CHAPTER XXIV 

 "old gran'pa" : A "mage" story 



IT WAS early in June, 1906. The "High Boss" 

 was out from New York, making his usual semi- 

 annual inspection of the S. M. S. Ranches. We had 

 already been over several of them, and were getting 

 into the buggies to drive from Stamford to Throck- 

 morton when The Breeder's Gazette man showed up, 

 with only one day to give us. Those were the days 

 of Hynes Ranch buggies, and "Broom Tails." 

 Throckmorton iRanch was a full day's drive away; 

 now Henry Ford takes us there in 2^/2 hours. Flat 

 Top Mountain Ranch begins 5 miles west of Stam- 

 ford. There was my only chance to show The Breed- 

 er's Gazette man anything, so I told our party to go 

 without me, and I would drive through that night in 

 ample time to start on the Throckmorton inspection 

 trip next morning. On the way over to Flat Top 

 Ranch I stopped at headquarters, and asked Mage 

 the foreman to meet me in town at 7 p. m., and we 

 would drive Beauty and Black Dolly, two spanking 

 mares which he had bought for me. They could take 

 their 10 miles an hour steadily for hours, and I threw 

 them in as a bait to tempt Mage against any local 

 duty which he might urge. Mage stood 6 feet 5 



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