Aunt Janes Nieces on the Ranch

Chapter 6

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Escondido, the nearest town and post office to El Cajon Ranch, is a quaint little place with a decided Mexican atmosphere. Those California inhabitants whom we call, for convenience, Mexicans, are not all natives of Mexico, by any means. Most of them are a mixed breed derived from the early Spanish settlers and the native Indian tribesboth alike practically extinct in this localityand have never stepped foot in Mexican territory, although the boundary line is not far distant. Because the true Mexican is generally a similar admixture of Indian and Spaniard, it is customary to call these Californians by the same appellation. The early Spaniards left a strong impress upon this state, and even in the newly settled districts the Spanish architecture appropriately prevails, as typical of a semi-tropical country which owed its first civilizing influences to old Spain.

The houses of Escondido are a queer mingling of modern bungalows and antique adobe dwellings. Even the business street shows many adobe structures. A quiet, dreamy little town, with a comfortable hotel and excellent stores, it is much frequented by the wealthy ranchers in its neighborhood.

After stopping at the post office, Arthur drove down a little side street to a weather-beaten, unprepossessing building which bore the word Restaurant painted in dim white letters upon its one window. Here he halted the machine.

So there is, admitted Arthur; but its like all hotels. Now, this isdifferent. If youre hungry; if you want a treatsomething out of the ordinaryjust follow me.

Louise was laughing at their doubting expressions and this care-free levity led them to obey their hosts injunction. Then the dingy door opened and out stepped a young fellow whom the girls decided must be either a cowboy or a clever imitation of one.

He seemed very younga mere boyfor all his stout little form. He was bareheaded and a shock of light, tow-colored hair was in picturesque disarray. A blue flannel shirt, rolled up at the sleeves, a pair of drab corduroy trousers and rough shoes completed his attire. Pausing awkwardly in the doorway, he first flushed red and then advanced boldly to shake Arthurs hand.

Why, Weldon, this is an unexpected pleasure, he exclaimed in a pleasant voice that belied his rude costume, for its tones were well modulated and cultured. Ive been trying to call you up for three days, but something is wrong with the line. Hows baby?

Baby is thriving finely, she reported, and then introduced her friends to Mr. Rudolph Hahn, who, she explained, was one of their nearest neighbors.

We almost crowd the Weldons, he said, for our house is only five miles distant from theirs; so weve been getting quite chummy since they moved to El Cajon. Helenthats my wife, you knowis an humble worshiper at the shrine of Miss Jane Weldon, as we all are, in fact.

You think Im an infant, only fit to play with Jane, said he; but I assure you I could vote, if I wanted towhich I dont. I think, sir, turning to Uncle John, that my father knows you quite well.

I believe they do give him that royal title; but Dad is only a monarch in finance, and when he visits my ranch hes as much a boy as his son.

It scarcely seems possible, declared Mr. Merrick, eyeing the rough costume wonderingly but also with approval. How long have you lived out here?

During the laughter that followed this enthusiastic epigram Arthur ushered the party into the quaint Spanish restaurant. The room was clean and neat, despite the fact that the floor was strewn with sawdust and the tables covered with white oilcloth. An anxious-eyed, dapper little man with a foreign face and manner greeted them effusively and asked in broken English their commands.

Arthur ordered the specialties of the house. These friends, Castro, are from the far East, and Ive told them of your famous cuisine. Dont disappoint them.

May I join you? asked Rudolph Hahn. I wish Id brought Nell over to-day; shed have been delighted with this meeting. But we didnt know you were coming. That confounded telephone doesnt reach you at all.

Im going over to the office to see about that telephone, said Arthur. I believe Ill do the errand while Castro is preparing his compounds. Im always uneasy when the telephone is out of order.

You ought to be, said Rudolph, with that blessed baby in the house. It might save you thirty precious minutes in getting a doctor.

Ill have them send a repair man out at once, said Arthur, and departed for the telephone office, accompanied by his fellow rancher.

While they were gone Louise told them something of young Hahns history. He had eloped, at seventeen years of age, with his fathers stenographer, a charming girl of eighteen who belonged to one of the best families in Washington. Old Hahn was at first furious and threatened to disinherit the boy, but when he found the young brides family still more furious and preparing to annul the marriage on the grounds of the grooms youth, the great financiers mood changed and he whisked the pair off to California and bought for them a half-million-dollar ranch, where they had lived for six years a life of unalloyed bliss. Having no children of their own, the Hahns were devoted to little Jane and it was Rudolph who had given the baby the sobriquet of Toodlums. At almost any time, night or day, the Hahn automobile was liable to arrive at El Cajon for a sight of the baby.

Rudolphwe call him Dolph, you knowhas not a particle of business instinct, said Louise, so he will never be able to take his fathers place in the financial world. And he runs his ranch so extravagantly that it costs the pater a small fortune every year. Yet they are agreeable neighbors, artless and unconventional as children, and surely the great Hahn fortune wont suffer much through their inroads.

When Arthur returned he brought with him still another neighboring ranchman, an enormous individual fully six feet tall and broad in proportion, who fairly filled the doorway as he entered. This man was about thirty years of age, stern of feature and with shaggy brows that overhung a pair of peaceful blue eyes which ought to have been set in the face of some child. This gave him a whimsical look that almost invariably evoked a smile when anyone observed him for the first time. He walked with a vigorous, aggressive stride and handled his big body with consummate grace and ease. His bow, when Arthur introduced him, was that of an old world cavalier.

Here is another of our good friends for you to know. Hes our neighbor at the north and is considered the most enterprising orange grower in all California, announced Weldon, with a chuckle that indicated he had said something funny.

Lemon, said the man, speaking in such a shrill, high-pitched tenor voice that the sound was positively startling, coming from so massive a chest.

I meant lemon, Arthur hastened to say. Permit me to introduce Mr. Bulwer Runyon, formerly of New York but now the pride of the Pacific coast, where his superb oranges

We are highly honored to meet Mr. Bulwer Runyon, said the major, noticing that the girls were for once really embarrassed how to greet this new acquaintance.

Out here, remarked Dolph Hahn, with a grin, we drop the handle to his name and call him Bul Run for short. Sounds sort of patriotic, you know, and its not inappropriate.

You wrong me, said the big rancher, squeaking the words cheerfully but at the same time frowning in a way that might well have terrified a pirate. Im not a bull and I dont run. Its enough exertion to walk. Therefore I ride. My new car is equipped with one of those remarkable

Pardon me; we will not discuss your new car, if you please, said Arthur. We wish to talk of agreeable things. The marvelous Castro is concocting some of his mysterious dishes and we wish you to assist us in judging their merits.

I shall be glad to, for Im pitifully hungry, said the tenor voice. I had breakfast at seven, you knowlike a working manand the ride over here in my new six-cylinder machine, which has a wonderful

I heard you had company, said Mr. Runyon; and the last time I came I stayed three days and forgot all about my ranch. Ive made a will, Mrs. Weldon.

But life is fleeting, and no one knows just when itll get to the end of its fleet. Therefore, as I love the baby better than any other object on earthanimate or inanimateexcept

Just about, although the money sharks dont think so. But all property out here is rapidly increasing in value, declared Runyon, earnestly, so, if I can manage to hold on a while longer, Toodlums will inherit aaseveral fine lemon trees, at least.

Uncle John was delighted with the big fellow with the small voice. Even the major clapped Bul Run on the shoulder and said the sentiment did him credit, however big the mortgage might be.

By the time Castro brought in his first surprisea delicious soupa jovial and friendly party was gathered around the oilcloth board. Even the paper napkins could not dampen the joy of the occasion, or detract from the exquisite flavor of the broth.

The boyish Dolph bewailed anon the absence of his Nell, who loved Castros cookery above everything else, while every endeavor of Mr. Runyon to explain the self-starter on his new car was so adroitly headed off by his fellow ranchers that the poor fellow was in despair. The lunch turned out to be a seven course dinner and each course introduced such an enticing and unusual dish that every member of the party became an audacious gormandizer. None of the girlsexcept Louisehad ever tasted such concoctions before, or might even guess what many of them were composed of; but all agreed with Patsy when she energetically asserted that Castro out-cheffed both Rector and Sherry.

Oh, that would ruin the charm of the place, protested Uncle John. Dont suggest such a horror to Castro, Louise; at least until after we have returned to New York.

The porch was shady and cool when they emerged from the feast room and Arthur Weldon, as host, proposed they sit on the benches with their coffee and cigars and have a social chat. But both Runyon and Hahn protested this delay. They suggested, instead, that all ride back to El Cajon and play with the baby, and so earnest were they in this desire that the proud young father and mother had not the grace to refuse.

Both men had their cars at the village garage and an hour later the procession started. Beth riding beside Bul Run and Patsy accompanying the jolly Dolph.

To signify she agrees with everyone on every question; and her angelic smile is so genuine and constant that it gets to your heart in spite of all resistance.

Mrs. Helen Hahn, when the three automobiles drew up before her young husbands handsome residence, promptly agreed to join Rudolph in a visit to the baby. She proved to be a retiring and rather shy young woman, but she was very beautiful and her personality was most attractive. Both Patsy and Beth were delighted to find that Louise had so charming a neighbor, of nearly her own age.

Rudolph would not permit the party to proceed further until all had partaken of a refreshing glass of lemonade, and as this entailed more or less delay the sun was getting low as they traversed the five miles to El Cajon, traveling slowly that they might enjoy the exquisite tintings of the sky. Runyon, who was a bachelor, lived a few miles the other side of Arthurs ranch. All three ranches had at one time been part of the Spanish grant to the Cristovals, and while Arthur now possessed the old mansion, the greatest number of acres had been acquired by Rudolph Hahn, who had preferred to build for himself and his bride a more modern residence.

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