Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-11-10

/ AO
in Ann Street. Here he remained quietly
for three or four days, scarcely showing
himself, and never speaking of his mare.
"OEe evening he heard some of the
boys in the bar-room talking horse,
and he listened earnestly.
"'Go?" said one of them, 4 rather
think he can. in fifty, sure!
"sHa, han roared the rest, for three
minute horses, even, were not very plenty
at. that period.
"'Go I'd like to match him again st
some thing that can tcot. Your wriggles
and hackers and runners are not the
thing. Give me a square tro.ter, and
can just leave him. That's ALL
Ken you?' asked a voice near by,
modestly.
"The company turned about, and saw
an unshorn, rough-visaged man sitting in
his shirt-sleeves, to whom the young
buck did not ,eply at all. Our black
smith, f'r 1t was he, continued to smoke
the pipe. The boys put their heads to-
gether for a lark, and the foremost asked;
Perhaps you've got horse that you
would like 70 exercise little?'
"' laas,' responded the rude-dressed
stranger; I don't mind little exercise
for the old mare. But you don't bate
nothing on it, l take it?'
"sWhy, yes. Just for the name Of the
thing, We'll go five hundred or So.
"'Five hundre d WHAT? exclaimed the
green ;un, jumping from his chair and
smashing his pipe at the same moment.
Five hundred dollars. to be sure.'
90, git out! you're jokin'.'
"'No; we can't trot him short of that;
it wouldn't pay
"'WaI, now, look here, nabur; Ill tell
you what I'll do. I'll trot boss again
boss again mine-in harness.
"'No, sir, that won't do
But five hundred! Come. say fifty.
That's enough, rally
"But there was no other way, ana the
blacksmith placed his money at last in
tie landlords hands. which the sharpers
instantly covered.
"'Do you know him2' they asked, as
the old fellow moved off.
NO. said the host; che has just come
in from Salem, he says
"The preliminaries were quickly ar
ranged, and the afternoon but one fol-
lowing was named far the trot, over
the Upper Mill Dam Road. Everybody
had heard of the queer bet berore night
the next evening, and the road was filled
with pedestrians and carriages. The
challenging party lived in Charlestown,
and the horse they had named was the
crack Of the time; so they cared nothing
about what was to trot against him, and
asked no questions.
1.-The day was clear and cool, and the
blacksmith had been upon the ground
full two hours. His gray mare stood at
the roadside in q wretched harness and
worse gig Though the latter was light
and strong), and several times, as the
company gathered, she bad been moved
and buffeted for being in the way OF gen
tlemen. She bore her prosecutions meek
ly, however, and the blacksmith in his
shirt-sleeves said nothing.
"'Where's your horse!" asked the con-
petitor.
"'She'll be here in time, now. Don't go
to given yourself any extra trouble about
her, now. cause you'll have your hands
full, I'm thinking, by-and-by. Wot'd yer
give for that skillet you've got on yer
head?'
"That's my riding. cap, sawney.'
"EEdsactly. And them silk fixins;
ar'n't them rayther costlyy'
" Where's your horse? Times up
"'Out Of the way with that old crow
bait shouted one Of the fast boys, haul
ing up at this moment, and seeking 10
get the place occupied by the blacksmith's
team.
'But there stood the mare. with her
head dropping almost to her feet. seem
ingly jaded and woe-begone, when the
blacksmith hoped into the gig, looked
at his watch, and said:
"s'Ere we are, then, mister
''But where's the horse that you are
going to trot?'
'Here she Isl
"'Well, I don't trot with no such a
skeleton as that, mind you,' said his OPP
ponent, mot by {. long chalk
''And furious roar of merriment went
up from the crowd, who were in ecstasies.
"The blacksmith insisted. however.
He'd trot his mare, or claim the money.
And the animals were duly called to the
start, mile heats from the crossing, best
two in three.
cat the word, away they went, the
horse fairly leading the way. The mare
kept behind up to the half-mile post, fell
away on the third quarter, and the horse
came into the post a splendid winner, in
2.49-the mare barely saving her distance,
coming home at a half gallop and half
trot, amid the yells of the crowd.
"The blacksmith had friend in the
congregation who had had "a pile of the
ready To be sure, no one knew this,
and he was evidently q rich man. He
took all the side bets he could muster,
at big odds against the mare. She blowed
badly at the stand, and the blacksmith
looked haggard and earnest. The crowd
roared again at the second start, but this
time the roar was brief.
"'Now go, thirty -ninep screamed the
blacksmith, as away they went on the
heat. And she did go. Instantly taking
the pole she stretched right along, passed
the half-rnile mark, finished the third
quarter without a misstep, and came home
five lengths ahead in 2.40.
"Money began to change hands again |!
But the horses came up for third heat.
and at the word, now go, "thirty nine -
the mare made an awful gap between
herself and her competitor. The mare