Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-11-18

rus"
"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
fir trees, some tall blue gums, and
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 of orange-trees. A
stream from the mountains ran
through the orchard In the rear, Its
course marked by line Of cotton
woods and willows, that broke the
monotony Of the otherwise treeless
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. II will call papa" she
said.
A few minutes later a tall man,
heavy set, with face like fool 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.
"How air YER he shouted before
reaching the gate. "Glory tells me We
ketched that son Of Satan thar jest in
time. I'm glad to meet ye." He
siezed Theophilus' hand and Theophi-
lus tried to look pleased.
"Jackv' shouted Colonel Snortally.
A dusty cowboy with a sombrero on
the back of his head sauntered around
the corner Of the house. "Take that
boss 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 you find
q groaSer TO give MIN 10!
''Bucyrus is no common mule" said
his owner, calmly; 'he 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 and laughed heartily. A mule
that could runl 81 never yet clapped
eyes on q mule that could ketch
yearlin calf in a fair race. Must be
a slow kentry you crowd up in, young
man." The colonel wiped his eyes and
chuckled.
"Well, If I stay" said the defender
of mules, determinedly, 'I'll show you
one mule that can rum"
"Stay! OF course ye'll stay il We
wanter," said Colonel Snortally, cor
daily. eye kin hev your pick Of jobs,
an eff you must make a holy show of
that mule, we'Il pervide the necessary
accessories"
Theophilus stayed. He was handy
with the lariat, rode horse like
native and mule a great deal bet
ter. He evidently understood all the
marks and deeps Of the bovine charac-
ter, and very shortly won that for him
self which he could not for his mule
the colonePs respect. When Buoy
rus would head off a skillful STAN
peder, Colonel Snortally would grum-
BILE something about fools rushin' in"
and when he would dodge a belligerent
steer he would growl something about
a "fool for luck" On the subject Of
mules the colonel and Theophilus con-
tinued to disagree. They argued the
question morning, noon and night. The
colonel pointed out the bad qualities
of the mule; Theophilus grew eloquent
over the animals virtues. Glory smil-
ed, but took no part in the discussion
which resulted in the famous race at
Crag's Corner-a race that is still mem
orable throughout all Of the Poncho
Basin country.
The colonel brought cut a long
legged mustang that he had purchased
across the border the year before. This
mustang was sad deceiver, and had
lightened the pocket Of many a cow
boy who had backed a home animal
against the imported stock. A light
weight Mexican rode him. A few
minutes later Bucyrus ambled forth,
wearing that surprised look Of mule
when he is but half awakened from
a sweet dream of peace with plenty
Of barley hay in it. Judge Arkansaw
West ofticiated as starter and judge.
All the inhabitants Of the Basin were
on hand to see the race, and even old
man Johnson stopped his sheep-shear-
ing and came from over the range with
all hands to enjoy the holiday.
At the start the mustang ran away
from Bucyrus, and at the quarter there
was room enough for a threshing ma
chine between them. The crowd
laughed and cheered For some reason
Glory did not smile. But when the
animals reached the half, there was
change. Bucyrus seemed to remember