The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-10-01
THE RIGHT OF WAY
A Railroad AGENTS Stratagem.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ssasE
In surprise. You're not fitted for n
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.
| Ihey stopped in front of q long.
low, adobe ranch house, with deem
set windows and doors. Ivy circled
the windows and climbed to the
caves. few frs, some tall blue
gums and dozen palms stood in the
| front yard. The house was set far
pack, and the veranda that sur
rounded it was half-hidden in the
green OF orange trees. A stream
from the mountains ran through the
orchard In the rear, it's course marked
by n line of cottonwoods and will
lows. that broke the monotony of the
otherwise 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. Il will call papa. :"
she said
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 snowfall of the winter of life.
came swinging down the walk with
great strides.
How air YET" 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'll be ready by'n by.
Wizard that beast come from?" he
added, pointing at Bucyrus.
He's 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. 3"
said his owner, calmly; "he 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 vet
| clapped eyes on a mule that could
ketch yearlin calf in a 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'H show Won
one mule that can run"
Stay! OF course yell stay If We
wanter," said Colonel SnortalIy. cor
daily. "Ye kin hev your pick of
jobs, an eff you must make a holy
show of that mule, well pervide the
necessary accessories.
Theophilus stayed. He was handy
with the lariat, rode q horse like n
native and a 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 colonel's 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 tho animals virtues. Glory
smiled, but took no part I'm the dis
cussion which resulted I'm the famous
race at Crag's Corner-a race that IS
still memorable throughout all of the
Poncho Basin country.
The colonel brought out Icng-
! legged mustang that he had pur-
chased across the border the year
before. This mustang was a sad de-
ceiyer, and had lightened the pocket
OF many cowboy who had backed
a home animal against the imported
| stock A lightweight Mexican rodo
him. A few minutes later Bucyrus
ambled forth. wearing that surprised
look or a mule when he is but half
awakened from a sweet dream Of
| peace, with plenty Of barley hay i'm
/ It. Judge Arkansaw West onlciafed
as starter and Judge. All the lnhab-
itapts Of the Basin were ON hand To
see the race, ana even old man John
/ son stopped his strengthening and
| came from over tho range with all
/ hands to enjoy the holiday
At the start the mustang ran away
from Bucyrus, and at the quarter
! there was room enough for thresh-
| ing machine between them The
crowd laughed and cheered. and the
colonel Issued a general invitation
for free drinks for all present after
the race, for the colonel was very
fond Of his own opinion. For some
reason Glory did not smile. But when
the animals reached the half. there
was q change Bucyrus seemed TO
remember that he was neither asleep
l nor trF..Irfsrs g.. a.. A