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Show 38 TALES OF THE COLORADO PIONEERS. handsomer than General Tom Thumb in the uniform of the order; that he could pay his dues and attend the meeting only when he chose. Which Wolfe thought was letting him off lightly, for he was not the man to shirk the payment of dues or fines, still he felt a little nervous about climbing the slippery pole and riding the goat. However, he reflected: "' I can but perish if I go, I am resolved to try, For if I stay away I know-' " The persistency of these fellows will make life a burden to me. " So, with an exultant member on each side, he directed his steps to the lodge. They laughed and chatted gaily to keep his courage up for the initiation ceremonies. As they approached the stairway the goat, evidently thinking it his old enemy, the groceryman, went down the stairs with a plunge as if just expelled from a cannon, taking the center man on his back. Wolfe 'caught on,' so to speak, and waving his hand said: "' By Chaos! this is gallant sport, A league at every breath; Methinks if e'er I have to die, I'll ride this rate to death.' "The two guides grew pale and looked unutterable things at the fleeing quadruped AS he dashed up one street, down another, darting around corners and shooting through alleys. " Soon a crowd of small boys, that would have done honor to a circus parade, followed in the wake, but Wolfe kept strongly in the lead. When they reached a corner occupied by a large drug store, the goat, dazed by |