86 OBSERVATIONS OF A RANCHWOMAN 



' Of course. Well, when B., in the nature 

 of things, claimed A.'s vote last election 

 the only vote B. needed to get him his office 

 A. asked him a thousand dollars for it.' 



* A rascally shame !' 



1 Yes ; and, what's more, on that sum, and 

 others A. has screwed out of B. at different 

 times, A. will go down to Mexico and live in 

 clover on a coffee plantation for the balance 

 of his life.' 



More indignation, etc. The placing of 

 the * rascally shame ' precisely where it 

 belonged might have caused more exercising 

 of spirit to the uninitiated. 



As for the quarrelsomeness of a little town 

 abandoned to the lowest form of politics, this 

 remark was once made in my presence : 

 ' Well, it's no use to talk ; it is utterly im- 

 possible that Z. can have any enemies, for 

 he does not mix himself up in politics.' 



No ; our hopes rest on a surer and more 

 solid basis than statehood, though that will 

 be welcomed when it is ready to arrive with 

 permanent blessings in its train. An assured 

 water-supply will bring us the right kind of 

 men for the proper development of our rich 



