The Washington herald., 1907-03-21
FROM MINIMUM TO MAXIMUM.
BY WILLIAM BRYAN.

spend7' demanded Bradley. 81 mean
business"
And I meant the half-miIlion. Of
fered old Pete $4,000 for the quarter be-
fore the town grew Up. when he Just had
a little saloon down in one corner.
Bradley gravely put out a hand so
white and slender that men seldom an
tIcipated the strength Of his grip. 'Tn
do II, and make a profit in the end he
announced.
] Col. Shaw shook hands gravely enough,
but he smiled beneath his heavy mus
taehe. A six-footer himself he had AL
| the big mans contempt for the little fell
low. How could Bradley. with his five
feet seven. conquer. where his six feet
/ two had failed?
( But he rather liked Bradley. In spite Of
/ his handicap OF size. OF course, he was
/ impossible for a suitor for Nancy's hand.
though personally he was good sort Of
chap
The following morning Bradley strolled
down to the Palace for a drink, and in
ten minutes he had picked up an ae-
quaiutance With the proprietor. That
evening at the dinner table his announce
ment that he found Pete Buckley rather
a cohrpanionable sort OF chap created an
even greater sensation than had his per
/ formance OF the night before.
"He didn't throw you out?' cried Col
Shaw. in amazement
Not a bit Of it" said Bradley, com
fortably, blissfuly ignorant Of the fact
! that the colonel himself had been subject
| ed 10 that indignity as well as all and
sundry of his previous guests. who had
srayed into the Palace. We had a cou-
7 pie of bottles Of champagne. and quite a
/ long chat
/ All OF the guests we're regarding Brad
| ley curiously but that did not affect
( Bradley He was chatting with Nancy.
and he did not even hear the coloneIs
muttered explanation:
He was so little they were ashamed
/ to hurt him."
/ Bradley's visit was the first Of several
during the week, and when he started
( back TO town il was with q bottle of
| "Buckley's Best (which was very bad.
indeed in his travelling bag. and hearty
send-off from the regulars"
/ He was back again in a couple Of
weeks. and the colonel regarded curious
/ " the smile of contentment that played
&
| toned Bradley refused TO divulge any
of his plans, and diverted discussion by
the announcement that the L. c. l. had
decided to run the line three miles far
/ ther to the south.
The statement was received with in
/ creduiity until Bradley POINTED out the
advantages TO be gained, and the colonel
sighed contentedly Not only guld the
line leave his property untouched. but
Minimum would not be a railroad town.
Down at Minimum the news vas re-
| eeived with less placidity Buckley
promptly decided that il was the lnlonel 5
work. and was for immediate extermi-
nation Of his neighbor. Only Bradleys
arguments induced him TO abandon the
plan, and when his excitement had cooled
somewhat he and Bradley went into ex-
| eeutive session.
That evening as Bradley strolled into
dinner the smile had broadened and he
looked pityingly at young Calendar. who
was generally supposed to be the coloners
choice for a son-in-'aw.
It was when the others had gone of to
play billiards that he dropped into the
library. where the colonel sat writing.
ITS going to cost you about $50, 00) and
two half sections of good land he an
noYnced. ''Wll that be all right?"
Which half sections?" dueried the
colonel
Bradley indicated them on the map.
'Iu deed them 10 you tomorrow
agreed the colonel. How did you do It?''
"Sympathizsd with Buckley" explaine5
Bradley. Told him it was a snaEie that
the line OF the road was transferred
south (without explaining that 1t took me
a week TO argue ray uncle into changing
the route. Uncle Jlm's president of tho
road, you know. Then I pointed out that
We could set some Iaui 10 the south
where We could spread out as we never
could IN Minimum, and ] undertook to
induce you to give up The land
Then I volunteered The promise taat
you would duplicate the town buildings
on the new site as a bonus and Buckley
gets the extra quarter section for mere
town lots. He's so profoundly grateful
that he wants to take me in as a part
ner''
And all this has taken you less than
three weeks said the colonel. admiring-
ly. why, man, I've worked for twelve
years to get thar quarter sectlon.''
BY force alone ye shall not CON
quer, quoted Bradley softly. Even we
little fellows have our uses. colonel. /
guess III see II there's a chance to get
into the game in the billiard room. We
can fix up the titles and the contracts tn
the morning"
He suolIed out. but the colonel did not
resume his work. He wheeled about star
ing into the fire.
1t was a twelve-mile drive to the coun-
ty seat where the papers were recorded.
and as they drove home IN the twilight
OF the next evening. the colonel reined
his horse in front of Minimum. Across
the front Of the Palace was an oiIcloth
sign. which read;
On or before July
This hun town will
Remove
TO
Maximum
Three miles down the road
Ny name" chgekled Bradley as the