The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-10

merry, simple. guileless. equity. chival-
rous. bald-headed little man with pot
belly. who had never had the neces-
sity of making up his mind in his life,
and had always allowed his strong.
handsome brother to do it for him; the
other fine built fellow. with will
and a head. neither OF which had ever
been used. save at billiards or horse
racing or among women. Can you do
it?'
TN try
That's right Well suppose that
your father, another guileless. chival-
rous little man. already nearly ruined.
had crippled himself still further by
buying In London what he was led to
believe to be a splendid cattle ranch
near the city of San Pablo. as 1t APP
pears on that map. Throw in. II you Ike.
couple OF worshiping sisters and a
trusting sweetheart, all confident OF
speedy success and fortune. Are you
with me so far? Good, Well suppose
that. confident OF your power. and with
all kinds of romantic, silly notions. you
have sailed for this magnificent country,
and. arriving at its northern boundary.
have purchased cattle and a general
outfit with your small remaining cash
| capital. and that eager to view your
as yet unseen estate. you have driven
on in advance miles and miles through
| a God-forsaken country like that
through which you have just driven in
reality. to arrive here. here on this
sand heap. and to be told that it rep
resents the city of San Pablo. and that
the country through which you have
driven is identical in character to that
of your great estate. Well. what would
you dor"
Mr. Sheath thought for some time be-
fore answering Then he said: Il be-
Heve I'd stay and make a fight for it,
Quite So said Fugard. And I'd
give man like you six months in which
to shoot yourself"
Come. come. sir said Sheath 1T
is an unfortunate case. certainly, but
it seems to me that you gentlemen take
it almost morbidly to heart. After all,
you are not responsible for"
mo. But you see we have watched
them making their fight for it, inter
rupted Fugard quietly. Come out and
see the city by moonlight. will you?
See that big mountain over there. with
the moon perched on it's camel back?
The Broncers' ranch is i've miles be-
hind that Quite a drive. eh?''
Yes. but we will make It tomorrow
all the same" said Sheath.
Only a trickle Of water remained in
the rudy coIored bed Of the Arroyo del
Diablo to reflect the burning. thirsty
rays of cloudless December sun,
though. according to precedent. the
stream should have been madly rushing
and swirling between those parched up
banks. still lined with the debris left
by the torrent of more than year ago.
On the bank of the stream. some fifty
yards away, stood much patched tent.
and beside IL rough farm wagon. Two
mules, with pinched up bellies. pro-
|
visible in the nearer distance as they
moved TO and fro with that Kangaroo
like movement which hobbling en-
genders. tte
High up to the west, three miles away,
and divided from the stream by many
a rugged gulch, stood the crazy Diablo
ranch house. its whitewashed sunbathed
boards cleaning brightly through the
dancing transparency. and far away
behind it again rose the towering camel
backed mountain, the largest of all the
threatening fantastic volcanic monsters
which completely surrounded the land
scape. Not a tree was visible: not a
patch OF green-nothing but cherries.
sun cracked. broken waste of boulder