PETE. 



II. A. IIOKTON. 



Pete was only an aged cow-pony, when I 

 became acquainted with him; but what a 

 good companion he was! He was brought 

 up to the mine for my use, from the ranch 

 down near Orchard, where he had been 

 raised and thoroughly instructed in his pro- 

 fession. He had a well developed vein of 

 humor, which would come to the surface 

 just at the time when it was not wanted. 

 He was also proud of his education, and 



The " ghost had walked " a few days be- 

 fore the friends arrived, and, knowing there 

 was a tender spot in the makeup of most 

 ladies for candy, I had sent down to the city 

 for a 5 pound box. The visitors had been 

 with us 2 days when one of the men 

 brought me word there was an express 

 parcel for me, at the office. I went out to 

 get Pete, and while cinching on the saddle 

 told him what I was going after; the hopes 



I PLAYED MULE ; HE WAS THE BOAT AND I TOWED HIM." 



without asking one's permission would dis- 

 play it. One day our friendship was 

 broken: and although Pete was thoroughly 

 repentant, after the occurrence, it was a 

 long while before we were back on the old 

 terms again. 



Some company came up to see us, among 

 whom was one of the brightest young 

 ladies I ever had the pleasure of meeting. 

 She could shoot and cast a fly, and as for 

 riding, it was a picture to see her come 

 across the flat, on her pony, her hair 

 •streaming out behind, quirt flying and the 

 pony going as only they do when the 

 " brush " is in sight and the " pack " in full 

 cry. 



I had, in connection with the bundle, and 

 for gracious sake not to make an exhibi- 

 tion of me. But fate was against me. As 

 I pulled up in front of the house to take 

 some letters with me, to mail, I noticed 

 some cattle on the side of the mountain. 

 As soon as old Pete heard the cow-bell 

 tinkle which w r as on one of the critters he 

 proceeded to " cut " her out. The drama 

 was well staged and the audience was vocif- 

 erous in its applause. Pete was the hero, 

 the bell-cow the villain, I the unwilling 

 comedian, the cattle the populace. 



I didn't want the cow, but as Pete was so 

 determined about it he had his own way. 

 I tried to convince him he had come on be- 



