The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-06-10
The III, Right of Wa

| dows and doors. Ivy circled the win
dows and climbed to the caves. A few
! frs. some tall blue gums and a dozen
palms stood In the front yard. The
house was set far back, and, the vcran-
da that surrounded Il was half hidden
In the green OF the orange trees. a
stream from the mountains ran through
the orchard In the rear. its course
marked by q line of cottonwoods and
willows that broke the monotony OF tho
otherwise treeless mesa. On the other
side Of the creek. md at some distance
from the house. were the corrals and
stables Of the ranch.
The young woman stepped lightly to
the ground. ~ Will call papa" she
said.
A few minutes later tall man,
heavy set. with a face like full moon
In harvest time. his scanty locks some
what grizzled with the first snowfall OF
the winter of life, came swinging down
the walk with great strides. m ,.
How air ye?" he shouted, before
reaching the gate. GLORY tells me We
ketched that son O. Satan thar Jest
In time. I'm mighty glad to meet yc."
He seized Theophllus' hand, and The
ophtlus tried to look pleased.
"Jack!" shouted Colonel Snortally. A
dusty cowboy. with sombrero on the
back OF his head sauntercd around the
corner OF the house. Take that boss
out beyond tha' n shoot him. Come in.
mistcr-er-"
Smith"
"Dinncr'll b ready by n by. Wizard
that beast come FROM" no added,
pointing at Bucyrus.
Hes my mule" answered Theophi-
lus.
You don't SAL SO! Supposed you
know'd better'n that. Mules hain't no
place on this ranch. Cant ye find q
SrcaBer to give him to?"
"Bucyrls Is no common mule" said
his owner, calmly, "he knows more
than any horse you ever saw. He can
run. too"
This last remark amused the colonel
so nightly that he sat down on the
porch step and laughed heartily. A
mule that could run! II never yet clap
ped eyes on q mule that could ketch a
yearllng calf In n fair race. Must be n
Glow kentry You crowd up In. young
man. The colonel wiped his eyes and
chuckled.
We'll, II I stay" said the defender
OF the mule. determinedly. "Ill show
you one mule that can run"
stay! or course yen stay IL We
wanter," said Colonel Snortally, cordial
~. "1e Kin have yer pick OF Jobs, an
ef you must make holy show Of that
mule we'll pervlde the necessary acces-
sories."
Theophllus stayed. He was, handy
with the lariat, rode horse like n ma
i've ana mule great deal better. He
evidently understood all the marks and
deeps of the bovine character, and very
shortly won that for himself which he
could not for his mule-the coloncl's re-
spect. When Bucyrus would head Off
skilful stampeder. Colonel Snortally
would grumblc something about fools
rushln' In. and when he would dodge
beihSercnt steer he would Erowl some
thing about a fool for luck" On the
subject OF mules the colonel and The
ophiius continued to disagree They mr.
Eued the question morning, noon and
night. The colonel pointed on, the had
qualities OF the MULE TheophIlus grew
eloquent over the animals virtues
Glory smiled, but took no part In the
discussion. which resulted In the fam
Gus race at Craig's Corner-a race Tint
IS still memorable throughout all of the
Poncho Basin country.
Inc colonel brought out q long-legped
mustang that he had purchased across
the border the year before This mus
tang was sad deceiver. and had light
ened the pockets of many a cowboy who
mad backed home animal against the
imported stock. A llght-wclSht MexI-
can rode him. a few minutes later Blu
cyrus scrambled forth, wearing
that surprised look of n mule when he ia
out half awakened from q sweet dream
OF peace with plenty OF barley hay in
II. Judge Arkansaw West ofI;cIatcd
as starter. All the Inhabitants of The
basih We're on hand to see the race, and
even old man Johnson stopped his sheep
snearlng and came over from the range
win all hands to enjoy the holiday.
Al the start the mustang ran aYav
from Bucyrus. and at the quarter thera
was room enough for thrcshInc mn
chine between them. The crowd laughed
ana cheered. For some reason C;Iory
did not. smile. But when the animals
reached the half there was a change
hucyrus seemed 70 remember that he
was neither asleep nor working for tho
government. He began 10 run. Al tho
Idst quarter there was silence, for the
crowd was holding It's breath. While
inc mustang aud Bucyrus were coming