The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-04-17

"Ce1tainly; paid two hundred and fif-
ty dollars for him. This is what the sac
rifcing patriot intended to return him at
to his glorious Confedcracy."
"Lord mercyl"
fBut what's the matter with him %
asked Blife, looking at the animal half
frightened.
fThat ere mule in his time, has kicked
down every panel of fence on old Bailey's
place You found him in a pen of big
logs, didn't you?''
Eyes why ?" inquired Blife.
sAnd them ere logs are fastened by big
irn bolts It's the only thing that would
ever hold him. He has killed all the rest
of old Bailey's stock and the old rascal
his kept him on purpose to swindle some
fellows with"
81 heard" said Blife. "that he used to
hive more stock"
''That's what become Of it," said Jack.
"Didn't the children cry, and didn't old
Bailey whine and carry on about losing
his three hundred-dollar mule ?''
"Yes, they did, at great rate"
81 know'd it," said Jack. "The old
woman spanked them children, and sent
them out at the nick of time to help the
old rascal in his swindle. And to cheat
our glorious Confederacy in that manner? !?
He ought to be hung.' and Jack winked
his off eye.
"But if he's so vicious" said Blife
hopefully, show did they get the halter
and cirsingle on him 2"
"Chloroform, sir, chloroform. I've ac-
-. IL ~ Ill I1- nollar of,J
'And did they give him chloroform to
get the collar on him l' asked Blife.
''No !' replied Jack "They put some
oats in the bottom of barrel, and laid
the collar across the top; the mule ran
his head trough the collar to get at the
oats.
"The devil :" calculated the quarter
master.
"Yes," continued Jack, "and seed
him kick that collar off, Ever since that
he kicks every barrel to slaves that he
gets eyes on"
''But he has seemed quiet enough since
have been leading him." interposed
Bific.
"Hov you any liquor about u?'' ask
ei Jack.
"Yes, little in my coat-pockot; why
d you ask %
sThat's what he follers you for, and it's
q wonder he hain't eat you up body and
Ireeches afore this, to get the liquor.
inowcd that mule to kick the lock off Of
id Bailey's cellar-door, and go down thar
md cit as drunk as a beast. Fact, sir.
That mule can kick your hat off, and you
on his back ~
chat can't be-" said the quartermaster
"Try him." said Jack. "I've just got
a cool hundred dollars to give you if you
ride him rod"
BY this time the quartermaster' atten-
dants had got out OF sight, and His avari-
cious SOU prompted him 70 make an eff
fort 10 get Jacks gold, thinking that he
couldn't be more than thrown off anyhow.
The night before this meeting, Jack
had quietly stole iuto the mules stable
and carefully placed leather dog collar,
driven full Of pointed sparrow-bills, under
the mules cirsiugle, putting piece of
light leather between the points Of the
nails and the mules back, SO that a mod
crate pressure would force them through
into the animals hide.
Ignorant Of this, the greedy quarter
master moved the mule to the bank and
spraug on him, just where the dog g-collar
was placed Just as he lit or. the mule,
boulder lit on his head and he lit sprawl
ing in the mud The mule, frantic with
the pain of the nails still sticking in his
back, sprang off the side of the road,
knocked down a dozen panels Of fence,
and ran furiously across the field, rearing,
kicking, lying down and rolling over,
jumping up and plunging about at a ter
rible rate.
Il told you so," said Jack, coolly, as
he quartermaster scrambled up, rubbing
bis bruised head, and brushing at the
mud on his besmeared clothes.
Giles worse than seven devils, amt
he 2" said the discomftted quartermaster.
ain course he is,' replied Jack.
s.What'll you give me for the chance of
lim ?" asked the quartermastcr, as he saw
mother string Of fence go down before
he maddcned mule.
"Don't know" said Jack ''the halter
night be worth o dollar or SO, if [ could
ret close enough to shoot him before he
cars it all to shoestrings."
"But where's my horse % asked the
luartermaster, looking around in aston
shnient.
Don know replied Jack "the mule