Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-01-15
A Stony Deal


HM% HE chinless lout with the cog
gle eyes and the flop trimmed
m straw hat at last recovered
from his astonishment enough
to yell, "Whoar Inasmuch as the
spotted gray mule upon which he was
seated had been standing stock still
for a solid two minutes, it naturally
resented this insulting order and turn
ed squarely around, whereupon its rid.
er promptly dlsmounted and kicked 1t
In the ribs. Both the man and the AMI
NAL seemed much refreshed by this
operation and restored to normality,
for the mule contentedly cropped a
bunch Of sweet wayslde grass, and the
mnn sidled up beside the tan gentle
man who was eating a leg Of chicken
and gazing interestedly down at a pair
OF stout legs which protruded from be-
meath motorcar so large and so
elaborately furnished us to be better
termed motor house.
Broke DOWN." asked the mule rider
after listening nppreciatlyely to the
vigorous mechanical and vocal sounds
from beneath the car
mo" replied the tall gentleman,
thoughtfully wiping his jet black mus
tache; I'VE merely paused by the way
side to crochet few pink buttonholes
in yon crimson sunset What Is the
name OF your mule, please, and is he
family pet?"
Hes not.' the man stated, and he
gaped, for from inside the car two
handsome young ladies' and a hand
some elderly lady had appeared, and
they all glggled. The mule driver fin
ished his speech mechanically, Hes
ies' a mule"
".Ies' a mule, eh? Simple name.
handy, sensible and easily remember
ed. Do you mind II | look mule
squarely In the eye and see II he'll do?
Blackie Daw was engaged In this
test when there was an extra strong
clank Of metal from beneath the car,
swapping sound and an extra strong
eSplctlve, and then the owner of the
legs slowly and painfully wriggled into
view, He was man big of glrth and
broad of chest and wide Of shoulders,
and his round pink face, usually Jovlal,
was just now dripping with perspira.
ton and grlmed with oil,
Broke" he said, embelllshlng that
blt of information with polite thorns
of speech, and the ladies laughed.
"Never mind, j. Rufus" soothed the
tall gentleman. "Wc'll not spend the
night III the cold, cold world for I've
secured you new motor" And he
waved his hand toward the grazing
beast Of burden.
j. Rufus Wallingford looked at the
anlmnl and then at the Cur In huge
discomfort. ut might be a wise move
to trade the car for the mule" lie sug.
gesicd scornfully.
at hnin't my mule, though" hastily
protested the google eyed one, whose
countcnance was further embelllshed
with protrudlng teeth.
"Why didn't you tell us that IN the
first placer demanded the thin gentle.
man.
~ never said owned the mule"
protested the other, aggrleyed, "I'd "a
tole you right away IL you'd "a asked
me that it's Jone Squlbble's mule. He
owns nigh everything aroun' SQuibble
Vile yonder-thls mule and these fel's
Ru' the grls'mlll an the grain elevator
you see stlckln' up above the town"
"Squlbble's mule" The blue eyed
young lady seemed suddenly interest
ed In that fact "SQulbble's mule,
Fanny"
The brown eyed young lady had
been leadng through small note.
hook She turned the page now and
revealed list OF names, Ten had
been scratched out. The eleventh
name was "Jonas Squibble," and op.
poslte the name was set the sum OF
$4,000.
The mule driver said he was Henry
Hant and although he protested some,
l3lackie Daw impressed the mule into
service, ana the party started back
for town.
Jonas Squlbble sat upon the steps OF
"the store" and viewed the approach.
iug procession with mild curiosity,
Tond Jcssup, however, an urchln
so thick with freclsles that he looked
like a shrimp omclet, came running
from far up the road with deadly
blow to Mr.. squIbblc's tranquility.
"Heyw he gaspcd, tugglng at his one
glnehnm suspcnder strap to draw his
breath together "They're a.usln' your
muller
II was In front OF the Auditorium
hotel that WellIngford FIRST emerged
from HE car, clean shavcn, brushed,