The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-03-30

up to the young lady and, led Bucyrus
TO the rear Of the blackboard. to which
he tied him.
II suppose" said the colonel's daugh-
ter. as they started up the road, "that
should thank you for saving my life
and my fathers best blackboard. Real
ly, thank you very much. II you will
stop at the house for dinner will try
and show my gratitude with some tor
tillas and frijoles Of my own cooking"
"The debt Of gratitude is on my side,
and not yours" Theophilus answered.
81 am in search Of work as cowboy,
and I cannot but hope that your ac-
quaintance is an auspicious omen."
Cowboys don't talk like that" she
said, little sharply, eying him in sur
prise. you're not fitted for range
man anyway. Cattlemen don't ride
mules. Papa says there is only one ami
mar more ridiculous, stupid and idiotic
than a mule, and that is the man who
rides one"
But your father doesn't know Bu-
, cyrus"
"Nor his owner" she rejoined. laugh
| ing.
They stopped In front of long, low.
adobe ranch house, with deep-set win
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 veranda
that surrounded it was half hidden in
the green orange trees. A stream from
the mountains ran through the orchard
in the rear. its course marked by line
OF cottonwoods and willows that broke
the monotony of the otherwise tree
less mesa. On the other side OF the
creek and at some distance from the
house were the corrals and stables of
| the ranch.
The young lady stepped lightly to
the ground. ~ will call papa" she
said.
| A few minutes later q tall man, heavy
/ set. with face like the full moon in
harvest time. his scauty locks some
what grizzled with the first snowfall Of
the winter Of life. came swinging down
the walk with great strides.
How air vel" he shouted before
reaching the gate. "Glory tells me ye
ketched that son OF Satan thar Jest in
time. I'm mighty glad to meet ye." He
seized Theophilus' hand and The
ophilus tried to look pleased.
"Jack!" shouted Col. Snortally. A
dusty cowboy with a sombrero on the
back Of his head sauntered around the
corner of the house. "Take that hoss
out beyond thar n shoot him. Come
In Mister-er-"
Smith"
"Dinner'll be ready by'n by. Wizard
that beast come from?" he added.
pointing at Bucyrus.
Hes my mule" answered Theophi-
lus.
"You don't say SO! S'posed you
know'd better'n that Mules hain't no
place on this ranch. Can't ye find a
greaser to give him to?"
| "Bucyrus is no common mule" said
his owner, calmly; che knows more
than any horse you ever saw. And 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 81 never yet
clapped eyes on mule that could ketch
| n yearlin' calf in fair race. Must be
a slow kentry you crowd up in. young
man" The colonel wiped his eyes and
chuckled.
We'll, IL stay" said the defender Of
mules, determinedly, "1'll show you one
mule that can run"
"Stay! OF course yell stay il ye
wanter," said Col. Snortally, cordially.
"Ye kin hev your pick Of jobs, an et
you must make holy show OF that
mule. We'll pervide the necessary ac-
cessories."
Theophilus stayed. He was handy
with the lariat, rode horse like a ma
tive and a 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 coloneTs
respect. When Bucyrus would head of
a skillful stampeder, Col. Snortally
would grumble something about fools
rushin' in" and when he would dodge
belligerent steer he would growl
some thing about STOOL for luck" On
the subject OF mules Che colonel and
Theophilus continued to disagree
They argued the question morning
noon. and night. The colonel pointed
out the bad qualities of the mule; The
ophilus grew eloquent over the ami
mails virtues. Glory smiled, but took
nopartin the discussion which resulted
in the famous race at Crag's Corner
race that is still memorable through
out all of the Poncho Basin country.
The colonel brought out a long
legged mustang that ne had purchased
across the border the year before. Thi.
mustang was sad deceiver, and hat
lightened the pocket of many COW