The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-13

ful lack OF good taste. He ostenta-
tiously reviewed the merits OF the mule
family and of Bucyrus in particular.
The colonel sat i'm fiery silence, and
chewed the cud OF bitter reflection. but
finally. when Theophilus wound up by
declaring that Bucyrus could outrun
the Overland Limited from Crag's Cor
ner 10 the mountain-road crossing, II
distance OF little over a mile. Col.
SnOrtally arose IN his wrath and swore.
I'm bet yc anything ye want that yer
Wall-eyed apology for "A hoss can't DO
anything OF the klnd,' he said.
''Will you bet my pick OF any hundred
unimproVed acres on your ranch
against Bucyrus that he can't?" quietly
asked Theophlus.
"sartinly." said the colonel, who. deep
down in his heart. had liking for
Bucyrus.
IAN right" said Theophilus; 'if you
say 80, We will settle IL tOmorow-gOing
west" The colonel said so, and went
To bed.
BY the light of the stars that night
n man rode hurriedly down 10 Crag's
Corner, the nearest railroad station,
and before dawn rode az hurriedly
back 10 the ranch again.
The next day was another day OF
excitement I'm the Basin. The rumor OF
the novel race spread swiftly. That Is
why Ike Williams heard. way up in the
Rocky Gulch. that Colonel Snortally
had bet-his orty-thnusand=acre- ranch
against a 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 Buoy
rus. by tremendous squirt. shot ahead
and passed the crossing with % feet
of daylight between himself and the
engine. But there are wiseacrcs In tho
Basin who shake their heads when tell
ing of that wonderful race. and hint
that the engineer was half asleep.
Colonel Snortally was a good loser.
and he cheerfully invited Theophilus
cut the next day To choose his hundred
acres. He was not the less cheerful
because Theophilus the night before
| had made him a present of Bucyrus.
Theophilus proved an amazing chooser.
He took a narrow strip of land running
from the corner up To Warders Canyon.
at the foot OF the mountains. To tho
coloneis jesting about his choice, he
said something about IL making a good
race track.
About "A week later Theophlus was
enjoying one evening a quiet after
dinner smoke on the veranda. He was
at peace with the world. when Colonel
Snortally came up the walk The colo
nels face was like the sun shining rel
through "A thunder cloud. He was too
much agitated to speak for a minute,
but when he did begin To talk his words
were To the point. From his expression
one might gather that he was per
turbed by the fact that Theophilus had
sold a certain hundred acres Of land IA
"a right OF way TO the Great Southern
Halfway Go. cot Snortally finished by
declaring his intention Of removing
from the scene a stranger who had
taken him in, and Herewith drew his
revolver.
There was "a rustic of dress, low
cry. and Glory was sobbing. with her
face on Theaphilus' shoulder.
Don't do IL. colonel. unless YOU feel
compelled to- said Theophilus rising
with one arm about Glory. "and unless
, you want TO make Glory widow. We
were married two days ago"
Colonel 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 Railroay company looked
across the street and down seven
stories TO a certain plebeian sign Then
he arose and picked up his cane and
silk hat.
Well" he said. I'VE won. after all.
That was cleverly deAe-eleVerly done"
Yes" 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 coloneIs daughter. made peace
with the colonel and at the last re-
port was laying out town al the ter
minus of our projected branch and
selling corner ts."-The Argonaut