The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1904-06-02

1 woods and willows. that broke III
monotony OF the otherwise treeies
J. mesa. ON the other side OF the creek
1 and at some distance from the house
: we're the corrals and stables OF liz
ranch.
e The young lady stepped lightly q
T the ground. Il will call papa," sh'
5 said.
! few minutes later a tall man
p heavy set. with face ike fool mool
: In harvest tiIae. his scanty locks some
what grizzied with the first snowfall
Of the ,ginfe- OF life. came swinging
. down de wa with great strides.
How air ye," he shouted before
Feac.iIs tie gate. GLORY tells ne =
J ketehed that son OF Satan thar jest fl
time. I'm glad 10 meet ye." Hs
sliced Theophiius' hand and Theophi
lus tried 10 look pleased.
-Jackw shouted Colonel snortaily
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'i be ready by'n by. Wizard
that beast come FROM he added.
pointing al Bucyrus.
Hes my mule" answered Theophi-
lus.
''You don't say so. sposed you
know'd better'n that. Mules hain't no
place on this ranch. Can't you ind
a greaser 10 give him TOT"
"Bucyrus is 10 common mule" said
his owner. calmly: he knows more
than any horse you ever saw. And be
can run. too"
This last remark amused the colonel
80 nightly that he sat down on the
porch and laughed heartily. A mule
that could run. Il never yet clapped
eyes on a mule that could keich q
yeariin' calf IN q fair race. Must be
slow kentry you CROWD up in. young
man" The colonel wiped his eyes and
chuckled-
-weii. II stay" said the defender
OF mules. deierminedly. III show you
one mule that can run
stay. or course yen stay II ye
wanter." said Colonel Snortally. cor
daily. "Ye kin hey your pick OF Jobs.
an ef you must make holy show OF
that mule. Wen pervide the necessary
accessories"
Theophiius stayed. He was handy
with the iarist. rode a horse like
native and a mule q great deal bet
ter. He evidently understood all the
marks and deeps OF the bovine chsrae-
ter. and very shortly won that for him
self which be could not for his mule
the coioners respect when Buoy
rus would head OF a skllful STAN
peder. Colonel snortaily would grum-
bic something about fools rnshin' In.
and when he would dodge a beiliserent |
steer lhe would growi something about /
a fool for luck on the subject Of |
mules the colonel and Tbeophilus con-
tinued TO disagree. They argued the
question morning. noon and night The
colonel pointed on; the bad qualities
OF the mule: Theophilus grew eloquent
over the animals virtues. Glory smii-
ed. but took no part in the discussion
which resulted IN the famous race at
Crag's Corners race that is s;ill mem
orable throughout all Of the Popcho
Basin country.
The colonel brought out a long
legged mustang that he had purchased
lcrosS the border the year before. This
mustang was sad oecciver, and had
ightened the pocket OF many cow
10Y who had backed a home animal
against the imported stock. light
weight Mexican rode him. A few !
minutes later Bucyrus ambled forth.
wearing that surprised look Of mule :
Wien he is but half awakened from =
sweet dream OF peace with plenty
4 barley hay In II. Judge Arksnsaw 3
Vest ofiiciated as starter and judge (
III the inhabitants OF the Basin were a
N hand TO see the race. and even old | '
nan johnson stopped his sheep-shear- n
ng and came from over the range with
II hands TO enjoy the holiday. 5
At the start the mustang ran away !
rom Bucyrus. and at the quarter there
-as room enough for a threshing ma {
hine between them. The crowd
Iughed and cheered- For some reason
Tory did not smile. But when the
nimals reached the half, there was Y
hange. Bucyrus seemed to remember >
aat he was neither asleep nor work u
lg for the government. He began 10
IN. At the last quarter there was 8
icnce. for the crowd was holding its y
rcath. While the mustang and Buoy "
Is were coming down the home ~
reich the coloners countenance was -
teresting. and when Bucyrus passed -
1dcr the wire something more than -
/ car ahead. the colonel collapsed ut. ~
rly. ~
That night Theophilus showed =.
ceful lack OF good taste. He osten-
tiously reviewed the merits OF the
ule family. and Bucyrus in partic-
ar. The colonel sat in fiery silence cl'
ID chewed his cud OF bitter reflection. len
Il finally. when Theophilus wound up "
declaring that Bucyrus could out ca
n the Overland Limited from Crag's ca
rner to the mountain road crossing. n
OF a little over a mile. Col 10
el Snortally arose in his wrath and tbs
ore. lcr
Iil bet re anything ye want that on
r wall-eyed apology fer boss can't FIR
anything OF the kind" he sa.d. tee
'will you bet my pick OF any hun.
ID unimproved acres on your ranch
ainst Bucyrus that he can'tf" quiet Tn
asked Theophilus. NC
'Sartinly," said the colonel. who. IN,
N, dor,, In HE has ~ had filfnr