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

was nelt0ef asleep nor WoThinS iof tuc
/ government. He began 10 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
countenapce 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 stimulant.
That night Theophilus showed 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,
a distance Of little over mile. Col.
! Snortally arose in his wrath and swore.
"I'll bet ye anything ye want that
yer wall-eyed apology fer boss cant
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.
"Sartinly," said the colonel, w b o, deep
down in his heart, had liking for Bu-
cyrus.
"All right" said Theophilus; 'if 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,O00-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 Blu
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 narrow strip Of land running
from the corner to Warder's canyon, at
the foot Of the mountains. To the
colouel's jesting 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 colonels
face was like the sun shining red
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 express
sious one might gather that he was
perturbed by the fact that Theophius
had sold a certain hundred acres Of
land as a 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 .alien him in, and
Herewith drew his revolver.
There was rustic of a dress, low
cry, and Glory was sobbng. 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 a 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 a certain plebeian sign. Then
he arose and picked up his cane and
silk hat.
"Well," he said. I'VE won after all
Thatwas cleverly done-cleverly done.
YES" said the second vice presi
dent; "but the attacking force los,
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 town at the terminu.
of our projected branch and selling cor
ner lots. Francisco Argonaut.
| A Brave Woman.
The tragic story of the beautiful ant
II