El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-08-22
SAVES
STUBBORN MULE
His Appearance Just in
Time Prevents Skinner"
Venting Rage.
BY WALLACE SMITH.
staff Correspondent of the interhH-
tionaI News service

5 HEADQUARTERS. American Punitive EX-
redition. Mexico. Aug. 22--The army
motor truck train is a highly efficient
/ Unit Of the American army and plays
, An important part in the life Of this eN-
petition. And the truck drivers. as pic
turesque a set Of pirates" as ever seut-
tied can of gasoline. bring new type
into the service that is not without
merit
There is something heroic about
driving the immense cars across
the forbiddins trails that try to jerk
the wheels from the drivers hands and
. send the motors slitherins 10 destruc-
ton in some deep and rocky arroyo
But il is doubtful il the motors and
their drivers will ever achieve the fame
OF the army mule and his master. the
army mule skinner There is an intelh-
ceuce behind mUlish mischief that can
not he achieved by a disordered car
buretor in the center Of the desert
There is an element in the contest of
1-ulish stubbornness and mule skin
rers' language that is not rivaled when
a motor settles down IN the deepest rut
and refuses 10 bulge
The story of n Mulish Mule
This is the story of one of these con-
tests.
Gabriel wise old mule that has be-
come "A veteran in the service, took ad-
the picket line He slipped a loose
faiter. edged toward the end OF the
line and "a moment later was SallopinS
TO freedom \ moment later, TOO, the
mule skinner discovered Carriers flight
and and sinsed the atmosphere with
conversation that would never pass the
censor.
~Oh. you double-eyed offspring OF
perditiOn.' he remarked when he grew
celmer. I sure Will skin you alive for
this"
The Mule skinner Follows.
Then he picked up a young log, about
the size of wagon tongue, and started
in pursuit Gabriel made regular
mules chase Of il. He waited until the
mule skinner was within striking dis
tarce. Then. with gay flip Of his
heels. he was off to point quarter
OF a mile distant Here he paused long
Ions enough to bray ironically.
May all the alfalfa you eat turn .
ba rbed wire in your copper riveted IN
SIDES swOre the mule skinner. as ne
truged through the alkah dust in pu--
suit By this time the whole camp was
watching. Brother mule SINNERS were
offering sarcastic advice 10 Gabriers
master. Gabriel rolled lazily in the
dust. waggled his ears. brayed some
more and otherwise informed the worl1
that he was having a splendid time.
Chased For Two Hours.
The chase lasted two hours Even
Gabriel seemed 10 tire. As for the
hausted human, spurred on only by the
desire TO capture one slender legged
mule and splinter the club he still car
RED between the two long ears. Gabriel
loafed along toward Officers row, with
the mule skinner dog trotting in pur-
suit
In front OF Gen. Pershing's tent
waves the red flag with a white star
that symbolizes the commanders quar-
ters- Toward this flag Gabriel ambled.
There, with a meek and innocent look
in his eyes, Gabriel came to a dead
stop and waited
Gabriel In Saved.
To the spot the mule skinner crept,
taking a fresh hold with both hands on
his club. he waved il a couple Of times
testinEly as he came
Now. you sin spotted brute" ne
Kissed. Now I'm going 10 beat your
lard head into a pulp
And then Gen. PershinE stepped for
a moment from his tent and surveyed
the scene. The mule skinner dropped
his club. He approached Gabriel soft
ly- He patted her neck tenderly.
Why do you act like this, Gabriel3'
he asked Why can't you be like the
other nice mules
Then he led Gabriel away Gabriel.
the veteran, smiled a wise. mulish
smile