THE HOESE's IiESCUK 298 



saw the horse was a prompt driver. He was quiet 

 lame in one forward foot-. The rig pulled up at a 

 post. There was only one man in it. He jumped out, 

 tied his horse, and went into the hotel. I looked his 

 horse over. He was a fine, beautiiul young horse, 

 His hair looked as though somebody had tried to take 

 good care of him; but he was a cripple on all of his 

 legs. One of his knees was badly tipped forward ; on 

 this leg was a badly contracted foot and high heel ; 

 the mate was a little better ; the hair was nearlv all 

 burned off his legs all around his feet. They looked 

 as though turpentine had been burnt on them. Tins 

 gentleman did not stay long in the hotel. He soon 

 was sailing again after this cripple. I did not intend 

 to stop long, so I thought it would be of no use to get 

 up any racket here on the horse. While this gentle- 

 man is sailing around I will give you a little descrip- 

 tion of him. He had on his head a very shiny stove- 

 pipe hat; white vest; pants the same, and white 

 gloves ; he is sailing around here again. He jumped 

 this time clear from his wagon on the top steps; he 

 has a cane under his arm about the size of a pipe- 

 stem, with a ribbon tied to it. Well, I suppose he 

 carries that because he wants to. He went in the hotel 

 again. When he comes out I am going to try and see 

 how close I can get to him talking horse, and not 

 shock him awav from me. This kind of men are 

 very sensitive. I find my long experience has taught 

 me that one of the most skilful things a man ever 

 tried to do is to approach some men and begin to talk 

 about the defects of their horse, and not shock them 

 away from you; and yet these horses are all, or nearly 



