222 TALES OF THE TURF. 



"Well," said Mac, "I still believe he is the best green 

 horse in Missouri and worth $2,500." 



: Then I wouldn't take $500," retorted the game lit- 

 tle wife, who had become fond of the rakish looking 

 chestnut. 



As a final measure McNulty said : "I'll do one of 

 two things, I'll either take the $500 now, or if you will 

 agree, in case of my failure, never to allude to the subject, 

 and my son will consent to run the business during his 

 vacation, thereby working at a time he should have his 

 recreation, so I can give myself and the horse a fair 

 chance, I'll systematically train him, and try and make 

 Sedalia Boy bring $2,500," which in his circumstances 

 was a large amount. 



The compact was ratified. Sedalia Boy started soon 

 afterwards in a race, but was "shut out" the first heat in 

 2:41. He started again, and was distanced, but Mc- 

 Nulty still believed he owned the best horse in Missouri. 

 It is safe to say he was the only one on earth at that time 

 who did believe it. 



The next race the horse got second money, McNulty 

 happily and accidental}' discovering that by taking a 

 strong hold of him and clucking to him at every stride he 

 would go the turns without breaking. He also discov- 

 ered that the horse had been brushing his arms, and prop- 

 erly protected them. Then Sedalia Boy at once awakened 

 to the fact that he was a race horse, and probably the best 

 green one in Missouri, as he flashed like a meteor across 

 the trotting sky. 



He trotted several races, and his winnnigs enabled 

 McNulty to buy his dam for $140, a loan of which had 

 been denied him by a relative, because it was wanted for 

 that purpose. He then went to Kansas City, Mo., and 



