152 LIFE WITH THE TROTTERS. 



up my mind whether I thought it a good scheme to make 

 a race with Richball or not just then, and if I thought it 

 was he would accejit the challenge. I worked Johnston a 

 little way on Tuesday, and on Wednesday morning went 

 out and scored him down seven or eight times and sent him 

 a mile in 2:15, going both halves about alike. After twenty 

 minutes I scored him six or seven times more, and went the 

 journey in 2:13J, the last half in 1:03|. He finished strong 

 and good, and I told Mr. Woodmansee that was speed 

 enough to go against any horse in the world. He took my 

 advice, and made a race with Richball, to come off over the 

 Chicago track later on. 



From Cleveland we went to Buffalo, where the follow- 

 ing week we paced Johnston in a race that had been 

 arranged by Mr. C. J. Hamlin, and in which the win- 

 ner of the first heat went to the stable, and the win- 

 ner of each successive heat then retired, until three heats 

 had been trotted or jiaced. Then the horse having made 

 the fastest mile was entitled to first money, the others 

 taking their i)ositions in the summary according to the 

 speed they had shown. Johnston won the first heat and 

 the first money by going in 2:12. I could have driven him 

 faster, but carried my watch, and was satisfied that 2:12 

 would win the money. The following w^eek we went to 

 Rochester. All this time I had as rubbers for Johnston two 

 boys that was I dissatisfied with, and often wished that I 

 might secure Dave Colross, the boy that took care of Rarus 

 ■for me. 



The morning after we arrived at Rochester, who should 

 walk into the stable but Dave. I asked him what he 

 was doing, and he re]3lied that he was engaged in some 

 business in town. I finally asked him if he would come 

 and rub Johnston for me, saying that if he would I would 

 make it an object to him. I told him that I was very anx- 

 ious to have Johnston beat his record of 2:10, and thought 

 he could do so, everything being favorable. Dave finally 

 said that he had made up his mind to never rub another 



