New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-03

Official postmaster and representative Of the
Mexican government had already celebrated,
and lay drunk and asleep in the only other
building visible IN the city, hugging an empty
spirit bottle TO his breast
The lamp was lit in the room where the two
men sat, and two old blankets had been care
fully fastened over the blindless windows with
the evident intent TO exclude the sunlight which
st4l shone outside, and the desolate landscape
which il revealed, and substitute in their stead
an attempt Of artificial Christmas cheerfulness
10 lucge from the silence and detected express
sion Of the men they sat smoking and drink
Ing, the attempt was hopeless failure.
The room was a large one. Its contents were
numerous miscellaneous. and in chaotic
fusion, the only articles clearly defnable being
the common chairs on which the men were sit
ting. the bare pinewood table which the lamp
bottles and glasses rested, camp bed in one
corner, from n hich the blankets had been hast
lily pulled TO cover the windows, and two gayly
coiored Autographed maps on the wall The
other miscellany piled about the floor in all
directions Was only a confused entangled tumble
q things abandoned ard cast aside, vaguely
suggestive Of surveying, farming. mining COLO
niZatOn, incapable OF segregation and mUtely
telling Of impracticahility and failure.
The TWO bright spots in this coInfortless room
the maps the wall They very
attractive, especially the larger one, with its
eIaborately fourished and decorated title. The
city or San Pablo, Property OF the AnGlo-MeN-
lean Happy Land Company" This map was
indeed work Of art; q beautiful plan OF huge
and prosperous city with churches, banks,
schools, parks, plazas, bouleyards; mighty
pier and harbOr thronged with vessels and
surrounded by smoking factories. The crucely
printed words, Percy Hodgson Agent" which
had been stamped in one corner of this map
10y al unappreciative hand were the only blern-
ish on its otherwise perfect surface.
The other map, though nearly as large. was
drawn on much smaller scale, and the City Of
san Pablo only occupied an eighth Of square
inch on its southern border; while near the
northern border. and calculating by the scale
some hundred miles away. lay another city. san
Fcdro by name, ana between tlese TWO points
lay country Of apparently SURPRISING richness
Well young 'Un, who are You numbering"
It was the elder Of The m-n Who broke the
I'm going to cut this George. Don't care
II I never get cent. Can't stand it, BY the
way, have wished you a merry Christmas
STOW II. viii you? What's the matter with
your lamp? Believe its got the malarIal jim
jams. like poor old Earl"
EarI?"
on nothing Didn't ! tell you? Indian swine
came into store to-day. Said there was some
thing wrong UP there. Toiled up mis- patch
this afternoon Found he'd shot himself by
accident because be was too doocid happy.
party on for tomorrow, young 'un-'
Have you told Sanchez
No. Found him lying drunk in his room when
I got back Been celebrating He'll be all right
tomorrow, though. to act IS coroner and take
possession on behalf Of the government CeIe-
brate again tomorrow night on the proceeds
Unless he bursts from Importance IN the mean
poor old Earl. Give that uhiskey q shove.
VIII your
The two men pulled at their pipes for some
time in silence Then the younger said:
Done anything at the store today"
You bet Sold all the whiskey I had save
the bottle Sanchez stole, TO those poor devils
Of Indians, a strictly credit basis Sold ten
cents worth OF beans we'll"
There was silence again which the elder man
broke by saying:
What was that you said about cutting il,
young 'un?"
Tn of for San Pedro tomorrow, swear it,
How are you going? In 4 balloOn?"
Foot ii, suppose; but I'm going"
Going 10 leave stranded here with that
devil. Sanchez
NO. You're coming too"
And leave the Broncers? No; I won't"
By JOve. 1 forgot them Wonder why they
haven't been down I say. think Of Earl Do
you sUPpose-Z"
NO Not yet Look here. Forgot Indian
brought this IN three days ago. Another sale
the credit system Poor, silly devils" Flu
gard handed 2 note 10 his companion II ran
follows:
vale de Diablo. Dear Fugard-Please send
by bearer some quinne. few pounds Of powder
and shot, a shovel. iron pan (basin shape),
had any rain? None here Cattle all dead but
three Don't like look OF Unky. Wish there
a woman here. We are camping by the
Arroyo Believe have struck IL rich. II So
homes the word at last Trust me once more,
like a good chap, or come and take COW. Hope
shall be in 10 wish you a-weu. a Christmas
Of sorts Have you any nitric acid? IF SO. send
some.-W. Broncer."
The young man kept his eyes fixed on this
note for & long time. and when az length he
spoke, II with twitching hp and unsteady
What queer chap you are, George, bottling
this thing upi Why did you DO it?"
Because, young 'un'-and Fugard put 4
kindly hand his friends shoulder-'Tbecause