The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1893-12-02
How-wiI.1.1s AVN VIZ sKs
Got none UP by saint Peter Mel
ON On An Esqufne Deal An sHn-
terestinK Pioneer Tale.

Editor GRAPmlc:-The retirement of
Rre'r Weeks from the giddy whirl of
journalism moves me to ruminate. lie
was once a neighbor OF mine, you know.
We held down adjoining claims a few
miles from kimball-in l04-67 and |
believe it was during that period that the
giddy "Iry' acquired the passion for
horsefiesh which in more recent years
had led him to indulge in the luxury of
keeping a stud-hoss."
Our suburban homes being situated
far enough from tcwn to make walking
incOnyenient for Weeks and tires0me for
me, we concluded to chip in and buy Il
span of light roadsters and a carriage.
We discussed the question thoroughly
and concluded that in buying it would
be true economy to get a first-class turn
out, something that would be both SER
viceable and speedy, no matter il we had
to pay a few dollars extra on the start.
Also. we reasoned that by getting out of
the clutches or Ed Taft and Louis Rich
ards and their long-winded livery bills
VT would save the cost of our outfit in
side of three years.
Fortune favored us from the start.
The very next day after we decided to
make the purchase Peter Nelson, the
portly pioneer of Red Lake precinct, came
in from his plantation and waddled into
Weeks & Wells grocery store to lay in a
winters supply of smoking tobacco. He
was waited upon by the senior member
of the firm, who made the usual inquiries
about the crops ndincidentally asked:
"By the way, Peter, do you know any
one down your way who has a good bug
gy team to sell?"
Dunno" responded Peter the great;
good horses are scarce these days. Who
wants t, buy them"
Weeks explained the situation, and
Peter, quickly realizing that he had
struck an easy game. proceeded to take
a hand.
ooh, well,' said he, "if you.and Willis
want q team you shall have it, even if
have to sell you one Of my OWL. Ii you
want to YOU can ride home with me and
take your pick from my stable at your
own price. Ihavn't a poor horse on my
%place-all thoronghbreds, hegod-and
while l need them all ! am willing to
spare a couple just to oblige a FRIEND"
"Irv' was vjsibly affected by the good
saint Peters generous proposition and at
once escorted him up to my Office in the
top story OF the Index block, where we
/! talked over tile deal, aaaG OF course it
didn't take me over thirty seconds to see
that we had found just what We wanted
and l agreed to accompany them to Red
Lake and assist in selecting the trotters.
After helping Peter to load the pro-
visions he had purchased We set out for
| his homestead, arriving there at shutdown
and just in time for a Snmptuous spread
oi bacon and eggs, while no end OF lus-
cious baked potatoes on the side. In
cidcntal TO the meal Peter brought up
from the cellar a few quarts of home
made wild grape wine OF the vintage Of
~, which he took pains to assure us was
not intoxicating, and after sampling it
we agreed with him. In fact, we agreed
with him to such an extent that when
the supply of wine ran ont it required
the services of the whole family and all
the hired men to escort us to bed, and if
| remember rightly we retired without
the formalitv OF removing II boots. At
any rate. when they called US to break
fast in the morning we found ourselves
with our clothes on and suffering from a
thirst that nothing but more of Pe1e's
wine could quench. Fortunately he had
a few barrels left, and after We had sam
pied them and taken u breakfasts
aboard We accepted our hosts invitation
to visit his stables.
Peter began by showing us his garden,
pasture. We passed the house on the
way and Of course accepted his invitation
to join him in another pitcher of wine
Then he showed us his collection of cat,
tie and sheep, More wine, Finally we
got around to the stables and looked owe
his stock of horsefesh. He had animals
OF all styles, sizes and colors, and when
lie informed us we were at liberty to taxi
our choice we realized that we were In
deed in the hands of a friend. But hert
. came a new and unexpected difficulty
with such a magnificent assortment O
horses to select from, it was hard for u.
to tell which ones suited us the best. A
last we decided to ask Peters advice, an(
; he was kind enough to point out a certain
bay and a gray which he assured us wer,
not only his fav0rites, but would be Ger
. tain to create a sensation in kimbal
: owing to their stylish appearance an,
. phenomenal speeding proclivities.
:, He suggested that we let him give u
an exhibition OF what his pet team coul
do, and after the hired man had hitclle
. them to a light wagon WI were invited t
, take q ride. Pete handled the reins ant
= after he had emitted a yell at the ponie
. and given them a few cracks Of the viii
they kicked up their heels and set out o
:, the dead run. GO it, you sons Of ses
cooksv' shouted Pete, and he kept o
y plying the blacksnake. "Ain't the
= daisles" he inquired as we turned dow.
= the home-stretch after reeling off thre
miles in five minutes over plowed groun
+" We admitted that the three-mile road re
q been busted into smithereens al
:, VI .aed to ask him to name his prit
for the team.
BOYS" said he, lit breaks my heart
' think Of parting with those ponies.
fact | would almost as soon bnry all IL
wife's relatives as to let them go. Ina
been offered $500 for them by sever
er parties, and only last week Dave Spaul
Of ing tried to trade me a quarter-sectit
Ell of decided land in Bijou BILLS for tn
le very team. But since you are both Ii
frintds and fhn host fpllowc in tIa wor