Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-04-23
AN oRAcULAR MULE.

Buster has done it at last, says .
Wellsboro correspondent Of the New
York Sun The hands OF the law have
closed upon him, and woe sits by the
hearth of Uncle Morg Binders, in the
Pine creek region
Buster is mule-a little mouse-col-
ored mule-that has been in the Binder
family so many years that his age is for
gotten He was the autocrat of the
Binder premises His chief duty was to
haul Uncle Morg and Aunt Peggy when
they wanted to go visiting or to town to
trade That is, Buster hauled them If
he hadn't made up his mind to a differ
ent course. They never knew whether
or not the mule was going to take them
or not until they got into the wagon
Then Uncle Morg would take up the
lines and say:
'.Now, then, BusterI What % ye think
about it?''
If Buster pricked up his ears and
started on that was as much as to say
that he thought it was all right and he
would take Uncle Morg and Aunt Peggy
wherever they were going and fetch
them home slick as q greaser. But it
Buster replied to Uncle Morg's inquiry
by laying his ears back on his shoulders
and scowling they knew that the mule
thought it wasn't all right, and without
another word Uncle Morg and Aunt
Peggy would dismount, unhitch the
mule and turn him out, and go content
edly into the house to wait until some
day when Buster was willing.
snake him go agin his willI" uncle
Morg always exclaimed when asked
why he didn't force the mule to 60.
''W'y, man. sumpin' d happen surer N
'tater rot if we sh'd go away agin
Busters idee O. the matteri Buster
knoWSi''
1t was the same way with persons.
Busters opinion of an individual decided
Uncle Morg and Aunt Peggy. When
he folded his liberal ears back and
threatened a rush upon any person
under his scrutiny that person could do
no business with the Binder family.
Cluster knows!'' was always the en-
phatic remark of his two loyal subjects
after the mule had given his opinion,
and that in spite of several queer judg-
ments the arbitrary Buster had put on
record. There was the case of the man
who drove up to the Binder place once
when the railroad was building. He
started for the house but Buster blocked
the way. He not only laid back his
ears and threatened the man with his
front, but turned about and let his heels
fly SO viciously and so rapidly in the di-
rection of the mans head that the
stranger backed away and shouted to
Uncle Morg, who stood on the stoop, to
call his mule off.
I've got some business with you'll"
shouted the man.
ssNo v han'tI" replied Uncle Morg.
Eye han't got no business with me, fer
Busters agin We, n Buster knows!"
The man went off in a huff. and. come
to find out, he was the agent of the
railroad, and wanted to contract with
Uncle Morg for big lot Of ties The
consequence was that other parties got
the contract. which proved to be one
with big money in it.
Don't carer said Uncle Morg. 1.-THE
chances is th.t if I'd ha' took the con-
tract I'd ha' put the money in bank,
N the bank d busted Buster
knows"
Then there was the new preacher in
the district. Rev. Absalom Dubbs,
the meekest, mildest, and most harm
less of men, When Brother Dubbs
went to make his first pastoral call on
Sister Binder. he was bounced of the
premises by Buster so quick that he
never knew how he got out in the road.
1t saddened the hearts of Uncle Morg
and Aunt Peggy to know that Brother
Dubbs had been weighed in Busters
balance and found SO lamentably want
ing. But there was no getting around
it Brother Dubbs was under suspicion,
n
home from meeting all that year.
Their faith in Busters wisdom was not
shaken a bit by the fact that the DOM
inie quit the district with a spotless
record.
1.-THE world hasn't come to an end
yit,,' said Uncle Morg. .'Tr is
doin' some tur'ble queer t.
days wen We hain't s'pectin' o. a.. Bus
ter knows,''
But the oracular little mule is suf-
| fering greatly in prestige now. Uncle
Morg's and Aunte Peggy's heretofore
unwavering trust in Buster has been
rudely shaken, and their calm philo-
| sophy does not serve to sustain them in
their painful awakening. Two or three
months ago one of the nicest-appearing
young men who had ever been seen IN
| that part of the Pine creek property
stopped his horse at the Binder farm
and got out of the wagon Buster took
to him on sight. He put his nose on the
strangers sleeve and walked him right
up to Uncle Morg's door. Buster even
seemed to want to follow the man into
the house, he had taken such fancy to
him. That was all the recommendation
| Uncle Morg and Aunt Peggy wanted
for the stranger. and he didn't di1ly-dally
in presenting the business he had in
hand. In less than fifteen minutes he
had Uncle Morgis signature to a con-
tract to act as agent in that district for
the grab-quick stump-puller and light
ming chuck-hole filler. Last week the
contract turned up in the shape of a
cut-throat judgment for one hundred
and fifty dollars, and Uncle Morg was
called upon to settle. He kicked and
they levied on property of his, including
the oracular mule.
IF I hef to pay the swinolin' note /
win," said Uncle Morg. 'sTain't the
money I mind, but to think th't after