The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 16, 1899, Page 22

THE SAN FRANOISCO OCALL, SUNDAY, APRIL 16, 1899 E ROMANCE < LAND SWINDLE . BY CUTHBERT BARMBY. . . HME REACHED THE STREAM-BED, AND GRCLING ROUND, FELT IN VAIN FOR THE TINKLING STREAM. HE tw nglish inhat Pablo, George Fu- Hodgson, as eve of gestiv colonizz 2O0O000000C000000CC CHARACTERS. MRS. ROBBINS, pres!dent Vinculum Club. MRS. TARBOX, MRS. GOVE, MRS. FORD, MRS. ROE, MRS. DOE, MISS SMITH, MRS JONES, MRS. STEELE. directors of the Vin- tulu Club MISS BROWN, member Vinculum Club. SCENE: A ng of the directors In clubhouse. (All are present except Mrs. Stecle, Miss Brown and Mrs. Jones.) fully appre- motives in fons—no onae instant—but resolutions, in ac- cord wi ution? Mrs. Ford—Of co onstitu- tional Mrs. Gove—Why? Mrs. well—they’re 80 un- u_know. 3 Mrs. Jones.) Mrs. Jones—Pardon my t. I haven't k Mrs. Tarbox—The ¢ n_distinctly says that the club shall not take part i rel political or ritable and riusmphan an find anyth 0 that can- not be made to come under one of t ree heads, I'd like to kn t Mra. Jones some one please explain? 1 was t present at the last meeting of the club. Mrs. Robbir meeting some reso- lutions ntroduced by Miss Brown »pted by the club. Mr. ¥ ested 1 candld United & an orde nd wo trust beca By the res club condem peals to the to the ¥ the Da £ the Revolu and to va other organiz: tions of women to do the same. This action of the club is intend- ed to be a rebuke and to carry the same welght as public o Mrs. Jones (with a gasp)—W. a start- proposition! It quite takes » breath away. How did the club ever come to adopt it? Mrs. Tarbox- t's what we'd ltke to know. I think it took away the club's breath. Mrs. Robbins (rapping)—The object of this meeting is to consider what 1s to be done—if anything can be done—in regard to the action of the club. Mrs. Ford—Oh, it must be stopped, some- how. Mrs. Gove—What for? Mrs. Tarbox—It's not along the club lines. ‘What do you think, Mrs. Doe? re. Doe (nervously)—I—I am not pre- room Mrs.:Gove—InAwh_gt wayl wo brigh were er map, though nearly n a much smaller scale, mare inch on its southern ting by the sc e hu 1d betwe cut this, George—don't t a cent—can't stand it e T wished you a bloom- tmas?" thing funny or What's ~ the g~ profar PresicenTt e RABBIND pared to say. I expected Mrs. Bteele would be here to-day. Miss Smith—We must consider the mat- ter conscientiously from all standpoints. Aside from the im- mediate question there is the pre- cedent to be considered. We are here to serve the club and we must be fair to all. Mrs. Roe—The plan seems to me to be Quixotie. ] ad ™ matter with your lamp? nalarial” jim-jams, Belleve it's got like poor old io you mean? What's wrong Didn’t T tell you Indian into store to-day. there £ w up there. Toiled fternoon. Found ceiaent rcid happy. Th burying p un.” Sanchez?" four him lying drunk when 1 got back. arty on for to. in his Been celebrating. be all right to-morrow, though, to as coroner and take possession on be- half of the Government. Celebrate again -morrow on the proceeds. un bt e in the mean- Ie "oor old rl. Give that &ho will you?”? The'two men puffed at their pipes for some time In silence. Then the younger ts from import whisky a Jone anything at the store to-day?"” “You bet. Sold all the whisky I had, bottle Sanchez stole, to those is of Indians on a strictly credit id 10 cents’ worth of beans as which y_saving: that you sald about cutting There was silence again n broke again by the . young 'un?" I'm off for San Pedro to-morrow. I swear it."” ‘How are you going? In a balloon?" “Foot it, T suppose, but I'm going.” (Going to leave me stranded here with that devil “No. nchez?" You're coming toa.” i leave the Broncers? V't v Jove! I forgot them. Wonder why they haven’t been down. I say, think of No. = Earl. Do you suppose- ‘ Y Look here. Forgot. In- t th ¥s ago. An- on the credit system. Poor handed a note to his companion. s folows: “Valle del Diablo. “Dear Fugard: Please send by bearer ome quinine, a few pounds of powder and shot, a shovel, an fron pan (basin shape), a gardener’s line and me beans. Have you had any rain? ne here. Cattle all dead but three. Don't like look of Unky. Wish to G— there was a woman here. We are camp- ing by the Arroyo. Believe I have struck it rich; If so, home's the word at Trust me once more like a good chap, or come and take a cow. Hope w shall be In to wish you a—well, Christmas of sorts. Have you any nitric acid?. If so, send some. W. BRONCER.” The young man kept his eyes fixed on Mrs. Roe—Oh, well—i ccause anything we haven’t done before is always Quixotic. Miss Smith—Ladies, there seems to be some doubt in regard to the pur- pose, or rather the effect of the resolutions. .iiss Brown is walit- ing in the library—she thought you might like to question her in regard to her motives in introduc- ing them. Suppose we ask her to tell us her views? Mrs. Tarbox—Very well. is made up. (The otners assent. Miss Smith leaves the room and returns with Miss Brown.) Mrs. Robbins—At the request of the direc- tory, Miss Brown, will you ex- plain your reason for introducing the resolutions? Miss Brown—The principal one was a de- sire to help those unfortunate women. A man may maintain that he has the right to em- ploy whom he chooses. When, however, he discharges his em- ployes, through no fault of theirs and from a purely selfish motive, he is guilty of an act which merits universal condemnation. Mrs. ‘Roe—Most of those women are Catholics, I am told. This makes the question come under the head Only, my mind o f a religious demonstration, and.. fit would be unconstitutiona), .~ Mrs. Robbins—I am quite convinced that their belief concerns no one but themselves. Surely, you will all agree with me in dismissing the objection just made? (The others smile. .urs. Roe percelves her mistake and decides to smile with the majority). Mrs. Tarbox—But—if their employer is a candidate for the Presidency and dismisses them, pecause they have no votes, then it’s political; and we should be going against the constitution if we took it up. Gove—I canuot see anything politi- cal in it. Since they could not vote, even if they would, for their employer or any one else, it is certain that they have no part in politics. Ford—Isn't . it a charity? These women are In need and we pro- pose to assist them. I think that ‘would make it come under the head of ‘“charita..e” and render it unconstitutional. Miss Brown—They certainly are in need of—justice. But they are not paupers and none of them need become an object of charity if the women of America use this power which has been placed In * thelr hands. 1t is a reproach not to use it for the cause of jus- V2ico gnd pumanity_ A rebuke ta Mrs. Mrs. @) ACONEDY this note for a long time, and, when st length he spoke, it was with twitching Up and unsteady voice. “What a_queer chap you are, George, bottling’ this thing up!” Why aid " you o 1t “Because, young 'un”—and Fugard put a kindly hand on his friend's shoulder— “because I don't see the way out, and well, you've kicked yourself enough over the ‘wretched busin, Poor old Perc: It ain’t all jam being a swindling com- pany’s agent, s it?" “But I swear, George—"" “Yes, yes. We know all about that. You were swindled, too. T—"' n my honor, George, I didn't—" You didn’t know. All right. all right; don’t excite yourself. I should hope you didn’t, indeed. Well, well, never mind. No, no, you're not to blame, sonny. You iittle beast, Percy, vou're snivelling! Here, take some whisky; ought to be ashamed of yourself. Wish I could snivel like that, though; must be relieving. What was that? BSanta Claus knocking at the door, by Jove!” and Fugard, giv- ing his friend a-final kindly pat on the shoulder, walked to the outside door, and, opening 1it, let a flood of daylight and a cloud of wind-blown sand into the room. A stern-faced, well-dressed man_stood on the doorstep, and close by was a spring wagon with its wheels burled half- way up to the hubs in the fine white sand of the sandhill on which the company’s office stood. “Is this the city of San Pablo?” asked the stranger. “That's what. This and that shanty over there,” answered Fugard. “A bit sandy, {sn’t 1t?” he added, as a sudden cloud of sand blinded the stranger's eyes. “And fs that the hay?" nsked tha ~nn comer when he could see again, pointing t0 a vast expanse of Sanduvdlihs viscClo. by a narrow channel of water and stretching miles and miles to a distant line of sea. “That's what,” answered Fugard again. hank vou. Here is my card, and I want to see Mr. Hodgson,’ sald the stranger, gravely. Fugard fook the card. Then his hitter volce grew menacing as he said: ‘“‘See here, Mr. Sneath of London, you're going to step right up into that wagon and get—= to Gehenna if you like; but you don’t stay here to eat your heart out while I'm around., You're a colonist, ain’t you? “You've bought a magnificentcattle ranch in London, haven't you?" o. Fugard looked at the man as though he were a monstrosity. Then he sald, “Well, then, what in thunder brings you here?” h“l want to see Mr. Hodgson. 1Is he ere?’ ‘“Yes. He's in there, irrigating his in- side. Walk in. You're a phenomenon, Mr. Sneath, and 1 congratulate you on fit. All right, I'll attend to your horses. I see you've brought vour own feed. That's lucky. Not a straw to be had in the whole city, and our nags expired in trying to ac- commodate themselves to the ecircum- stances. Step right in.” The stranger did so. After nearly an hour of gentle, steady work, Fugard left the horses with a ca- reesing and made his way to the of fice again. He paused for a moment on the doorstep and said: “Percy waxeth elo- quent to the stranger.” Then he entered. “1 tell you, sir, it was a cruel shame, outrage, to send those fellows out here “Hear, he said Fugard. come in, George,” said the tedly strode up and down trewn floor. “I've just neath about the Bron- .. The company’s busted, George. The whole thing's a swindl Sir Richard Welcher is in quod, and Mr, Sneath has come out on behalf of the shareholders the widows and orphans—to settle things up. and take over the asset “Take over the assets,” echoed Fugard. “That's good.”" n the seen telling Mr. “T have a letter for the Broncers,” said Sneath. “‘How long have they been here?” “Oh, about forty—I mean about two years,”” answered Percy. “But why did they stay?” pursued Sneath. “You don't know Willle Broncer,” an- swered Percy agaln somewhat feebly. “Come, come, sir,” said Sneath, “it 1s an unfortunata case, certainly, but it seems to me that you gentlemen take it almost morbidly to heart. After all, you a not responsible for— No: but vou see we have watched them making their fight for it interrupted Fugard, quietly. “‘Come out and see the city by moonlight, will you? See that big mounfain over there with the moon perched on its camel back? The Broncers' ranch is five miles behind that. Quite a drive, eh?"” Then, running back to the door, ha pushed in the dog which had followed ;\nn ing as he did : "“There's com- young ‘un. Good , and leave that whisky alone, will you?” Then he slammed the door. Left alone, Percy Hodgson fiiled his glass and emptied it many times as he sat in brooding dejec- tion. The dog roamed uneasily about the room, and— DId the lad sleep? Did he dream Well— Only a trickle of water remained in the ruddy-colored bed of the Arroyo del Diablo to reflect_the burning thirsty rays of a cloudless December sun, although, according to precedent, the stream should have been madly rushing and swirling be- tween those parched up banks, still lined with the debris left by the torrent of more pany for you, @@@ one evil-doer would menace others. This club was formed for culture—it is a composite gentlewoman. Yet, because of this, s it to be exempt from duty? Should a gentlewoman re- fuse to lend her influence for the right? We are looked to as a leader among the women’s clubs in this community. Noblesse oblige! Mrs. Tarbox—It 18 so radical. It is not along the club lines. Miss Brown—Who can foresee, infallibly, what lines will be best for a club or an individual? No one could foresee this power which federa- tion has given into our hands. All power, whether the result of genius, position or wealtu, brings its obligations. Some day an accounting will be required of you. You find this in your hands —a sacred trust. Is it to be used or discarded? In place of the scissors of former years a sword is given you. Mrs. Doe—Gracious! Mrs. Roe—Very poetical, but—a sword 1s so unladylike. (Shudders.) Miss Brown—Yet you must admif that it is more efficacious than a pair of scissors. Mrs, Tarbox—I agree with Mrs, Roe; it ~~ 1s not so ladylik 0 In the bed of this well th a year ago. gh drie a_man was working nigh dried up stream With feverish energy. On the bank of thc stream, some fif yards away, stood a much patched tent and beside it a farm wagon; two mules, with pinched up bellies, protruding ribs and fore fect hobbled were visible in the nce as they moved to and fro ngaroo-like movement which High up to the west, nearer dista with tkat hobbling engenders three miles uway and divided from the stream by many zulch, stc the crazy Diablo ranch housé, its white washed, sun-bathed boards gleaming brightly through the dancing transparen- y, and far away behind it again rose thé towering camel-backed mountain, the largest of all the threatening C volcanic monsters which comple rounded the ape. t a t 2 of ~reen; nothing but cked broken waste of strewn reddish soil, with here and there a sapless, blackened shrub, or a patch of dull gray brushwood, or 'the gleam on the bones of a long dead beast, or the sheen on a swollen hide yet to be picked by yonder carrion birds. Hour after hour the man plodded on at his work, his mouth firmly set and the perspiration steadily dripping from his face and standing out in beads on the gray-flecked hair on his temples. He had dammed the stream some yards above him, and had conducted the accelerated current to the place where he was work- ing, and his labor consisted in Alling a large iron basin with the red soil dug from the banks and swaying it gently to and fro as the water played on it with an even, rocking motion, until all the sofl was washed away. It was wonderful, ex- hilarating! No matter where he piunged his shovel, the loosened soil falrly glit- tered with ‘shining metal. and the worker, as _he toiled " in the sun, filled a huge, Dbulging sack with great knobs of shining gold, until the banks of the stream were punctured in a hundred places by his minlature excava- tions, and the hed of the stream was lit- tered with glistening fragments. It w plain from 'thé man’s frantic exertions that he was working against time, and though his tall spare frame and mus- o1 arms showed no sign of strain or tiring. the drawn and ‘driven expression on his deeply lined handsome face was re- pulsive in its intensity. At length, when the sun had sunk be- hind the hills and a vapor was beginning to rise from the stream, he dropped his tools, and picking up a gardener's line measured out a square which included all his workings, marking out each corner with a h bowlders. Then, lifting up the sack as though it were a feather, he dlong to the tent ) of inside the tent a man was muttering to himself and cease- hewing the blanket which par- covered him of his feet was swathed up In an old horsecloth, and fever shone in hi his puffed ghastly burned on to this cot the laborer strod: taking the bur ing hand of the sufferer cried exultingly: 1 you siart for home to-morrow Home, Unky! last Home! N never hoed bac sk- enshrouded bed, the ‘ lling hoarse and strange on the evening still- ness Passing a hand across his forehead, the lahorer took a stable ‘lamp from’ the floor, and, lighting it, gazed long and earnestly i speakable face with un- Then, the sick man iread in his own ting down the lantern, ¥ sule with quinine, and, the lolling bald head, said: “Is the pain very bad? Here, take this i s right. Can you eat some heans?'”’ But the sick man, feebly shaking his head, dropped to the pillow again, fixed his eyes va ntly on the tent-roof, and beat with his hands on the cot Leaving his side, the laborer quietly busted himself in preparation for the mor- row’'s departure. tremor in his voice betrayed the patient, hopeless suf- fering which his face expressed, as he chatted blithely on of the home-coming in store and the well-loved faces so soon to be seen again: and as he worked, un- consciously gripping _each _ thing he ] full force of his hands, ndered to a spe of al- ar by his own cot, consisting of a packing barrel, round the top of which a mantelpiece border, once, no doubt, a masterpiece of feminine achieve- ment,” but now faded and tattered, had been ruthlessly nailed, and on which was ned the single photograph of a girl. whose trustin ast eves fol- lowed his regarding no matter whence directed. And alv as his eyes met hers a flood of hopeless = bitterness reemed to shine from their depths, and the lines seemed to deepen round his mouth. Often he went to his cot, and smooth- ing the pillow with womanly tenderness, or holding water to the dried-up lips said, “Home, Unky, Home.” Once he shook some of the contents of the sack which he had carried into his wide-brimmed hat, and held it before the sufferer’s eye, but looking suddenly into the himself he saw its contents were black as night, and rushing across the tent, he hurled the hat through the gaping flap out into the dark- ness. Then, going to the little table by the tent-pole on which the lantern stood, he took from its drawer a paper powder and some shot. and_ loa 3 rusty gun with suggestive deliberation. Leaving the bag open on the table, he Q0000000000000 000000000000000000C0C0000000CC0000000000000000000000000000CVO0C00O000000000000000 Mrs. Roe—Besides, one can jab with the scissors—they’re a prod. Mrs. Doe—They can snip, too. I agree with Mrs. Roe, a sword Is a bar- barous weapon; entirely out of place in the hands of a lady. Mrs. Jones (sighing)—As it we didn't have trouble enough alread; Miss Brown—My metaphor was most un- fortunate, it seems; but it was only a metaphor—I withdraw it. Ars. Tarbox (to Miss Brown—It wouldn's wrung _the .. 'and, turning, hefore the ¥ou hen ‘blowing out t on his. cot went to the occupled cot, ceaselessly beating han knelt for a momer girl's photograph. T p he threw himsel e restle at ceaseles sounded loud Uter_stiliness, farn hed 1 mountain ect roaming the rocky d the t itse shone were mutte; on the li: men gradu 0, on ver. The on the ener’s ear—a mu sense_or to a frenzied s heart, catl to leap from 1 nd fumbled as ¥ the tab that the matcl jame it, glowing, as the out from = nent with There was the sound of a crashing 720 and the air was charged with a sumocat ing smoke, but the frenzied voice ' ceased to rave and babble to the silent nign e The moonlight waned, and the sun peeped up from behind the hills and glanced through the wide open mo f the tent on the form of a black-skinnes devil or man as he sat on the floor wit! He was I' g to the raving \ rapidly stri & match after ma a box which e held in cursing_them throwing t away. Taking theé last remaini from the box, he struck .it downward unfil tt ame burnt gers. Then the blank expression on his frightful, sightless face. was horrible 1o ee.. Dropping the box he gi B R to_the pl ~“Unky, U ) fnto the gunpowder, raving on, he rose denly_ grasping the ralsed it in his arm fearful force, crying cursed noise and listen e dropped it again and s Poor old Unky! Wl and kneeling by the cot as tho orturing crept to the place where stood, and groping with seized in his grasp the ov the gardener's li Takir tied its end to t groaning and ing but th on which hands tched baked soil and torn £0 made once more W en pullir with his tent pole ti up the time and circling fullest he singing torturing way ached the raving voice and feeling for the bucket nears lghtly—so lig! round bald # arm into its depth. Tt was emp 1 away shrie G a ied by a ever ‘rounc , ever moving while the fl ground ke stde, mov dizzy circ proach Faster and f: tl the figure s ing dizzy whirl “Percy! Percy! Perc The form had risen, and was shrieking the name, waving its'arms and gnashin its teeth 'In_terrible ed to fly in a m appeared madly laughed as it and drew a bead on outside. There v world seemed to rock thonsand voices clamored i “Percy! Percy! Percy drunken little_devil ve come Jove, wi at a stink; ploded, voung 'u Wonder this cur of m been yelling and whini k Broncer's discovery was mica. Sneath has broug that their 1 a pot of money but are going to first. Pot of mo sonny; Unky's bette ¢ the boy’s shoulder a kindly arm and dragged him from hair. —_— e “Do you believe in the value of fresh alr?’ “I do, indeed. 1 spent a week in the ;nfvrunlains and it cost me $200.—Brooklyn ife. 000000000000 0,0000 difference. The opped. Fugard en have made any thing had to be s (-~ pausé ve you anything more Mrs. Robbins—F to say, Miss Brown? Miss Brown (dejectedly)—Nothing. Miss Smith—Wait a little. If we shou make use of this power, M Brown, might we -not be drawn into many things? Brown—Possibly. Of course, we should have to use discretion in regard to the causes advocated Roe—We should be ed with fads—simply deluged. Brown—Better a growth of fads should flourish. lived—than t tice should ¢ 1. Tarbox—We should be ridiculed. Goodness knows, we've had enough of that of late. Brown—Yes—because of a misunder- standing. It goes without saying that no one would belleve that this club, alone, could wield an appreciable influence in this mat- ter; but no one could doubt that the concerted action of the repre- sentative women of America, exerted through the Federatody Clubs, would fall to have a mark- ed effect. Tarbox—We have been laughed at for trying to do {it— Gove—Alone. Roe (to Miss Brown)—We look at things so differentl Now, you are visionary, aren’t you? Brown—I suppose I may be called 8o, for visions do descend upon me, sometimes. Roe—Well, I'm not. 1I'm always practical. Now, it seems to me that, should we decide to do this thing, we might be doing those ‘women a real injury. Gove—In what way? Roe—Wh: how do we know that each one of them, on account of losing her position, might not marry ome good man and be nicely taken care of for the rest of her days? nter Mrs. Steele.) Mrs. Miss Mrs. Miss Mrs. Mrs. Mrs. Miss Mrs. Mrs. Mrs. Steele (she holds out a telegram)— It's all right! He’s promised not scharge them. Isn't it glort- It was all our doing—that's what makes me so late. Owing to that newspaper mnotoriety about the resolutions—we deplor- ed it so, too—they came to his ears and he sent this dispatch to a friend, who desires me to bring it to you. Read it. (She hands it to the president, who passes it to the secretary.) Mius Smith (reads)—"‘Have decided not to discharge women employes. Stop action of women's | clubs if sible. HERVEY 8. BALDIN » 4 Mrs. Tarbox—Well! I hope he'll have the decency to give us the credit L for it ™. ELIZABETH GERBERDING,