Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-12-08

The Chestnut and the Worn that
TurnAA.

| Iuf0e0s
Two cute chaps from the CITY. "a.
tensibly selling lightning rods and In
cidentally picking up all the rural
snaps they could find, pulled up ut y
farmers house not long ago out ia
Washtenaw County, and wanted din
ner and horse fed. The farmer
took them in and they sized him uD
and proceeded to take him in also
He was very green and every cheat
aut they told him tickied him i'm
menscly. After dinner they gave
MN cgar and told him other old
stories and at last one of them no
tlced the cd clock on the mantel
with its long pendulum swinging to
and fro. Nov, there is q thing"
sad one, with wink at the other.
THAT looks simple and easy, yet moi
one man in a million can do it."
"What's that" asked the farmer
innocently and curiously.
why, concentrating ones mind on
one thing for any given time, say for
an hour. Do you believe you could
watch that pendulum for that long
ana count its strokes each time
alOud?"
~ don't believe it, know it," as.
serted the farmer.
"Maybe you'd like to be: something
on It," ventured one OF the men In.
sinuatingly
"Well, Ihain't got much" hest.
lated the farmer, "but I'll 90 you
500 on it,"
The city man didn't think he had
that much, but managed to find it
and then said he was ready.
"Watt till 20 and get mine.n re.
marked the farmer and he went out
and came back in two or three min.
utes with the money.
"Iet our friend hold the stakes"
suggested tho willy city man.
"Course," assented the honest
farmer, ana then the count began.
The old fellow kept his eye on the
pendulum and his tongue on the
count, and at the end Of the first
quarter one OF the men suggested that
the other might go out and hook up
the horse. so that they would be
ready to start when tho count was
done. They were wise enough to let
the stake holder remain so as not to
excite suspicion, though the old man
was such an easy one that such n
thing seemed impossible. At the end
OF the second quarter the man re.
turned.
'Go on with your count" he said.
1.-THE last half hour Is where l win."
Inc Old man was getting tired and
ne braced himself, but. of course, he
could not reply and keep up the count
also
If you'll excuse my friend Just a
minute" continued the man, "Id
like to have him 60 out to the buggy
with me to fix something that's
broken. He'll be back right away
and we'll trust YOU to count fair"
The man got up to go; the farmer
kept right on counting. but he
dropped his hand into his coat pocket
and came out with big, uglv-looking
pistol. He never said a word, except
that interminablc counting. but he
covered them with the gun and shook
his head warningly. They made a
move, and they saw that self.cocking
hammer begin to rise slowly and they
stopped. The old man kept right on
counting, and the two worthless stood
there trembling.
"Call 1t draw" said one,
''rake the stakes, pleaded the
other, but the old man shook his head
and kept on counting, and at last the
hour was up
There, by thunder" he exclaimed
IN tone OF exutation and relief, II
knowed l could do it. Now, hand
me over that money and pay fer yer
dinner and the horse feed, and say"
he concluded, as they handed it out.
'suppos1n' you give me $25 extra for
wear and tear?"
They kicked, but he threatened to
drive them before his gun to the
nearest town and hand them over to
the authorities, so they gave him the
S25 for wear and tear.
"Now, git out of here" he said.
kicking them both out of the house
and calling the dog, land If you've
got any friends that thinks as YOU
1O send 'nm oro nd -