

LHE GOVERNOR S 
“No,” responded Lord, “never had the 
pleasure, but I’m anxious to meet him, for 
whenever I speak of horses around here 
some one remarks, ‘You should see the 
Bishop. What he can’t do with a cow 
horse ain’t worth doin’.’” 
“Well,” said Jake, “the Bishop is gen- 
erally here about this time of the week, 
and if he comes in Jil introduce him. But 
speaking of the Bishop reminds me of a 
trick I saw him do once with a cow pony. 
MWS ase summer Lie Bishop cane in 
one afternoon, and after fnishing his busi- 
ness and getting a drop of Banty’s best, 
he mounted his pony and started home. 
He had hardly started before the broncho 
doubled up like a jackknife, and tossed the 
Bishop over his head. He had caught the 
old man napping, and landed him right in 
front. of the —erowd. We all stood 
there grinning, but the Bishop just 
Dickede nip. Mis, shat looked ~ ati, -us 
a second, then jumped in the _ saddle, 
pulled his hat down over his eyes, and 
socked his spurs into the pony’s sides, so 
hard we could see the blood fly. Well. 
sir, the pony bucked at first, then started. 
and the Bishop headed him straight for 
the ridge yonder, called Hole-in-the- 
Rocks milhismstnick. me, asstranee. so th 
walked out across the gulch to see what 
he was going to do. When I got there 
I saw him coming, tearing down like the 
wind, and straight for Sweetwater lake. 
That broncho tried to shy the ridge, but 
the Bishop held him at it, and down they 
came—slap! bang! D—n me if the Bishop 
didn’t ride him square over the cliff into 
tiles lake, a clean drop of at least Go feet. 
The pony was bucking, when he went off 
the edge, but the Bishop sat in the saddle 
ast itiwas a rocking chair, except that his 
hat blew off. ‘That ends the Bishop,’ said 
I to myself when they went down. But 
just then they struck the water with a ter- 
rific splash. The next thing I saw was the 
horse swimming, the Bishop on his back, 
headed across the lake for the old man’s 
cabin. I couldn’t believe my eyes, but fin- 
ally went down and fished out the Bish- 
op’s hat. 
“Next week when he came to town I 
handed it to him, remarking that he was 
father anton jumper tor aman on lis 
years. He just looked at me, kind o’ bash- 
ful like, took the hat with a smile and 
walked off. He’s a quiet, backward chap, 
and I never could get anything out of him 
concerning his wonderful leap. 
“was the only, man -wlhowsawe ut. 
guess, but all Gypsum knows it, and they 
do say he has done the same fool trick 
several times since.” 
“Well,” drawled the man from Wall 
Street, with an affected yawn, I’ve heard 
this story about the bishop before, but 
you are the first man I’ve run across who 

WAGER. 167 
claims to have seen it. I’ve taken the 
trouble to go and look at the cliff, and the 
man doesn't live who can jump off it and 
survive, let alone doing it twice. Banty 
must have been dispensing a poor grade 
of whiskey about that time, and perhaps 
you hada few teo many.” 
The Wall Street 
man’s sneer nettled 
Larrow. 
“You doubt my word?” he asked an- 
grily. 
“The story is a little fishy, you'll have to 
confess,” was Lord’s reply. 
Kook here pardner,” Said Jake, push: 
ing his chair back and leaping to his feet. 
“T suppcse that’s the Eastern style of call- 
ing a mana liar, and no man calls me that 
unless he expects a fight; and Jake fin- 
cered his 6-shooter significantly. 
By this time a crowd had gathered, and 
were eagerly watching developments. The 
New Yorker had also risen, and looked 
a trie nervous, but he put on a bold front 
as he replied: 
“Put up your gun, Jake, I’m not armed, 
and it’s not worth a fuss between friends; 
but I can’t help thinking there’s a mis- 
take. I’d bet $1,000, yes, $5,000, that no 
such trick was ever done; but what’s the 
use? How could it be proved?” 
“By the Bishop himself,” said a man just 
coming in. 
Every one turned around to see who the 
rew comer was. 
aNMinys laine om Sarde mew » Comer, 
“whats the trouble here? you look as 
though you were ready for a fight.” 
* Glad to see you Mr. Barton,” said 
Larrow, as he cordially shook the latter’s 
hand. “Vm glad you happened in just now, 
for I might have had to pound this Wall 
Street man’s head for trying to make me 
cut a liar, when I told him about seeing 
the Bishop make his famous leap.” 
Pietirispemsist« satdetie New, Yorker. 
“that is one of the most improbable tales 
Pevjerulhicarades 
Jake was about to make an angry reply 
when Mr. Barton interrupted. 
“Come, come, boys. the thing can’t be 
settled in this: way.” We don’t want any 
quarreling over trifles. Banty, get a move 
on you. Call in all the boys and let each 
name his poison.” 
When the men were disposing of their 
Iidiomsbantye proceeded. to call im ihe 
drinkers, which meant practically the en- 
tire camp, and they all drank to the health 
of John Barton, the Sun Dog millionaire, 
owner of the Jimmie mine, and who was 
to be the next Governor of Colorado if 
friends and popularity were to count for 
anything. 
As the crowd surrounded a few glasses 
of Banty’s best and were pulling at the 
cigars generously furnished by the pro- 
prietor, the war cloud that had been rising 

