296 The Leather Plater. 



Of course I never hinted that I was on the same errand as he 

 was, and as soon as ever I had bolted my dinner I rose, and, bid- 

 ding him good-by, saying that I had a tired horse and a longish 

 way to ride home, I walked into the yard, jumped on to my horse, 

 and rode straight up to Shark's Lodge. 



Old Radford was leaning over the garden-gate as I rode up, 

 looking about as vicious as ever I saw a man in my life. I knew 

 my customer, so determined to be as rough with him as I was sure 

 he would be with me. 



As I pulled up at the gate his first shot was not encouraging. 



"Now, what do youre want?" (in broad Yorkshire.) 



" I want to see old Jack Radford," I roared out at the top of 

 my voice. I have invariably found that nothing discomposes these 

 sort of customers so much as shouting at them. 



" And what do you want with ' old Jack Radford ?' as you call 

 him." 



"I want to see him," I again shouted. 



" Well, you can see him now, for I'm old Jack Radford 5 but I 

 aint deaf." 



" Oh, you're old Jack Radford, are you ? I should not have 

 thought it. Well, I want to buy your bay colt 5" and I jumped 

 off my horse, and proceeded to tie him up by the bridle to the 

 garden-gate. 



Had I treated the old man with deference and civility I should 

 probably never have seen the colt j but he now seemed to regard 

 me as one of his own kidney, and opened the garden-gate with 

 " What are you doing now do you think we aint got no stabling 

 here ?" I thereupon led the horse through, and followed the old 

 fellow to the stables, which were at the bottom of the garden, 

 and were the only part of the premises that seemed to be in toler- 

 able repair. 



As soon as I had tied my horse up, the old man threw open the 

 door of the loose-box, and our bargain was closed in less than three 

 minutes, after this fashion 



" Now, there's the colt." 



