Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-12-15

THAT'S THE LITTLE MAN THAT GOT MIL
ClIsEDEC INTO TR0u BILE.
OFTEN put on MS skates ana 1ound rellel
in the exhiaration be derived from
skimming through the forest along the
CLASSY streams, just as a business man
of the present time escapes from his
cares by retreatng to his yacht and
racing over the water under full sail.
On one of these occasions about the
middle Of February Of a forgotten year
he plunged farther into the wilderness
than ever before, attempting to trace a
frozen creek to its source, and about
noon suddenly emerged into little
clearing of whose existence he had not
previously been aware. Knowing the
hospitality of the pioneers, he decided
to visit the little log hut that stood on
the edge of the clearing and get his din
ner before returning to his office,
After unstrapping bis skates he start
ed toward the house, from the stone
chimney of which a cheerful smoke was
ascending He had proceeded but few
steps when he was confronted hv an
aggressive apparition that startled him
into headloug activity. Just in time to
escape gnarled and twisted pair of
horns, he sprang nimbly to the top of a
stump. Beneath him stood the strangest
creature be had ever seen. The head and
horns were those Of a sheep, but instead
of a woolly fleece the animal woie q
kind of overcoat made Of hempen canvas
sewed roughly with cords Of Eastwood
bark. A careful examination convinced
him that his assailant was the vener-
able leader of small flock Of sheep
though he could by no means guess the
meaning Of his masquerading appear
ance. Having satisfied himself that the
creature was not supernatural, he jump
ed down from the stump intending to
proceed to the house, but before he had
taken five steps he was sent headlong
into snowdrift. He was blinded and
half smotbered by the dry snow, and as
he partly rose to his feet, spluttering
and clawing, he was bowled over again
by his aggressive enemy.
Now Preston had heard in his youth
that when attacked by butting ram
one should lie still and wait for the
brute to 80 away. He decided to try the
plan, but he made the mistake of his
life. He had barely hattened himself
out on the ground when the ram landed
on the small Of his back with the force
of a pile driver The ram seemed inclin.
ed to use him as the circus clowns do
the cushion on which they turn somer-
saults, and he quickly realized that
though such scheme might have been
all right with a bellwether reared In
the lap Of luxury, it was complete
failure with this crook pated, cross
grained old wretch who had taken to
wearing burlap overcoat and had a
pair Of horns that would have done
credit to q dilemma. As soon as Preston
recovered his breath he uttered yell
that reused the echoes for miles and
grappled with his tormentor. He caught
him by the horns and together they
rolled through the drifts, collided with
stumps and sent the snow flying in
clnds, while Preston's yells mingled
with the frightened bleating Of the ram.
Tho uproar brought the farmer on the
scene, and with q few we'll directed
kicks he made the ram lose interest in
the battle aud return to his neglected
flock, with his coat trailing after him.
The farmer helned Preston to his feet