The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-04-09
FROM MINIMUM TO MAXIMUM
BY WILLIAM F. BRYAN.

 of small arms. Little Bradley. who had arrived at the Shaw ranch that evening on his first visit West, prompt ly dropped under a billiard table. The others, to whom 1t was an old story. glanced out of the window and went on with their game.
 Looks like a part of the B out- f1t,'' remarked Callendar carelessly, as he chalked his cue. Come out, Brad. punching souls on their evening out. Going down to the Palace, I imagine"
 Bradley, red both from exertion and chagrin, emerged from beneath the ta- ble and picked up his cue. T thought that people out here had quit those fool tricks" he explained. his teeth 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 roadY'
 Just that You see,' explained Call lendar, when Colonel Shaw bought his ranch, there was one quarter section he could not get hold of; owned by stubborn bruae of a fellow who would not let go. That was the foundation of the town of Minimum
 Funny name" commented Bradley.
 That's why they took it. The orig inal 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, because he objects to the hell-holes they run. almost at his door. and when things are mussed up they generally rlde past and give us a salute. It's only once or twice that the shots have come through. As rule they fire into the air."
 Some one called Bradley to make his shot. and the matter was not again taken up until late that evening. when Bradley and his host sat chatting in the smoking room, and the guea good naturedly told the story of his fright.
 "rd give half a million to have that collection of dives moved away. said Colonel Shaw bitterly. T suppose when the railroad comes 1t will be still worse."
 "The l.. c. L.. cutoff?" asked Brad ley. Are they coming through here"
 Right past the town" assented the colonel. q think I shall have to give up the idea of living here. I had hoped to buy up all the land and have the finest place around here in my old age"
 How much are you really willing to spend?' demanded Bradley. T mean business.
 And mean the half-million. I off, fered old Pete s300.000 for the quarter before the town grew up, when he just had a little saloon down in one cor ner."
 Bradley gravely put out hand so white and slender that men seldom an- tjcipated the strength of his grip I'll do it and make a profit in the end" he announced.
 Colonel Shaw shook hands gravely enough, but he smiled beneath his heavy moustache. A six-footer him self, he had all the big mans contempt for the little fellow: How could Brad lev. with his five foot seven. conquer where his six foot two had failed?
 But he rather liked Bradley In spite of his handicap of size. Of course. he was impossible as a suitor for Nancys hand, though personally he was good sort of chap ,
 The following morning Bradley stroll ed down to the Palace for drink. and in ten minutes he had picked up an acouaintance with the proprietor. That evening at the dinner table his announcement that he found Pete Buckley rather a companionable sort of a chap created an even greater sem sation than had his performance Of the night before.
 He didn't throw you out?" cried Col onel Shaw in amazement.
 "Not a bit of it." said Bradley com fortaly. blissfully ignorant of the fact that the colonel himself had been sub iected to that indignity, as well as all and sundry of his previous guests who had strayed into the Palace. We had a couple of bottles of champagne and quite a long chat.
 All of the guests were regarding Bradley curoiusly, but that did not af- feet Bradley. He was chatting with Nancy. and he did not even hear the Coloners muttered explanations:
 He was so little they were ashamed to hurt him"
 Rradley's visit was the first of sev- eral during the week, and when he started back to town 1t was with bot tie of "Buckleys Best (which was very bad fndeed) in his travelling bag. and a hearty send-off from the reg ulars." He was back again in couple of weeks. and the colonel regarded curl ously the smile of contentment that played about his lips when Minimum was mentioned. 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 further to the south. The statement was received with in- credulity until Bradley pointed out the advantages to be gained, and the col onel sighed contentedly. Not only would the line leave his property un- touched, but Minimum would not be a railroad town.
 Down at Minimum the news was re- ceived with less placidity Buckley promptly decided that 1t was the colo nels work. and was for immediate ex- 1 termination of his neighbor. only Bradley's arguments induced him to abandon the plan, and when his ex- | citement had cooled somewhat he and Bradley went into executive session.
 That evening as Bradley strolled In to dinner the smile breadened and he looked pityingly at young Callendar' who was generally supposed to be the colonel's choice for a son law.
 It was when the others had gone of to play billiards that he dropped into | the library where the colonel sat writ | ing.
 | 'It's going to cost you about thirty thousand and two half sections of good land he announced Will that be all right?" ! colonel.
 Bradley indicated them on the map
 'Il deed them to you tomorrow. agreed the colonel. How did you dc l it?"
 "sympathized with Buckley" ex- plained Bradley. T" Told him it was 8 shame that the line of the road wa' transferred south without explaining l that 1t took me a week to argue my uncle into changing the route. Uncle | Iin,'s nresident of the road, you know.