The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1907-08-31

for dinner, l will try ITO show my
gratitude with some tortillas and
frijoles of my own cooking"
THE debt Of gratitude is on my
side, and not yours" Theophilus an
swered. II am in search Of work as
cowboy, and l can not but hope
that your acquaintance is an auspic-
iOuS omen.
Cowboys don't talk like that,
she said, a little sharply, cycling him
in surprise. You're not fitted for
range man, anyway. Cattlemen don't
ride mules. Papa says there is only
one animal more ridiculous, stupid
and idiotic than mule, and that is
the man who rides one
But your father doesn't know
Bucyrus.
Nor his owner" she rejoined,
laughing.
They stopped in front of long,
low, adobe ranch house, with deep
set windows and doors.
The young lady stepped lightly
to the ground. II will call papa"
she said.
A few minutes later a tall man,
heavy set, with face like the full
moon in harvest time, his scanty
locks somewhat grizzled with the
first snowfall of the winter of life,
came swinging down the walk with
great strides.
How air ye!" 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 Theophilus tried to look
pleased.
Jack" shouted Colonel Snortally.
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'n be ready by'n by.
Wizard that beast come FROM" he
added, pointing at Bucyrus.
Hes my mule" answered Theoph-
illus.
You don't say so! S'posed you
know'd better'n that. Mules hain't
no place on this ranch. Can't We find
a greaser to give him to-"
"Bucyrus is no common mule, I"
said his owner, calmly; The knows
more than any horse you ever saw.
And he can run, too"
This last remark amused the col
onel so nightly that he sat down on
the porch and laughed heartily. A
mule that could run! 81 never yet
clapped eyes on a mule that could
ketch yearlin' calf in fair race.
Must be slow kentry you crowd
up in, young man." The colonel
wiped his eyes and chuckled.
We'll, if stay said the defender
Of mules determinedly, I'll show you
one mule that can rum"
Stay! OF course yen stay if We
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 pervide the
necessary accessories"
Theophilus stayed. He was handy
with the lariat, rode a horse like a
native and mule a great deal bet
ter. He evidently understood all the
marks and deeps of the bovine char
acter, and very shortly won that for
himself which he could not for his
mule-the colonels respect. When
Bucyrus would head off a skillful
stampeder, Colonel Snortally would
grumble something about fools rush
in in," and when he would dodge a
belligerent steer he would growl
something about a fool for luck. ="
On the subject of mules the colonel
and Theophilus continued to dis
agree. They argued the question
morning, noon and night. The COL
Onel pointed out the bad qualities of
the mule; Theophilus grew eloquent
over the animals virtues. Glory
smiled, but took no part in the dis
cussion which resulted in the famous
race at Crag's COrner-a race that is
still memorable throughout all of the
Poncho Basin country.
The colonel brought out a lcng-
legged mustang that he had pur-
chased across the border the year
before. This mustang W a sad de-
ceiver, and had lightened The pocket
of many cowboy who had backed
home animal against the imported
stock. A lightweight Mexican rode
him. A few minutes later Bucyrus
ambled forth. wearing that surprised
look of a mule when he is but half
awakened from a sweet dream of
peace, with plenty of. barley hay in
it. Judge Arkansaw West of1iciated
as starter and judge. All the inhab-