TOD SLOAN 



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Well it ain't to be wondered at," he replied, the 

 trotter going faster all the while ; " we've been to 

 Long Branch and back this afternoon, and that's 

 going some ! " 



I didn't wonder any more, for it was a big journey 

 in the time. He shook the horse up then and I kept 

 feeling how much I should like to be behind him again. 



After another minute or twd — for I was thinking 

 and he didn't interrupt me* — the horse-dealer said to 

 me : " Yes, he's a fine horse : there's a feller been after 

 him and I've sold him for four hundred dollars." 



" How old is he ? " I chipped in. 



" Well he's really about eight or nine, but I said 

 he's seven," and he winked and shook the animal up 

 again. " I'm going to deliver him to-morrow," he 

 went on, " with the buggy and harness thrown in for 

 the four hundred." 



That was too much for me. " You're going to 

 deliver him to-day," I jerked out in a commanding 

 sort of way ; " you are going to sell him to m^." 



"I can't do that," he explained as if he were 

 apologising already to the other man ; " what would 

 he think of me ? " 



"Never mind what he thinks of you, the horse's 

 mine I tell you " — ^and so he was. I paid over the 

 stuff that night. 



Before the dealer left he said, " There is only one 

 thing I want off that harness : it's those little plates with 

 my initials on the blinkers," and he added, " I'll be 

 round in a day or two to get them : my wife would 

 never forgive me if I didn't get those plates." 



I had asked no one's advice about that horse and the 

 next morning I started to take my pride and joy out 

 for a spin on my own. I felt proud of my choice and 

 really I didn't think it worth while to consult anyone 



56 



