126 FRUIT RANCHING. 



"Yes." 



I paused in my work and glanced ai him 

 expectantly. 



" Will you give me work for fifty cents? " 



The request was put in such a curious and un- 

 common way that I looked at the man lixetliy before 

 replying. 



" Well, 1 d(jn't exactly want any heli), as 1 have 

 let a man go away only last week; but if you want 

 a day's work, why, come back to-morrow, and I will 

 give you one." 



" Will you gix'e me your prtjmise in writing?" 

 he said, putting his hand into the inside pocket of 

 his jacket, as if for paper and pencil. 



This, again, was an extraordinary request. 



" Nonsense! You don't want a written document 

 for that." 



The man was persistent. At length I said 

 decisively, " I'm not going to do anything so absurd. 

 If you can't take my word for it, let it alone, and go." 



Then, after saying, " You won't go back from 

 your word?" he shifted his ground, and began to 

 beg for ten cents by way of "arles, " or earnest- 

 money. 



But by this time I had called the man fully to 

 mind, and recollected the circumstances under which 

 I had seen him. Before going further, I will relate 

 what those circumstances were. 



Early one morning we were waiting for the first 

 delivery of cherries from the pickers. A short, round- 

 faced young fellow, with a foreign look, came into 

 the scullery and begged a bite of breakfast, or rather 



