Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-09-18


get her toOl'
Cheered by his own happy spirit of
optimism Captain futile tossed down
a small mountain OF hay to the unap-
peasable Annie and pumped mp bucket
after bucket Of water to quench her
remarkable thirst. The fact that she
playfully squirted u few quarts Of the
cold liquid down his neck did not In
e his affection for her. In return
he punched her In her soft ribs and
Annie tapped a frayed gray eur at
him.
BY the time the pony had been fed
and soothed to quietness and the
chickens had gone to bed for the night,
the captain locked the barn door and
YEARLY trudged into his cosy house to
prepare his evening meal.
Sitting there over his platter Of fried
ham and eggs there came a happy
thought.
'%Thunderationr' be exclaimed glee-
fully. III 1 do that not a soul in Lit
tie River will ever know what became
OF the %critter, and | shan't tell. Get
ting or before daylight is just the
thing. Let me see, the paper said the
circus was 20 play in Sandville Friday
and Saturday, and tomorrow's Friday.
better turn in now. I've got a-plenty
to dor
At 2 o'clock the next morning Cap
tnin Perley Tuttle locked the door Of
his bachelor abode and went to his sta
BILE. BY the light of a lantern the
drowsy elephant was coaxed out into
the barnyard. where she submitted to
having a blanket tossed across her
broad back. On top of this Captain
futile dashed a spare wagon seat from
the blackboard and tied It with many
an intricate sailor knot. Two ropes
were slipped over Annie's short tusks,
securely knotted, and then Captain
futile was ready for business.
To mount upon Annie's high back
wns another problem. but the captain
solved 1t in his W ingenious way.
Annie stood patiently before the barn
door.
Captain futile closed the doors. went
upstairs and opened the doors to the
hnyloft, extinguished his lantern.
caught hold of the rope and pulley
hanging at the end Of the hosting
beam. slid down the rope and landed
squarely on the seat above Annie's
q%uivering body.
The beast moved uneasily under his
weight but when he picked up the
guiding ropes and sawed at them.
while he prodded her with a broom
handle, Annie swung slowly about
and moved majestically through the
darkness toward the open gate.
"She steers as easy as the old Paler.
mo-" muttered the delighted captain
as Annie padded heavily down the
road toward the stretch of woods that
lay between Little River and Sand
Vile. "Pn be out OF deep water long
before these here landlubbers are
awake, and l guess none Of EN- will be
lafin' at Captain Perley futile be-
cause he had to take the elephant back
all OF account Of Heppy Tewks' ron
trapted notions about menngeries. The
elephant will be gone. and there won't
be a soul know how or when. Gee up.
there. Anniel Port your helm! HO-
up"'
Annie logged slowly along the dark
road, while the captaln kept a wealth
er eye on the light streak In the east,
where the dawn was coming in swift
pursuit OF night.
Captain futile chuckled when be up
preached the little cottage where Hep
py Tewks lived. 1t was light enough
to distinguish objects. and he was
amazed and somewhat disconnected
when he discovered the dumpy little
form OF Heppy stepping around the
dew drenched garden.
She uttered a shrtll squeaI Of fright
when she saw the great gray bulk
with the captain sitting atop come
close to the palings OF hOr fence.
She was wearing a crisp calico wrap
per, and her hair was curled close to
her head with the dampness OF the
morning. She was quite pretty and
had a lively manner.
"WhateverT" she shrieked as she
rushed to the fence. "Perley futile,
you'll be killed sure as fate! Are you
crazy, to go riding of on that dreadful
creatureT'
The captain lighted his pipe and
pulled slowly at II. while Annie MUNICH
cd the fresh green buds from Heppy's
Rose OF Sharon trees along the fence.
"Just going for a little morning ride,
Heppy," said the captain soothingly.
Now. don't get excited. and It amt
necessary to spread the news from Old
Mans mountain down to the grist
MILL" he added warnlngly. I'm go
ing to buy that wedding ring today.
Heppy," he added b~ashfuily.
Heppy laughed Historically. "Wed-
ing ring! There won't be any wedding
at all, Perley futile. II you don't get
rid OF that there beastr' She pointed
a quiverng finger at Annie and turned
away.
"Hee-upT' shouted the captain, try
ing to pull Annie away from the Rose
OF Sharon budA
That command must have possessed