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

tatiOuSly reviewed the merits or the
mule family, and Bucyrus in partic-
ular. The colonel sat in fiery silence
and chewed his cud of bitter reflection,
but finally, when Theophilus wound up
by declaring that Bucyrus could out
run the Oveland Limited from Crag's
Corner to the mountain road crossing,
a distance Of little over a mile, Col
onel Snortally arose in his wrath and
swore.
"I'll bet We anything We want that
yer wall-eyed apology fer boss can't
do anything Of the kind" he said.
"Will you bet my pick Of any hun
dred unimproved acres on your ranch
against Bucyrus that he can't?' quiet
~ asked Theophilus.
"Sartinly," said the colonel, who,
deep down in his heart, had liking
for 'Bucyrus.
Cali right" said Theophilus; IF you
say so, we will settle it tomorrow
going 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
Corner, the nearest railroad station,
and before dawn rode as hurriedly
back to the ranch again.
The next day was another day of
excitement in the Basin. The, rumor
Of tie novel race spread swiftly! That
is why Ike Williams heard, way up in
Rocky Gulch, that Colonel Snortally
had bet his forty thousand-acre ranch
against herd Of mules that certain
swift animal of that kind could not
beat the Overland Limited in 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 fifty yards, when
Bucyrus, by tremendous squirt shot
ahead and passed the crossing with
twenty feet of daylight between him
self 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 a sleep.
and he cheerfully invited Theophilus
out the next day to choose his hun
dred acres. He was not the less cheer
full because Theophilus the night be-
fore had made him present of Buoy
rus. Theophilus proved an amazing
chooser. He took a narrow strip OF
land running from the corner up to
Warder's Canon, at the foot of the
mountains. To the coloneIs testing
about his choice, he said something
about it making a good race track.
About week later Theophilus was
enjoying one evening quiet after din
ner smoke on the veranda. He was at
peace with the world, when Colonel
Snortally came up the walk. The col
onel's face was like the sun shining
red through a thunder cloud. He was
too much agitated to speak for min
ute, but when he did begin to talk
his words were to the point. From his
expressions one might gather that he
was perturbed by the fact that Theo-
philus had sold a certain hundred acres
Of land as right Of way to the Great
South Western Railway Company. Col
onel Snortally finished by declaring his
intention Of removing from the scene
a stranger who had taken him in, and
Herewith drew his revolver.
There was a rustic Of dress, low
cry, and Glory was sobbing, with her
face on Theophilus' shoulder.
a. (
compelled to- said Theophilus, rising
with one arm about Glory, "and unless
you want to make Glory a widow. We
were married two days ago."
Colonel 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 Railway Company looked
across the street and down seven sto-
ries. Then he arose and picked up
his cane and silk hat.
"Well," he said, 1--WE won after all.
That was cleverly done = cleverly
done"
Eyes, said the second vice-presi-
dent; 'but the attacking force lost
heavily. For the young man from my
office who engineered the deal has
married the coloners daughter, made
peace with the colonel, and at the last
report was laying out town at the
terminus Of our projected branch, and
selling corner lots."-Argonaut.
Census Work in Europe.
To the American observer Of Euro
moan cansI1s methods one Of the most