Jose and his wife, having found condition poor in their own country, Mexico, emigrate to Southern California. They enter the land of promise full of hope and joyful anticipation, even though they are almost at the end of their resources. ...See moreJose and his wife, having found condition poor in their own country, Mexico, emigrate to Southern California. They enter the land of promise full of hope and joyful anticipation, even though they are almost at the end of their resources. They are seen by some of the native sons taking possession of an old adobe shack without the formality of asking permission. The men thereupon advise the owner of the shack of the trespass of the unwelcome and despised Mexicans. The owner goes to see them and demands rent; Jose gives him all he has, which is short of the sum demanded. Jose is downhearted and discouraged when he finds himself without money, food or work. His wife, however, cheers him with words of encouragement and Jose leaves in search of work. He applies at a ranch, but fails to obtain employment. Wandering disconsolate about he comes upon the foreman of a road grading gang, who has just set a mine for a blast. He applies to him but is again disappointed. The foreman has just lighted his fuse, and they run for cover. Just then Jose sees the ranch owner riding by the set mine. He shouts, but the ranch-owner does not hear. Jose then darts forward, grabs the horse by the bridle, turns him and runs him out of danger. The foreman calls to Jose to save himself, but he is too late. The blast explodes and fragments strike Jose. He insists upon going home without assistance. His wife meets him at the door, leads him in, bandages the wound, then soothes him to sleep. Finding nothing nourishing in the house for Jose in his weakened condition and no money to purchase food, she becomes desperate and determines to secure one or the other. In the meantime, reward notices have been posted in an effort to affect the capture of Cattle Rustlers, who have been operating in the vicinity. The wife starts out and, seeing a calf tied in a corral and nobody in sight, she decides to take it. One of the boys sees her, and notifying the others, they follow her. She deserts the calf in the road and, half dead with fright, hurries home. The ranch owner and the boys reach the house and are about to treat her roughly, when the former recognizes in Jose the man who saved his life. Explanations are forthcoming, and when the ranch owner learns that hunger prompted the deed, he starts a subscription and turns the amount over to Jose, then offers him work on the ranch. They then depart, leaving husband and wife to rejoice over the turn of the tide of their fortunes. Written by
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