The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-02-21
MULE WITH WOODEN LEG
BY cY BURT.

for she was trained up to road racing
such as farmers are accustomed to. But
at the same time Elias gave the string
tweek which let out the spring some
more and the mule began stretching hlm-
self like a greyhound, and to let the mare
behind. Bog seeing that he'd have TO
stir the mare up a little, showed on the
lines and touched her with the CAD come
on with that goat of your'n, yelled ELIAS
as his beast went ahead. Bob losing his
good sense at the thought of a mule beat
ing him at his own game, stood up In his
buggy, a-whooping and a-lashing his poor
horse like mad. That made the mare
break and the mule went sailing ahead,
leaving a trail of dust for raging Bob
Taylor to eat of. Taylor yelled at Elias
that he could lick him, but Elias was
far out of hearing distance agoing like
cyclone for town.
BY the time Elias reached the city the
spring in the mules wooden leg had run
down and the beast slowed up to his
regular gate. Elias getting down off the
, sullxy wound it up, intending to give an
exhibition of the mules speed before the
citizens of Calamus Siding. Driving up
to the postoffice crowd was soon gath
cred around to inspect the mules artif-
| cial limb. There was a good deal of
sneering and fun-poking at Elias but he
took it all in scheming all the while as
to how he might beat those that were
ridiculing him. Pretty soon he caught
sight of Bob Taylor driving up and at
once he, with the keenness of true
bookmaker, saw his opportunity He
knew Bob was hopping mad and that 1t
would be an easy thing for him to get
a race out of him. He'd just sold his
wheat crop and 50 had enough money in
| his pocket to stand off some of the bets
| that he thought the crowd would be sure
| to make
II suppose. old man. said Bob, driving
up in front of the postoffce where the
crowd had gathered, you're a-blowng off
how you beat me?'
81 haint saying nothing replied Elias,
but if you've got any money to put up
I'll bet with you that I can get down to
the crossroads and back before you can"
The way Elias put 1t as If he thought
Bob might not have any money made
young Taylor madden than ever and the
result was that he put up a mighty fool
ish bet He might have known that when
that mule beat him once and did 1t fair
and square that there was something in
the bush and he'd better have a little
care as to what he was doing But in
stead of that he goes and puts up two
hundred dollars against nothing that Elias
his money to take up the bets of the
bystanders and at such odds as fifty to
one. The crowd was almost bursting with
fun to think that here was Elias Benz
der putting up money that his three
legged mule could beat Old Colonel Tay-
lor's mare which had the record of being
one of the fastest in the state.
1t was a mighty funny sight to see the
mule and the horse ready for the start
in front of the postoffice. Elias beast was
hanging his head in the usual manner
and Taylor's mare was rafting the bit
in her mouth. The sentiments of the
crowd were that Elias would not be more
than half way down to the crossroads
by the time the mare got there and back.
Well. when they gave the start Elias
was a little slow in pulling the trigger
to the wooden leg being somewhat ner-
vous over the reckless way he had taken
bets. and Tay1ors mare got a pretty
good start on him. Then he pulled the
string and the mule let out for good
The crowd with gaping mouths saw him
pass the mare and disappear over the
hill in a cloud of dust The Crossroads
were only one mile distant and of course
1t didn't take long until they saw the
mule coming back over the hill, stretch