Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1907-06-20
! Iurpin Pelinized.


At about the end of winter, had
to make trip from the neighborhood
OF Jim Low's-as the next station
south of Salinas Crossing at Soledad
is called-to San Luis Obispo, to draw
$500 from the bank. rode into Jim
Lows, and leaving my horse there,
boarded the southbound stage for San
Luis.
The rivers were running pretty high
that spring. However, we got to the
Pleito ranch all right, where we
changed horses. took dinner, and again
started. There was, however, one
more river ia cross the Nacimiento,
!. lying betueen the fis III d and San Mig
ue1. happened 10 be the only pas
1 senger in the stage that trip, and
while the driver and myself were dis
cusing risking the passage, rancn-
er who lived close by the river ad-
vised us not to try it, as his own wa
gon had been nearly carried down the
stream that morning. He added that
if we liked, we could put up at MS
place all night AS there was every
probability that the freshet would go
down before morning, We decided TO
Go so.
i. eve shall have to pay, though,
said the driver to me with wink as
he turned his leaders from the pank'
land pretty roundly, too-mlnd tha1.
Old Williams is a hard one. I've got
stalled here once or twice before. lt,s
just nuts for the old man to ketch
the stage in a tight place"
Old Williams's parsimony was the
talk of the country side, although ru-
NOR had it that he was worth many
thousand dollars in cash besides herds
of cattle.
When supper was called we were
received by our hosts wife, woman
of about 40, who had been doing the
cooking. The meal was really gooo
one. Mrs. Williams's conversation ana
demeanor, too, were courteous ana
pleasant, though one could see she
was woman of determined character.
After supper we weer shown lIe
sleeping apartment, on the seconu
story. At each side of the room were
snread six camp beds, IL in all, Tor
Old Williams's ranch had been the
supper stopping place OF the UP stase
some years before. l had not Slept
long before I was awakened. some
persons were talking on the other SIDE
of the partition wall.
"Marthy,' said the voice OF OLD man
williams. 81 tell you I KANT afford It.
+ You1l ruin me with your extrava-
gances. What with your house pllls'
an vour dress bills, an your galnvan-
fin about. an your trips to town, I'm
s,nrised YOU should dream OF sucn
thing Five hundred dollars 1or d
trip to Frisco! Why, you must DC
crazy!" 80
"Jt,s YOU that's crazy, you olo
hunks" replied the female voice II
scornfnl tones: 'It's six years Since
rye been to anywheres but San LUIS
no YOU think I'm agoin' to toll ano
slave to make money for you all nay
life an get no good out OF It! In
eoin, to Frisco to spend month Win
nv sister, an I'm not agoln 70 pe
laughed at when | get there, you cdn
iust het. Five hundred dollars an no'
. cent less. Why, I hain't got rag
A. To he seen in-hain't had these sla
years, an don't propose to stano =
no longer" 49,
"I see it all, Marthy,' rejoined the
old man Williams; "it's all Decase $
I've got to go to the bay that yoc
want to go too. But mines bizness
an, you know it. Now look a-here
Marthy there's $4O0, as you know
nes,ry to meet that little bill OF Bax'
ter,s for that las bit Of land. MY
stagin' back an forrud, $50 eacn wa.
that's fifty. Two days in town, ,;
KANT do 1t cent less 'cept Baxter
treats-them cities is orful 'xpensive