The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-19
'PERSHING SAVES VETERAN
FROM JUST PUNISHMENT.
Something Heroic In Driving Big
Cars-Not Fame Of the Mule
SINNERS.
BY WALLACE SMITH.

BY WAIILACE SMITH.
(staff Correspondent Of the Interna-
tional News service.)
Headquarters American Punitive
Expedition, Mexico. Aug. 19.-The
army motor-truck train is highly ef-
flcient unit Of the American army and
plays an important part in the life
of this expedition. And the truck
drivers. as picturesque a set of pirates
as ever scuttled can of gasoline,
bring a new type into the service that
Is not without merit.
There is something heroic about
driving the immense cars across the
forbidding trails that try to jerk the
wheels from the drivers hands ana
send the motors slithering to destruc-
ton in some deep and rocky arroyo.
But it is doubtful If the motors and
their drivers will ever achieve the
fame of the army mule and his master
the army mule-skinner. There is an
intelligence behind mulish mischief
that cannot be achieved by disor-
dered carburetor In the center or the
desert There Is an element IN the
contest of mulish stubbornness ana
mule-skinners language that is not
rlNaifeu Wutii II Iiotoi SSNSiN7 "S' -
In the deepest rut and refuses to
bulge.
This is the story of one of these
contests.
Gabriel. wise old mule that has
become veteran in the service took
advantage of her masters careless
ness at the picket line. He slipped
a loose halter. edged toward the end
of the line and a moment later was
galloping to freedom. A moment later,
too. the mule-skinner discovered Ga
briefs flight and singed the atmos-
phere with conversation that would
never pass the censor.
"Oh. you double dyed offspring of
perdition." he remarked when he
grew calmer, II sure will skin you
alive for this"
Then he picked up a young log,
about the size of a wagon tongue and
started in pursuit. Gabriel made "A
regular mules chase of 1t. He wait
ed until the mule-skinner was within
striking distance. Then with a gay
flip of his heels, he was off to a
point quarter OF mile distant. Here
he paused long enough to bray ironi-
cally.
May all the alfalfa you eat turn
to barhed wire in your copper-riveted
lnSlneS, SWOre the Dnule-SkHlHeT. as
he trudged through the alkali dust
in pursuit. BY this time the whole
camp was watching. Brother mule
skinners were offering sarcastic ad-
vice to Gabriel's master. Gabriel roll
ed lazily in the dust, waggled his ears,
hrayed some more and otherwise in
formed the world that he was having
splendid time
The chase lasted two hours. Even
Gabriel seemed to tire. AS for the
Imule-skinner. he was reduced TO an
exhausted human, spurred on only by
the desire to capture one slender-leg-
ged mule and splinter the club he still
carried between the two long ears.
| Gabriel loafed along toward Officers
Row, with the mule skinner dog -trot-
! ting in pursuit.
! In front of General Pershing's tent
waves the red flag with white star
that symbolizes the commander S
/ quarters Toward this flag Gabriel
ambled. There, with meek and in
nocent look In his eyes. Gabriel came
to a dead stop and waited.
| To the spot the mule-skinner crept.
taking a fresh hold with both hands
On his club. He waved It a couple of
times testingiy as he came.
Now, you sin-spotted brute" he
Missed. Now I'm going to beat your
hard head into n pulp"
And then General Pershing stepped
for a moment from his tent and sur
veyed the scene. The mule skinner
dropped his club He approached
Gabriel softly, He patted her neck
tenderly.
why do you act like this, Gabriel 80
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.