Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-04-21

into my hat there on the counter, as a
holiday contribution to the good
cause
ssSee yer, boys, the padre wants
to finish the h'istin' works. Let's
all chip. There's mlne," and the
miner threw his half dollars into the
hat.
The example was contagious, and
the silver was piled into Che hat.
Father Ryan stood beaming on the
boys as they contributed to his holy
store. ss
'sHas every one anteed? See, yer,
Nate" to a big-boned, American
built man, who sat on the end of a
board bench In the corner, ''come up
and pool.''
"Not if know myself" said Nate,
sulkily.
$50 for him, padre-speak piece
to him.
The men turned about and faced
the dissenting Nate, jeering and gib-
ing at him.
'Oh, now, gentlemen, be aisy,"
said his reverence, with light wave
of the hand. ''Every man has right
to give or refuse as his feelings
prompt him; and I'm thinking it's
not for regard of the money that the
gentleman refuses to contribute. If
l might would ask him if he does
not think some kind of religion is a
good thing?"
''You can ask me anything you
please; but I'm not building meeting
houses"
'sDo you not think they ought to
be built?" asked the father very soft
ly.
81 don't care whether they are
built or not. am not in the busi-
ness"
"Wouldn't you give towards a
charity?''
''Meeting house are no charity"
I'll tell you what I'll do" said
said the priest; ''lf you'll add ten
dollars to the amount in my hot, I'll
agree to show you before next New
Years day, if you are living, that it
is charity, or will on that day pay
you back the money and two per
cent month interest; or, if you die
before that day, the money shall be
paid toward your funeral expenses.
Come now, my friend, what do you
say?'
81 don't say anything to that. But
I'll tell you what / will do"
What" asked his reverence.
"Pll put up twenty dollars against
any mans twenty that / can throw
any man in the house. best two falls
out of three, and if L lose the money
will go into the hat
| O-a-ah!" growled some one, eyer
don't want to challenge a priest, do
yep
"Whist! Wait moment" said
Father Ryan, interrupting the speak
er, Then turning to the challenger,
who still sat in his corner: "When
and where do you propose to wres-
tle?"
"Right now and right here, in the
back yard, on the stone floor"
"Wha. hold!"
"Cotlar and elbow"
"Gentlemen," said Father Ryan,
blandly as be turned to the crowd
''if one among yon will be kind
enough to put up the money, with
the help of God I'll try my best to
win it,
"Here's your money!" said the
barkeeper, planklng the heavy gold
twenty on the board.
"And here's the mate to it," said
Nate rising from his place in the cor
ner and striking second twenty Oh
top of the first.
Now all was excitement. The
egg-nog was forgotten, while betting
became the order of the hour.
"Twenty dollars even even that
the padre wins! 1 bet my last dollar
on religion-eyery pop!'
"Two to one on Nate Smith
from ten dollars to hundred"
The prelimaries being all settled
the impromtu athletes stepped to the
: center, shook hands, and then stand
. ing from. to front, took each other by
the collar with one hand, and by The
elbow of each with each other hand
/, and the muscular bout began.
The collar and elbow wrestle be
tween skilled contestants is really
!, so to speak, fist fight with the feet
!. One would think in viewing the kicks
,, of the mailed feet that shins wouC
:. be broken like pipe stems, but It IL
often that one wrestler is permitted
. to get square-toed kick upon thu
, shins of the other, where there il
science on both sides.
@ But to really describe the tripping
kicking, Tending, foillng and muscu
Il lar writhing of the contestants Oh
I this New Years day in the stone am
;. phitheatre behind the log saloon, j
o not within the power of this pen, no
p IN any power slower than May ybridge'
lightning photographer, but the re
y suit was that, after posing on tn
:. brink of alternate success and defeat
o Nate Smith went down, solid, on th
!. flat of his back, taking care, however
to stiffen his neck against soundin
g rap of his conscious cobesa on th
n hard floor.
b "Score one for,t the church" shout
1t ed knowing fellow in the crowd. :"
le "Hurrah for The padre he's a lii
le bull with the claw on his horns!'
Once again the strugglers came t
J. the center and now again the cor
" test was wnged with all the vigor {
the human animal, supplemented b
re that essence of Immortality known 9
ut the intellect. This second bout ws
y, even more wearily worked throus
g than the irst-each man having a
m ready tested the skill of the other
but it ended in a drawn battle, bot
OF men coming down together with
J. terrific fall upon the hard floor. Th
time the there was serious inquiries
er know if either men we're hurt.
ksu,sk Z. go tty;e :rIoda ar~