Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-08-01

S'I'D GIVE HALF MILLION TO HAVE THAT
COLLECTION OF DIVES MOVED"
BILE and picked up his cue. ~ thought
that people out here had quit those
fool tricks" he explained, his teel
still chattering
'They have, except for special occa,
sions. But when they do turn loose
they generally give us a salute in
passing"
'"The Palace is that drinking place
down the roadf"
"Just that You see," explained Cal
lendar, when Colonel Shaw bought
his ranch there was one quarter section
he could not get hold of, owned by a
stubborn brute of a fellow who would
not let go. That was the foundation
of the town of Minimum"
Funny namer' commented Bradley
That's why they took it. The origi.
nal holder has been dead some years
now, but the town goes on. You see,
it's nearer the mines by ten miles than
the railroad town, and between the
miners and the cowboys things are
kept lively"
"They don't like the colonel becauS>
he objects to the rum holes they run, al
most ut his door, and when things are
mussed up, they generally ride past
and give us salute. It's only once or
twice that the shots have come
Through. AS q rule they fire into the
aiES
Some one called Bradley to make his
shot and the matter was not again
taizRn up until late that evening, when
BrDdley and his host sat chatting in
thesmoking room, and the guests good
naturedly told the story of his fright.
I'D give half a million TO have that
collection of dives moved away" said
Colonel Shaw bitterly 81 suppose when
the railroad comes It viii be still
worse"
''The 1. c. L. cutoff? ?' asked Bradley.
Are they coming through hereT
Right past the town." assented the
colonel. II think | shall have to give
up the idea of living here had hoped
10 buy up all the land and have the
finest place around here in my old
age"
How much are you really willing to
spendT' demanded Bradley. Il mean
business"
"And l meant the half million. | of.
fered old Pete 100000 for the quarter
before the town grew up, when he Just
had little saloon down In one corner"
Bradley gravely put out a hand so
white and slender that men seldom an.
dcipated the strength OF his grip. ~I'll
do 1t and make profit In the end" he
announced.
Colonel Shaw shook hands graveiy
enough. but he smiled beneath his
heavy mustache, A six footer himself,
he had all the big mans contempt for
the little fellow. 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 or course, he
was impossible as a suitur for Nancy's
hand, though personally he WAS a good
sort of chap.
The following morning Bradley
strolled down to the Palace for drink,
and in ten minutes he had picked up
an acquaintance with the proprietor
That evening at the dinner table his
announcement that he found Pete
Buckley rather q companionable sort
of chap created an even greater sensa.
ton than had his performance of the
night before
HE didn't throw you outT' cried
Colonel Shaw in anazement
Not a bit of It," said Bradley com.
fortably, blissfuIly ignorant of the fact
that the colonel himself had been sub
Jected to that lndignity, as well as all
and sundry of his previous guests who
aad strayed into the Palace. I'VE had
couple or bottles OF champagne and
quito q long chat"
All Of the guests were regarding
Sradley curiosfy, but that did not af-
rect Bradley. lie was chatting with
Nancy. and he did not even hear 6he
colonels nuttered explanation:
''He was SO little they were ashamed
10 hurt him.
Bradley's visit was the first of sew
eral during the week, and when he
.arted back to town It was with bot.
de Of ''Buckiey's best- (which was
very bad fndaetD IN his travelling bag
and hearty sendnp fnrn Eha srag1t-
hxssS
Ed wte tsH1t agxen Tn a rox1Ae- Of
weess. aad ttD cNapnf4 ngsUied ouI1-