Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-07-03
NOT IN AT THE FINISH.
Story of q Drummer Who Had an Excit-
ing Ride.

Story of Drummer Who Had an Excit-
ing Ride.
prim man with shimmering silk
hat alighted from the train at one of our
Maine villages and got into the hotel pung
on the rear seat. After the hotel proprie-
tor had carefully tucked the mans grips
beneath the seat they started. The land
lord owns some good horses, and so does
the rival liveryman, who just then came
spanking up behind with a high headed
nag. The landlord gave one look over his
shoulder and then whipped up
The chunks Of mud commenced to whiz
past as the big horse quickened his stride,
and the pung slammed into the "thank
you, ma'ams, with violence that scared
the little runner on the back seat. Hold
ing to his hat he leaned forward and lisped:
"Thay, mither, don't care to ride so
fatht."
The driver turned his head over his
shoulder, and his beard streamed behind
like banner at the forepeak.
"Do you know who that Is behindf'
"No, thir," replied the passenger, dodg-
ing chunk of mud that came like stone
from catapult.
"Well, that fellow is trying to run me
out of the livery business in this ERE town,
and he tries to whang up by me every
time catch passenger. I'm holding the
ribbins over boss that amt never been
beat yit, and you can just bet your necktie
that cuss amt going to crow over me yit
awhile" And he gave the horse another
slash, braced himself, and away the turn
out tore down the village street.
All of the villagers know of the contest
that is going on this spring, and SO the
drummer, through the haze of his blurred
vision, saw the grinning storekeepers at
their doors. Knots Of people were out yell
ing encouragement to both sides; women
laughed from windows.
Snow you're off, Zane!'
"Give it to him, Ike!"
"a little more whalebone speed"
1t was a sensational advent into town
too sensational for the drummer who
swore Intellectually into the tangle of the
drivers whiskers. The pitches were deeper
and more frequent.
The drummer had to cling to his hat
with both hands, and when he struck the
crossing at the postoffice he was UMPIRE
pared. The pung gave mighty flop, and
out bounced the passenger high in air,
striking on his back and rolling in the
slush.
The crowd shouted Justify to the hotel
man, but he was too busy with his rival to
notice that he had lost off his man. He
mistook the yells for further encourage
ment and, standing up in his pung, he
commenced pounding and yelling too. AT
last around bend in the street disap-
peared the racers, although their shouts
and the whick, whick of their whips could
still be heard.
The bystanders picked up the little rum
ner, some one slicked up his hat as clean
as possible, and a kindly farmer, with a
corner of his horse blanket, wiped off the
thickest of the slush.
But he still looked pretty draggy when
he started to trudge on toward the hotel.
He met the hotel man driving back look
ing for him.
"Waal, there" said that individual,
beaming on him with bland unconscious
ness 81 yum never thought to ask you
If you wanted to stop down to the stores
But you hadn't ought to got off, for you
missed seeing me whale that Teller out In
good shape Lewiston Journal.