CHAMP SOLD. 377 



of buying him back.' I could see that the price stag- 

 gered him, and there was nothing more said until the 

 horse was being unhitched. He then took me to one 

 side and said, 'Si, I'll give you the mare and $600 for 

 Champ if you will take a ninety-day note for $200 of 

 it.' Situated as I was I could not very well refuse, as 

 I knew the note would be good some day if he did not 

 take it up when due, so he led Champ away and sent 

 me the mare. He was in such a hurry to get posses- 

 sion of the horse that he never asked me a word about 

 him, and, to tell you the truth, I was not very anxious 

 to tell him. 



"About a month after the trade I turned out one 

 morning before daylight to get a train to Buffalo. 

 Before going down to the depot I ran into the stable 

 to see if everything was O. K., and as I passed 

 through the shed there stood Champ hitched to a 

 wagon. He had a halter on over the bridle, while 

 there was a foot or so of the shank still hanging to it. 

 There was not, so far as I could see, a scratch on 

 either the horse or wagon, but both showed that they 

 had been out in a storm. I had at the time a half idea 

 that Lem had tied Champ somewhere and that he had 

 broken loose. In order to be certain, I drove the 

 horse over to Riley's stable and there found that a 

 man was still up waiting for Lem to come in. He 

 told me that when he came on watch he was told that 

 Lem had Champ out and would not be in until late, 

 as he had driven out to a dance at the Four Mile 

 House. I left the horse and went to Buffalo. 



"On my return, Mrs. Pickle told me that Lem took 

 Mary to the dance, which did not break up until about 

 two in the morning. When they were ready to come 



