The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-04-02
THE EVENING STORY
From Minimum to Maximum.

(By William +. Bryan.)
Out of the night came the sound
of galloping hoofs and the staccato
bark of small arms. Little Bradley.
who had arrived at the Shaw ranch
that evening on his first visit west,
promptly dropped under the billiard
table. The others, to whom it Was an
old story, glanced out of the window
and went on with their game.
Looks like a part of the B out
Mt, remarked Calendar carelessly as
he chalked his cue. Come on out,
Bradley. they're merely some joyous,
cowpunchfng souls on their evening
out Going down to the Palace. I
imagine
Bradley, red both from exertion and
chagrin, emerged from beneath the
table and picked up his cue. IT
thought that people out here had quit
those fool tricks" he explained, his
teeth still chattering.
''They have, except for special oc-
casions. But when they do turn loose
they generally give us salute in pass
ing
1.-The Palace is that drinking place
down the road ?"
Gust that. You see," explained CAL
lendar, when Col. Shaw bought his
ranch. there was one quarter section
he could not get hold of; owned by a
stubborn brute of fellow who would
not let go. That was the foundation Of
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
or -
past and give us a salute. It's only
once or twice that the shots have come
through. AS a 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 guest good
naturally told the story of his fright.
I'D give half million to have that
Col. Shaw bitterly. 1T suppose when
the railroad comes it will be still
worse
THE L. C. L. cutoff?" asked Bradley.
Are they coming through here?"
Right past the town." assented the
colonel Il think 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
L
business
And I meant the half-million 1 Of
fered old Pete 100000 for the quarter
before 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. III
do it and make a profit in the end" he
announced.
Col. Shaw shook hands gravely
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 fives foot seven, conquer where
his six foot two had failed? e
But he rather liked Bradley in
he was impossible as a sutton for
Nancys hand, though personally he
was a good sort of chap.
The following morning Bradley stroll
ed down to the Palace for a drink, and
in ten minutes he had picked up an ac-
quaintance with the proprietor. That
evening at the dinner table his an
nouncement that he found Pete Buck
ley rather a companionable sort of chap
created an even greater sensation than
had his performance of the night be-
fore
He didn't throw you out?" cried Col.
Shaw in amazement.
Not a bit of it, said Bradley COM
forta bly,, b1issfully ignorant of the fact
that the colonel himself had been sub
tected to that indignity. as well as all
and sundry of his previous guests who
had strayed into the palace. I'VE had a
couple of bottles of champagne and
quite a long chat"
All of the guests were regarding Brad
ley curiously, but that did not affect
Bradley. He was chatting with Nancy,
and he did not even hear the colonel's
muttered explanation:
HE was so little they were ashamed
to hurt him"
Brad1ey's visit was the first of sew
eral during the week, and when he
started back to town it was with a
bottle of "Buckley's Best" (Which was
very bad indeed in his travelling bag,
and a hearty send-off from the "regu-
lars"
weeks, and the colonel regarded GU
riously 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
creduality until Bradley pointed out
the advantages to be gained, and the
would the line leave his property I'M
touched, but Minimum would not be
a railroad town.
Down at Minimum the news was re-
with less placidity. Buckley
promptly decided that it was the col
onePs work, and was for immediate
Of his neighbor. Only
Rradley's arguments induced him to
a bandon the plan, and when his ex-
element had coolfd somewhat he and
Bradley went into executive session.
That evening as Bradley strol1ed in
to dinner the smile had broadened and
he looked pityingly at young Callen-
dar who was generally supposed to
be the colonel's choice for a son-in-
Ia