NO ARGUMENT IN THIS CAMP.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9933, 23 August 1910, Page 3

NO ARGUMENT IN THIS CAMP.

Life 011 the big ranches in California frequently develops odd characters. Bill Hawkins, a, man who had worked for years in Mendocino County, had developed a distaste for conversation and verbal dispute that made him famous throughout the State. Once Jeff manager of the Placida ranch, selected Bill Hawkins and a young fellow known as " The Angel " for some won! that necessitated their remaining away from the ranch-house fox* several days. As the pair were starting out, Jeff drew "The Angel" aside. "Now, look here, 'Angel,' don't you rile Bill. Don't start your tongue waggin' when he don't waiit to talk. The first thing you know, if you git to hit-tin' off a conversational stunt, J3i11 , 1l fling up the job. 1 can't afford to lose him, so—-don't talk." All day Bill and The Angel " worked side by side without a word. In the evening, after they had boiled their coffee, they sat back against their 'rolled blankets, smoking their pipes. Suddenly Bill gruffly remarked, "I seen a cow to-day on the other side of the clearin'." 1

"Cow?" queried "The Angel." "It looked to me like a bull." And. then he remembered Jeff's warning and promptly rolled into his blankets. Ho awoke next morning to find Bill breaking camp. ''l-say, BilM Packing up?' "yep!" " Quit tin', tlie job?"

"Yep." " Well, what in thunder are you quittin' for?" Bill arose, dipped the blanket strap over his shoulder, and remarked deliberately, "There's .too much argument- in this camp.'"