Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-07-10
50

/ am very sorry, he SAID pOl1lely,
ito stop you so rudely merely to ask
you question: but will you kindly
pardon me and inform me where Colo
mel SnOrtally lives?'
The young lady's lip quivered, and,
instead of replying, she burst into
tears. Then, recovering from her en-
barrassment and fright, she drew a
deep breath and smiled family, and, as
the color came back to her cheeks she
answered:
Il am the coloneIs daughter, and
will gladly show you the way home"
Theophilus spoke few words to the
still restless horse, handed the reins up
to the young lady, and led Bucyrus to
the rear of the blackboard, to which he
tied him.
Il suppose" said the colonel's daugh-
ter, as they started up the road, "that
[ should thank you for saving my life
and my fathers best blackboard. Really,
l thank you very much. If you will
stop at the house for dinner, 1 will try
to show my gratitude with some tortil-
las and frijoles of my own cooking"
1.-The debt of gratitude is on my side,
and not yours" Theophilus answered.
Il am In search Of work as a cowboy,
and can but hope that your acquaint-
ance is an suspicious omen"
Cowboys don't talk like that" she
said, little sharply, eying him in sur
prise. You're not fitted for range
man, anyway. CattIenen don't ride
mules. Papa says there is only one
animal more ridiculous, stupid and idi-
otto than mule, and that is the man
who rides one"
"But your father doesn't know Blu
cyrus"
Nor his owner" she rejoined, laugh
ing
They stopped in front of a long, low,
adobe ranch-house, with deep-set win
dows and doors. Ivy circled the win
dows and climbed to the caves. A few
frs, some tall blue gums, and a dozen
palms stood in the front yard. Tha
house was set far back, and the veran-
da that surrounded it was half hidden
in the green Of orange trees. A stream
from the mountains ran through the
orchard in the rear, its course marked
by line Of cottonwoods and willows,
that broke the monotony Of the other
wise treeless mesa. On the other side
of the creek, and at some distance
from the house, were the corrals and
stables Of the ranch.
The young lady stepped lightly to
the ground. 81 will call papa" she
said.
A. few minutes later a tall man,
heavy set, with a face like the full
moon in harvest time, his scanty locks
somewhat grizzled with the first snow
fall Of the winter Of life, came swing
ing down the walk with great strides
How air vel" he shouted before
reaching the gate. "Glory tells me We
ketched that son Of Satan thar Jest in
time. I'm mighty glad to meet ye"
He seized Theophilus' hand and Theo-
philus tried to look pleased.
"Jack!" shouted Colonel SnortalIy.
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'll be ready by'n by. Wizard
that beast come from?" he added,
pointing at Bucyrus.
Hes my mule" answered Theoph-
illus.
"YCu don't say so! S'posed you
know'd better n that. Mules hain't no
place on this ranch. Can't We find g.
greaser to give him TOT"
"Bucyrus Is no common mule said
his owner, calmly; "he knows more
than any horse you ever saw. And he
can run, too
This last remark amused the colonel
so nightly that he sat down on the
porch and laughed heartily. A mule
that could run! II never yet clapped
eyes on a mule that could ketch year
lin calf in fair race. Must be a slow
kentry you crowd up in, young man."
The colonel wiped his eyes and
chuckled.
well, If I stay" said the defender
Of mules, determinedly, "I'll show you
one mule that can run"
STAY OF course yell stay II ys
wanter," said Colonel Snortally, cor
daily. "Ye kin hev your pick of Jobs,
an eff you must make a holy show Of
that mule, we'll peryide the necessary
accessories"
Theophtlus stayed. lie was handy
with the lartat, rode horse like a ma
tive and a mule a great deal better.
He evidently understood all the marks
and deeps Of the bovine character, and
very shortly won that for himself
which he could not for hia vnule-the