The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-02-20

through, do you? Well, you're mis-
taken. Some of us old fellows have
more energy than you young ones"
"There are undoubtedly instances OF
that kind" said Russell, land yet /
must adhere to my original opinion. I
am not in a hurry to find the proper
man to join with me in this undertake
ing. I have funds sufficient for my sup
rt'-adding in the seclusion of his
own soul-"till day after tomorrow"
"You make a mistake in waiting" !"
said Ray. .Push her through; get her
on the market"
Russell shook his head.
s'There is young man who may soon
be able to join me" said he. cat pres
ent he has not the funds, but he has ex-
pectations and world of energy. Young
blood"
"Bother young blood. Do you think
because man is fifty or over that he
isn't good for any thing? Why, look
here, I'm fifty-eight, and three inches
shorter than you are, but I'll bet can
splits cord of wood while you're split
ting foot. .
Russell smiled incredulously and
squared his broad shoulders. Ray got
red in the face. He was vigorous man,
and he hated to be called old. Russell
knew it, and banked on it.
'sYou don't ask me to get into this
scheme of yours" said Ray, after walk
ing up and down the floor with the step
of a pedestrian.
Russell pretended to be embarrassed.
"You would not feel like giving much
time to it," said he, land besides the
young man of whom have spoken will
soon"
''I'm as young as he is, by jingo,'
cried the man of dollars, slapping his
chest. 81 could outrun him, outjump
him and throw him three times out of
five, breeches hold, or you either"
Russell smiled again, and Ray reached
for his cane. The situation was begin
ming to look serious. It was not the
old mans intention to use the cane as a
weapon, however.
"See here, young Mr.. William Rus
SELL" said he, ''there was game we
used to play where was born that was
called pulling sticks Two fellows sat
down on the floor, braced their feet to-
gether and pulled on an axe handle
until somebody had to come up. Now,
I'll bet you fifty dollars can pull you
up inside of one minute"
81 don't think you can, sir" said Rus
sell, respectfully; "but, at any rate, /
haven't the fifty dollars to wager on it"
"I'll take your l. o. d." cried Ray,
dropping on the floor with a thump that
threatened the tenants below. .'Sit
down here, and I'll give you few les
sons in the value Of q well-spent youth y
Russell sat down and seized tho cane,
and the strange tug-of-war began. 1t
was painful thought to Russell thqt a
good many thousand dollars were lost
by holding these athletic sports in pri-
vate. Doubtless five hundred men in
the street would have given fifty dol
lars for admission to the performance.
There was q big clock with second
hand on the wall, and the contestants
timed themselves. Neither gained a
hairs breadth in the tirst quarter, nor
In the second, nor the third, nor the
fourth. but exactly sixty-hve seconds
after the tug began Russell rose into
the air. scared over his opponents head
and struck the wall behind him.
''Great SeottF' exclaimed Ray, as soon
as he could get his breath. II never did
the trick as well as that before Old, am
~ Are any Of your bones broken9"
II believe not" said Russell. pretend
Ing 70 examine hls skull In searoh Of Q