Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1847-08-14

| Woulun give my mule Blaze not for
two sch," ses Billy Wilder.
"I'll bet old Bali can run it out of ten
acre lot" ses Bob Moreland. at amt no
racer"
"Maybe you'd like to bet something"
SEES cousin Pete, lookin as wise as if he was
feeln somebody's pulse.
81 don't care about bettin much, but I'll
90 you a few bits that can beat it with ary
critter slandin at that rack yonder," ses
Bob.
By this time Cousin Pete begun to git
monstrous hot.
"pll bet you five hundred dollars" ses he,
shat Their amt no piece of horse flesh in
the county that can beat my horse, and if
any of you want to try it, thar's a chance
for you,' ses he.
"Why, Doctor" ses Tom Stallins, II can
beat that thing of your'n myself"
"Hal hal" ses Pete, irwin his best to lafr.
mad as he was. swell that's the best vet"
"Well," ses Tom, "you was bantern for
race for your old mule in the blanket thar,
and I've offered you a chance. If you is
mind to back out you kin do So"
ooh, yes" ses all of 'em, tits clean
back out"
Take home your horse, Saul, and save
his feelins,' ses Bob Moreland.
swell, gentlemen" ses Pete, "if you want
TO make race, I'm your man, and III bet
you what you please, from five dollars up.
agin any thing you can bring. any distance.
any time, any way, and any whar. Now
let's see who'll back out"
| huff sed," ses Tom Stallins; II takes
that banter myself Now, skin your critter
and prance him up here, if you want to
see him beat TO all creation"
But" SEES Pete, lakin out his pocket book.
you must remember, gentlemen, don't
run my horse for nothing. How much is
the stakes?"
ooh, jest something to make it interest
in," ses Tom.
"We!l," SEES Pete, "the larger the amount
the more interesin to me-"
Stand up to him, Tom," ses Bob More
land, "l'll back YOU
Yes" ses all of 'em, swell back you agn
the Doctors pocket book, if thai'll make it
intereslin to him.
Pete was SO riled TO think that the fellers
would dare to question his judgment about
horses, that he was jest in the humor to bet
everything he had upon the face of the
yeath. He covered all the money the par
ty could raise, and wanted to bet 'em two
to one for their notes to any amount.
"Now," ses Pete, after the purse was all
fixed, "the understandn is play or pay"
"To be sure" says all of 'em.
"Half Forfeit"
ayes" ses the fellers.
swell, now, when is the race to come
off"
"Rite now" ses Tom.
"Whar!"
: "Here, rite on this very grit !"
, "What distancel"
give hundred yards-two hundred ant
5 fifty yards and back 10 the place where we
I start.
Very we'll" ses Pete. "Now whar'.
your crittur?"
} "Here!" says Tom, pullin off his coat
Pete was completely tuck back.
why, Tom stalins," says he. sis yor
, fooin, or is you lost yer senses! You
, don't think of tryin to beat my horse five
A hundred yards yerself?"
"WeIl, don't mean to do nothin else
t hoss," ses Tom.
;, "What! you run agin-"
Eyes, mel and if you want TO make it {
I leetle more intereslin, III go you pair o
boots that beat your crack nag fifty yard
in the five hundred"
But I'm not joking about this race" say
2 Pete.
Nor me neither" ses Tom, "and if yol
f are gwine to back out, fork up the forfeit.
Pete was satisfied Tom had no better
f sense and seein there was no way to con
vince him but to run, he told Saul to TAX
J. off the blanket and bring the horse to him
b while the boys was measurin off the dis
a lance and Tom was fixin for the race.
. A stake was druv down in the middle o
= the road, two hundred and fifty yards fror
2 the place whar they was to start, and in
few minutes Pete was mounted on hi
J. horse, and Billy Wilder brung Tom Sta
t ns-who was whickerin and rearin, an
e pitchin and cavortin about, with a re
r, Handkerchief tied round his waist, worse no
e any two year old, up to the judges stant
IS TO hear Judge Moreland's charge about III
S rules of the race. They wur to start o
n the word go, run to the post, pass round
5; on toiher side, and the fust one back to N
n mark tuck the money.
p After a good deal of botherment the
q got ready TO start-Bob Moreland gin Il
word Go! and away they went--the fe
lers all shoutin and hurrayin like the ver
old Harry had broke loose.
The fool of horse was so scared ,h
he made two or three jumps before he MAD
up his mind which way he was gwyne; an