The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-10-01

there was silence, for the crowd ,'as
holding its breath. While the mus
tang and Bucyrus were coming down
the home stretch the colonel's coun-
tenance was interesting. and when
Bucy-us passed under the wire some
thing more than an ear ahead, the
colonel arose and made his way
through the silence TO Crag's Palace
of Delight and family asked for a
stimulant.
That night Theophilus showed a
woeful lack of good taste. He osten-
tatiously reviewed the merits of the
mule family. and of Bucyrus in par
ticular. The colonel sat in fiery ST.
lence and chewed the cue OF bitter
reflection. but finally, when Theoph-
Illus wound up by declaring that Blu
cyrus could outrun the Overland Linz
tied from Crag's Corner to the noun
tain road crossing, q distance of q
little over mile, Colonel Snortally
arose in his wrath and swore.
I'll bet We anything ye want that
yer wall-eyed apology fer q 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 cant?"
quietly asked Theophilus.
"Sartinly," said the colonel, who.
deep down in his heart, had a liking
for Bucyrus.
All right" said Theophilus; "if
you say so. we will settle It to-mor-
row-going west" The colonel said
so, and went to bed.
BY the light Of the stars that night
man rode hurriedly down to Crag's
Corner, the nearest railroad station.
and before dawn rode al hurriedly
back to the ranch again
The next day was another day of
excitement in the Basin. The rumor
of the novel race spread swiftly.
That is why Ike Williams heard. way
up in Rocky Gulch, that Colonel
Snortally had bet his 4O,OOO-acre
ranch against a 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 Tho race was
an even one up to the last fifty years,
when Bucyrus, by tremendous
squirt, shot ahead and passed the
crossing with twenty feet OF daylight
between himself and the engine. But
there are wiseacres in the Basin who
shake their heads when telling of the
wonderful race, and hint that the
engineer was half asleep.
Colonel SnoTtally was a good loser,
and he cheerfully invited Theophilus
out the next day to choose his hun
dred acres. He was not the less
cheerful because Theophilus the
night before had made him a present
of Bucyrus. Theophilus proved an
amazing chooser. He took a narrow
strip Of land running from the cor
ner up to Warders Canon, at the foot
of the mountains. To the colonel's
testing about his choice. he said
something about it making a good
racetrack.
About a week later Theophilus was
enjoying one evening a quiet after
dinner smoke on the veranda. He
was at peace with the world, when
Colonel Snortally came up the walk.
The colonels face was like the sun
shining red through a thunder-cioud.
He was too much agitated to speak
for minute. 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 Theophilus had sold a GER
tain hundred acres of land as a right
of way to the Great Southwestern
Railway Company. Colonel Snortally
finished by declaring his intention
Of removing from the scene a stran-
ger who had taken him in, and there
with drew his revolver
There was a rustic of n dress, low
cry. and Glory was sobb!ng, with her
face on Theophilus' shoulder
Don't do It, colonel, unless you
feel 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.
ne president or the Great South
western Railway Company looked
across the street and down seven
stories to certain plebeian sign.
Then he arose and picked up his cane
and silk hat
Wei. he said, "wc won, after all
That was clevcrly done-cloverly
done
yes" 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 colonel's daughter,
made peace with the colonel. and at
the last report was laying out a town
at the terminus Of our projected
branch, and selling corner lots. -
The ATgouaut.
A Tri1IiOn.
II. H., Portsmouth. N. H.. asks: