When the Marquis Came Into His Own 



make it more difficult, merely as a matter of form. 

 Then old Ephram as usual dipped his brush in a 

 bucket of water and gave a last touch to the mane, 

 and Fullerton, his foot in the stirrup, mounted, 

 touched the Playmate ever so lightly with his 

 spurred heel, and rode him into the yard. 



It was the same thing over again, Fullerton 

 riding out on the Playmate, and the latter pretend- 

 ing to buck, with absurd pretensions to youth. 

 But this time something unusual had happened, 

 for the Playmate had gone dead lame. Fullerton 

 pulled him up abruptly the moment he felt him 

 wince and called for Ephram to come out. Then 

 he quickly dismounted, lifted up the Playmate's 

 off forefoot, and drew a nail from the frog. 



* 'Bring out the Ranger," he said. 'T mean't 

 to save him today," but Ephram shook his head. 



"The Ranger, sah, am in town, habin' new 

 shoes put on," and it seemed then if ever, that the 

 Marquis's hour had come. 



Fullerton did not think of the Marquis at once, 

 and only swore softly to himself but somehow he 

 happened to catch his eye, which made him start 

 and ponder, then cross over and take down a bar. 

 In another minute he had slipped the Playmate's 

 bridle, the one with the white brow band, over 

 the Marquis's ears, and buckled the saddle on. 

 Then he mounted and without hesitation turned 

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