AND OTHER SKETCHES 239 



well-known J. P. Coulson, of the Coulson House at the 

 Sound. He was a red-hot friend and an equally red-hot 

 enemy, naturally quick-tempered and inclined to have his 

 own way in everything. Many were the games that the 

 '* guerillas" used to put up on him just to get him started, 

 but it was always advisable to be out of the way at the 

 particular moment when he discovered the trick that had 

 been played on him. 



I remember one time being snow-bound at the Coulson 

 House along with some travellers. One of these (I'll 

 call him Jack for convenience) was passionately fond of 

 a joke, and whether it was at his own expense or some- 

 body else's, appeared to make no difference, so long as 

 the laugh was on some one. He was also a bit of a 

 horseman, would bet a few dollars in a quiet way and I 

 believe would rather bet a "tenner" any time, even 

 though he felt sure of losing it, than take a stump. At 

 this particular time the four of us went driving; three 

 of us had hired teams and drivers at Guelph, but "Jack" 

 had brought his rig through from Brampton, and a 

 mighty good-looking pair of bay geldings they were. At 

 the dinner table, with J. P. in the seat of honor, we were 

 doing yeoman service to a spread of roast partridge and 

 stewed hare, a little special preparation which the land- 

 lord had provided on account of our being snowed up. 



During the meal the talk turned upon driving horses 

 and J. P., with his usual assertiveness, declared he had 

 the fastest driver in the "Sound"; that he could pass 

 anything he had ever met on the road, and though he 

 would not bet he could beat some of the flyers that made 

 their living on the track, he'd wager a goodly sum that 

 he could hold his own with a liberal share of them, too. 

 At this stage of the game Jack broke in : 



"I say, J. P., you're not blowing about that flea-bitten 

 gray out in the barn are you, with a head like a flour 

 barrel and a pair of ears like a jack rabbit?" 



At this depreciation of his favorite roadster the 

 choleric Coulson grew several shades brighter in the face 

 and with a look at Jack that meant mischief, broke loose : 



