68 THE TWO-MINUTE TROTTERS 



it looked like it would go through. Nothing but the persis- 

 tence and patience of Mr. Andrews prevented. During the 

 time when Lee did not show anything, that we ever knew 

 of, Danny O'Connell took care of him and we worked to- 

 gether, helping one another, so I saw much of the colt and 

 when he was working with him I helped. Every day I 

 would say to him: 'Danny, this horse will trot some day, 

 I know he will or Mr. Andrews wouldn't fool with him.' 

 And always Danny would point at the neck of the colt, just 

 back of his ears and retort: 'Eddie, he's too thick right 

 there.' 



"He was a regular country cut-up and knew more things 

 to do than most small boys. He wore a blanket all that 

 winter. One day we clipped him and put him away at night 

 blanketed. The next morning Danny found that blanket 

 torn into as small bits as he could make them. Then for a 

 long time he was allowed to get along without a blanket 

 or sheet. After one of his early race performances Mr. 

 Haskell said he would stand the expense of sheets for the 

 coJt and purchased a half-dozen for him. The colt bided 

 his time. It is probably true that no other horse ever was 

 watched more closely than Danny watched Lee Axworthy. 

 He was so seldom away from the stall that Lee had to seize 

 the slightest opportunity to get into mischief. One day he 

 was standing half asleep and Danny went a few feet away 

 to a water tap for a drink. As he lifted the cup to his lips 

 he heard something go "rip" and hurried back to the stall 

 to find Lee standing just as he had left him, still half asleep, 

 apparently but the sheet was ripped from end to end and 

 the piece he had torn out of it was lying at his front feet. 



"Danny was a great boy to keep the stall looking neat, 

 the bedding in order and everything ship shape. On the 

 campaign there always were visitors and besides Danny be- 

 lieved in order and decency. But no sooner would he turn 

 his back than Lee would begin to root up his bedding until 

 his stall looked as if the pigs had been rooting in it. Then 

 he would wind up, if left alone long enough, ])y rooting all 

 the bedding into the hall in front of his quarters. To stop 

 that lime was sprinkled over the floor before the bedding 



