The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-11-23
He COULDN'T BUCK.
The Mule That Was Ridden once and
Once ONLY.

Once Only.
"a fellow had a mule that nobody
could ride and that nobody ever did
ride but one time, so far as | know,
said the old man who. likes to tell
stories. Here Is the yarn about as he
told It. with the names changed bit:
"The banks ON the Texas side OF
the Red river were sufficiently high
to protect the adjoining lands from
overflow. on the Indian Territory
aide the banks were someNh hat lower
and while overnows were not OF year
ly occurrence, they came frequently
enough TO be unpleasant. For this
reason Jim Gabbot, n half breed, lived
in Texas, though his farm was across
the river in the Territory. Bob Sara.
sen, Jims neighbor, lived and farmed
on the Texas side.
"Gabbot owned a team OF mules.
Mike and Pete he called them. When
the field work for the day was done
he would unsnap them from the pillow,
and riding one and leading the other,
he would ford the river to his home,
Next morning he might be seen riding
down to the river, which he was com.
PEELED to ford again to reach his field.
Though he crossed the river twice al
most every day in the year, and
though both mules seemed equally
well broken and gentle, he always
rode the same mule Old Pete
"Sarasen would sometimes be work
ing near the river as Gabbot crossed
back aud forth, and enc day he re.
marked: "Gabbot why don't you
ride that on mule once in a while
and give Old Pete rest?"
"'Truth is. sarasen.' was the reply,
old Mike won't ride.
40 shucks. why don't you make
him ride said Sarasen, with touch
of sarcasm.
MAYBE you can ride him?' answer.
ed jim.
II amt braggin' any said sarasen.
but ! know what ia do If he was
mine''
"'Wel III tell you about that Mike
mule, said Gabbot. I'm bet a hard
days plowin' there amt a man in the
country can ride him a hundred feet
"1ll take the bet, jim. said Sara
sen, I'll ride him myself and do q
now
:" If you do you wln,' was the reply.
Sarasen went to the animal. took or
the harness, fastened a belt around It's
body; then he put a halter on the
mule He asked Gabbot TO dismount
from Old Pete and mounting Pete
himself he led Mike down to the river.
and riding one leading the other he
urged them into the water until both
mules were swimming. Then he held
the mule he was riding back a bit and
Old Mike swan unconcernedly along
side. As he did so Saracen grasped
the belt about the mules body and
threw himself on its back. Mike went
clear under the water but came up
putting and snorting. He made two or
three attempts to lunge but they were
utterly futile Finally he settled down
into business and swan steadily and
rapidly toward the Territory shore.
which was at least 150 feet away.
Sarasen turned and waved his ha, d TO
Gabbot, who from the Texas side had
watched the entire performance. When
the mule reached water in which Il
could wade Sarasen slipped from its
back and led both mules to the shore
After a brief rest he recrossed the riv-
er repeating the performance and Cab
bot cheerfully admitted he had lost.
"A few hours later Jim might have
been seen, busily turning the sod in
Sarasen's field with big double shoy.
el and the mule that could not be rid.
den kept the tugs on the of side
stretched.
Jim,' Bob would say as he lay in
the shade and watched his neighbor
work; there's more'n one way of rid.
In a buckln mule"