New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-26

caves. a few mrs some tan blu' gums an"
dozen palms stood in the front yard Th
| house was set far back. and the veranda ina
surrounded it was half hidden in the green o
orange trees stream from the mountains
ran through the orchard in the rear, its cours
marked by line of cottonwoods and willows
that broke the monotony Of the otherwise tree
less mesa. ON the other side of the creek an'
at some distance from the house, were tn
corrals and stables of the ranch.
/ The young woman stepped lightly to tn
ground. Il VIII call papa" she said.
A few minutes later IA tall man, heavy set
7 with face like the full moon in harvest time
his scanty locks somev hat grizzled with thu
first snowfall Of the winter of life. came SWING
ing down the walk with great strides.
How air yc!" he shouted before reaching th
gate. Glory tells me We kctchcd that son 0
Satan thar jest in time. I'm mighty glad Il
meet We" He seized Theophilus's hand an'
Thcophilus tried to lock- pleased
Jack" shouted Colonel Snortally. a dust!
cowboy with sombrerc on the back 81 nj
head sauntered around the corner Of the nous.
Take that boss out beyond tina n shoot INN
Come in Mistcr-cr -
smith"
"Dinncr'n be ready by'n by Wizard ma
beast come rom" ne added. pointing al b''y
rus.
He, my mule" answered Thoophus
you don't say go, Sposel you know bet
ter n that. Mules hain't no place ON tins ram"
/ can't We find IA g.easer 10 give Inn t"E
/ "Tucyrus is no common mule SAID ms own
or calmly. "ho knows more than any morse E"'
ever saw. And he can run, too
/ This last remark amused the c"i"h'' -
I br rfh a.
laughed heartily a mule that couIu run.
never yet clapped eyes on mule tha' ''"''
ketch vearling calf IN a fair race Must be
SLOW kentry you crowd W in. young man
The colonel wiped his EYES and chuckled
well. if ! stay" SAID the defender OF mules
determincdIy. I'm show you onc mule that car
run"
STAY, or coursc ven stay if ye wanter saiC
Colonel Snort1ly, cordially. I'VE kin Lev H"u'
pick Of Jobs an # you must make holy sh""
of that mule wen pervide the necessary acces
/ SORES"
ThcuphiIus stayed. He was handy WITH th'
lariat. rode "A hors, lik, native and a mule q
great deal better. He evidently Understood al
the marks and decps Of the bovine character
and very shortly won that for himself when h'
could not Tor his muo tho coIonels respect
When lBICNrES
pedcr Colonel Snortally wotld grumhle some
thing about fools rashin' in and when ne
v,uld dodc, a bclliecrcnt steer he would grow
something for fool for luck. ON the suhJ'''
ne mules the coloueI and Thcopl Illus continued
to disagree They argued the question morn
ing noon and night. TIE colonel pointed "u'
tn. mad qualities of tn mule. Th""!tIluS gre"
eloquent over the animals virtues fIor>
smiled hut took no part IN the ulS'uSSlo'
which resulted in the famous race at Crag ;
Corncr-a race that is still memorable through
out all of the Poncho Basin country.
The. colonel brought out a long-lecged mus
tang that H., had purchased across the border
the year before This mustang y as sad ne
ccivcr and had hghtcnod the pockets of many a
cowboy who had backed "a home animal against
the imported stock A light-weighi Mexican
rode him a few minutes later BuoNrus amDled
forth wearing that surprised look Of "A mule
when he is but half-awakened from a sweet
dream of peace with plenty Of barley hay in IT
judge Arkansaw West OBLIGATED a. starter and
iudrc All the inhabitants Of the Basin were
on hand to sec the race. and even old man J"hn-
son stopped ms shcep-shcarine ana came from
over The range with all hands To enjoy the holi-
day.
AT the start the mustang ran away from b"-
cyrus. and at the quarter there was room
enough for thrcshing- ma, hinc between them.
The crowd laughed and ohecrcd. and the coonei
issued "A general invitation to free drinks for
all present after the race. for the colonel was
very fond of his own opinion. For some reason
Glory did not smile. But when the animals
reached the half there was change ljucyrus
seemed 10 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 It's breath. While the
mustang and Rucyrus were coming down the
homcstrctch the colonels couutenance was in
tercsting and when Bucyrus passed under the