, for it was worth
that to him.'
Mercreda squeez 1t his hand, and his
mother gaz d proudly upon the man
who could earn fifty dollars in a single
day.
Arrayed in his bravest apparel, Jim
sailed forth, walking on air, but before
he reached the little 'dobe hotel he
gradually neared the earth again. He
was obllge to stop and recall Mercre-
da's proud look and his mothers won
derment to keep his courage at the
proper pitch. "What if the stock man
IT, n