Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1884-03-28
A Balky Mule.

&ulUc Il StISdtlOH was created on Al
bemarle street the other day. An old
man came driving up the street. His
cart was a queer vehicle of an ancient
type and had evidently been used a
great many years.. All at once the iron
grey mule came to stand still. He re-
fused TO mov6,z lie Fouldn't go. The
ddlapldated specimen of a long departed
past beat him vigorously with a club.
The old man pounded him unmerciful-
ly. But the mule refused to go. He
would not move. BY this time great
crowd had gathered about, and strange
to say almost every one knew how to
make that mule go.
Unite his belly-band," said a man
with pug nose.
The belly-band was made loose.
"Put a rope around his neck, and tie
him to street car" said man who
was smoking cob pipe.
A rope was put around the animals
neck and tied to street car. The mule
moved almost block. The crowd fol-
lowed. He was united, but refused To
move.
''rie a string to his ears and pull,'
said man with red hair.
1t was done. The mule remained sta
tiOnary.
Put some dry sand in his mouth"
said little man.
Another failure.
The old man began to show signs Of
encouragement.
Tie up one of his front legs" said a
staggering fellow. 49,,
The leg was tied nd. The mule didn't
move, and apparently didn't miss the
leg.
blow in his ear,n said clerk.
The mule winked his left eye, and
throwing the other ear back looked as if
he would be blowed before he'd move.
Take the harness off and lead him
around the block and then hitch him
up. He'll forget himself and CO." said
an old political schemer.
1t was done. The information wasn't
worth cent.
Now the old man began to grow nerv-
Gus. Every once in while some wise
Alexander would yell out, ''push on the
lines" twist his tail, "''pick him up
and carry him." "why don't you see
him2n what are oat-fed horses selling
at to-day?'
These gentle remarks made the old
man more desperate.
Il can make him co. said a man,
whose breath smelied like onions. lie
put rope around his body, passed it
between the front legs, fastened it un-
der the throat, and pulled, and pulled
again-in fact lie pulled for half an
hour, but in vain. Mr.. Mule didn't
move.
Rub his nose with chalk" said a
street car driver.
The old man did so. The mule threw
back his ears, licked the chalk off, and
went TO sleep again.
''Tie sailors knot in his upper lip,"
said man with green eyes.
1t was done, but TO no purpose. :.
"Place an ice poultice' on his fore
head" said doctor.
Lost.
"Place his two front feet In a basin
of hot water" said crank.
At last the old man got desperate. lie
was beside himself. Trouble, worry and
labor'had told on him.
At last a man came up wearing a
smile, a Roman nose and blue shirt.
Il can make that mule 60" he said.
"You can't nuther," said the old
man.
"Bet dollar I cam" said the Young
"All right. III 60 you,'' said the old
man.
The money was put up. The young
man took railroad torpedo and placed
it under the mules tail. Then he took
long stick and punched the mule in
the flank, and-well it was fun to see
! the sight. The mule was thrown of his
guard, his tail went down with a crash +,
the torpedo exploded with bang, and
away went that mule like flash up the
street at q rate that would make Jsy-
Eye-See blush with humiliation. The
old man looked up the road moment
at lis rapidly, disappearing outfit, and,
turning To the young man, said
''Say, mister, have you got another OF
them things?r ~
"Yes, / guess so,'' said the young fel-
low.
"Well. here's another doTlaf. Please
put one under my tail and I'll try and
catch my dod- d-gastcd mile. .