66 LIFE WITH THE TKOTTKKS. 



train uiid drive, to Mr. .lames 1). McMaiiii, a man whom I 

 liad seen diive laces in the days when I nsedto play liookey 

 from school and hide my books nnder a lumber pile. He 

 took the horse to Philadelphia, and trotted him in the spring- 

 races against his old opponent, Kansas Chief, then in the 

 liands of Mr. Dave Muckle. Kansas beat iiim three races 

 in succession, Rarus seeming to have none of his old-time 

 speed or dash. About this time Mr. McMann, feeling that 

 lie Avas too old to leave home to camiDaign the horse, sug- 

 gested that he would turn the horse over to me. I had given 

 Mr. Wallace a contract for my services foi- the year, and 

 could not take the horse without his consent. !So strongly 

 Avas I impressed with the greatness of Rarus that I was will- 

 ing to giAe u}) a. good contract, with a certainty, for the 

 chance of getting him to train and dri\e. I Avent and stated 

 the case to Mr. Wallace, and he advised nie, for uiy own 

 good, not to give up the contract and take Rarus, but said 

 that if 1 insisted he Avould consent to the arrangement, 

 Avhich he did. By this time Mr. McMann had bi ought 

 Rarus to a half-mile track on Long Island, owned by the Bar- 

 clay Brothers. About the 1st of July I AA^ent one morning, 

 Avitli Mr. Conklin and McMann, to this place, and, for the first 

 time in my life, sat behind Rarus. Mr. McMann advised me 

 to give him a mile in about 2:40, and. tAventy minutes later, to 

 drive him another mile in about 2:30, and, if I liked him, to 

 let him step along the last quarter, Avhich I did. I Avas 

 much pleased AAdth him. and, Avhile Mr. McMann told 

 me he thought him a great hoise, I AA^as full sure that he 

 was greater than even he thought. Mr. Conklin made 

 me the proposition that I take the horse and enter him, and 

 pay his expenses, and have half what he won. I Avas per- 

 fectly AAillingto accept the contract, but the next thing was, 

 Avhere could I get the money to pay the expenses I I 

 bethought myself of Mr. Simmons, knowing that if I found 

 him I would have no trouble to get Avliat money I needed; but 

 on my return to New York, Mr. Simmons was out of town, 

 and no one seemed to know Avhere he was. The entries through. 



