Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1879-02-26

mare.
One evening be heard some Of
the SHOWS" in the bar-room talk
ing horse" and be listened earnest
ly.
$50 p said one OF them, IL rsth-
err think be can. in two lfty, sure"
"Ha, ha!" roared the rest, for
three minute horses, even, were not
very plenty at that period.
$50! III like 10 match him
against something that can trot.
Your wrigglers, and hackers, and
runners are not the thing. Give
me a square trotter and ] can just
leave him. That's all"
"Ken you T. asked q voice near
by, modestly.
The company turned about aud
saw an unshorn. rough visaged man
sitting IN his shirt sleeves. 10 whom
the young man did not reply at all.
Our blacksmith, for il was he, con-
tinued TO smoke his pipe. The boys
put their heads together for lark,
and the foremost asked:
perhaps you've got horse that
you would like TO exercise little!'
"Yaas,' responded the rudely
dressed stranger 81 don't mind a
little exercise for the old mare.
But you don't bate nothing on it, ]
take il"
"Why. yes. Just for the name
of the thing we1l so five hundred
or So"
Five hundred what 7" exclaimed
the green 'un, jumping from his
chair and smashing his pipe at the
same moment.
Five hundred dollars, TO be
sure"
30, git aout you're jokin'."
mo, we can't trot him short of
that; it wouldn't pay"
"Wal, now look here, nabur,
III tell you what III dew. I'll trot
boss agin hoss-yourn agin mine
in harness"
mo, sir; that won't do"
"But five hundred come, say flf-
ty. That's enough rally"
But there was no other way, and
the blacksmith placed his money at
last in the landlords hands, which
the sharpers instantly covered.
500 you know him 2" they asked
as the old fellow moved off.
"No," said the host, she has just
came in from Salem, he says"
The preliminaries were quickly
arranged, and the afternoon but
Que following was arranged for the
trot, over the Upper Mill Dam
Road. Everybody had heard of
the queer bet before night the next
evening, and the road was filed
with pedestrians and carriages.
The challenging party lived in
Cbarlestown, 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.
The day was clear and cool, and
the blacksmith had been upon the
ground full two hours. His gray
mare stood at the road side in a
wretched harness and worse gig,
Though the latter was light and
strong), and several times as the
company gathered, she had been
moved and buffeted for being in
the way of gentlemen. She bore
her prosecutions meekly, however,
and the blacksmith in his shirt
sleeves said nothing.
"Where's your horse Z" asked
the confident jockey, who was to
dive his competitor.
"She'll be here in time, now.
Don't go to givin' yourself any ex-
ira trouble about her, now, cause
you'll have your hands foil, Pm
thinking, by and by. Void yer
give for thar skillet you've got on
yer head 2"
"That's my riding cap, Sawney."
"Edsactly. And them silk fix
ms; arn't them rayther costly I"
"Where's your horsei Times
mp"
"Out Of the way with that old
crow bait" shouted one of the fast
boys, hauling up at this moment,
and seeking to get the place occu-
pied by the blacksmith's team.
pnf thara otood tha ,c..o ,u;,k