Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1899-03-09

Tor the c0lonel was very 10n0 Oh MI
own opinion. For some reason Glory
did not smile. But when the animals
reached the half, there was change.
Bucyrus seemed to remember that he
was neither asleep nor working for the
government. He began to run. At the
last quarter there was silence, for the
crowd was holding its breath. While
the mustang and Bucyrus were coming
down the home-stretch the colonel's
countenance was interesting, and when
Bucyrus passed under the wire some
thing more than an ear ahead, the colo
mel arose and made his way through
the silence to Crag's Palace of Delight
and family asked for a stimulant.
That night Theophilus showed. a woe
full lack of good taste. He ostenta-
tiously reviewed the merits of the
mule family, and of Bucyrus in partic-
ular. The colonel sat in fiery silence
and chewed the cud of bitter reflection,
but finally, when Theophilus wound up
by declaring that Bucyrus could OUT
run the overland limited from Crag's
Corner to the mountain road crossing,
l u1SlduVC VI d 1lllLC OtC1 a 4AAACs SOAs
Snortally arose in his. wrath and swore.
"I'll bet We anything We want that
yer wall-eyed apology fer boss can't
do anything of the kind" he said.
"Will you bet my pick of any hundred
unimproved acres on your ranch
against Bucyrus that he can't?" quietly
asked Theophilus.
| eco r<inl1, old fho oo1opo1 who daon
down in his heart, had liking for Bu-
cyrus. +"
Gail right" said Theophilus; eff you
say so, we will settle it to-morrow-go-
ing west" The colonel said so, and
went to bed.
By the light of the stars that night a
man rode hurriedly down to Crag's Cor
ner, the nearest railroad station, and
before dawn rode as hurriedly back to
the ranch again.
The next day was another day Of ex-
element in the basin. The rumor Of
the novel race spread swiftly. That is
why Ike Williams heard, way up in
Rocky Gulch, that Col. Snortally had
bet his 40,000-acre ranch against herd
of mules that a certain swift animal of
that kind could not beat the Overland
limited in a ten-mile race.
The wagon road ran for miles along
the railroad track, so Bucyrus was not
handicapped. The race was an even
one up to the last so yards, when Bu-
cyrus, by a tremendous squirt, shot
ahead and passed the crossing with 20
feet of daylight between himself and
the engine. But there are wiseacres in
the basin who shake their heads when
telling of that wonderful race, and hint
that the engineer was half asleep.
Col. Snortally was good loser, and
he cheerfully invited .Theophilus out
the next day to choose his hundred
acres. He was not the less cheerful be-
cause Theophilus the night before had
made him a present of Bucyrus. The
ophilus proved an amazing chooser.
He took a narrow strip of land running
from the corner to Warder's canyon, at
the foot of the mountains. To the
colonel's testing about his choice, he
said something about making it good
race track.
About a week later Theophilus was
enjoying one evening quiet after-din-
ner smoke on the veranda. He was at
peace with the world, when Col. Snor-
tally came mp the walk. The colonel's
face was like the sun shining red
through a thunder cloud. He was too
much agitated to speak for minute,
but when he did begin to talk his words
were to the point. From his express
sions one might gather that he was
perturbed by the fact that Theophilus
had sold certain hundred acres Of
land as right of way to the Great
Southwestern Railway company. Col.
Snortally finished by declaring his in-
tention of removing from the scene a
stranger who had taken him in, and
Herewith drew his revolver.
There was rustic of dress, a low
cry, and Glory was sobbing, with her
face on Theophilus' shoulder.
"Don't do it. colonel, unless you feel
compelled to-" said Theophilus, rising,
with one arm about Glory, land unless
you want to make Glory widow. We
were married two days ago."
Col. Snortally's face grew white and
the revolver slipped from his grasp.
Glory was the dearest Of all to him.
| The president of the Great South.
western Railroad company looked
across the street and down seven sto-
ries to certain plebeian sign. Then
he arose and picked up his cane and
silk hat.
''Well," he said, 1--WE won after all.
Thatwas cleverly -cleverly done. :"
eyes," said the second vice presi-
dent; ''but the attacking force lost
heavily. For the young man from my
office who engineered the deal has mar
ried the colonel's daughter, made peace
with the colonel and at the last report
was laying out e town at the terminus
of our projected branch and selling cor
ner lots. San Francisco Argonaut.
| A Brave Woman.
The tragic story of the beautiful and
talented, Scottish woman, Helen Irving.
is not, perhaps, well known, although
| it has been celebrated in song. She had