a horse, a hiway patrol man and ralston.

my friend tom Gilmore called this morning to tell me this story about our mutual friend Ralston allen.  Ralston was a pima indian who was the brand inspector for the gila river indian reservation and the surrounding areas.  he had become a legand around the area for his dry, sardonic sense of humor.  brand inspectors are on call 24 hours a day when on duty , so it wasn't a out of the ordinary thing for Ralston to get a phone call late one nite from a hiway patrolman who was at a accident scene where a horse had been hit  by a speeding driver. when Ralston arrived he immediately decided the horse had a broken leg and needed to be put down.   after telling the hiway patrolman his intention the patrolman asked how you went about shooting the animal. Ralston explained that you drew a imaginary line from each ear to the opposite eye making a x in the middle of the forhead. you then shoot the animal where the x crosses. having never done this the patrolman ask to be the one to shoot the animal.  Ralston agreed and stepped aside. the patrol man drew his service weapon stepped up to the horses head , took aim and fired. the animal rocked back then lunged forward placing a hoof on each side of the patrolmans head!  when he staggered to his feet he was spattered in blood and the brim of his straw smokey bear hat was around his neck!!  Ralston was giggling as he turned to walk away, I forgot to tell you not to stand to close!!