Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1883-07-20
Trading With Sharpers.

A young man named Mitchell, of
Philadelphia, wished to purchase a
horse and went to the stable of man
named Brockway. Brockway beamed
with alluring smiles, and took Mitchell
through his stable and showed him a
varied collection of what purported to
be blooded animals, mot one of which,
said Brockway, twas worth less than
two hundred dollars" Mitchell Sc
lected an animal which was warranted
to run like q streak of lightning, play
like lamb and pull like steam en-
CINE. The price paid for the equine
marvel was eighty dollars.
Mitchell took the brute home and en-
sconced him in the stable. His eccen-
tricities were not long hidden. The
very sight of wagon caused him to
turn pale and SILVER. Part of his tail
dropped out. He developed an un-
earthly balkiness, and, upon examina-
ton, he was pronounced by competent
veterinary surgeon to be weak, very
weak, and almost minus both liver and
lungs. He was led back in slow walk
to Brockway That individual eX.
pressed the liveliest disappointment
when told of the shortcomings of the
horse, and offered to substitute another
and ''better one," in consideration Of
boot of two dollars. Mitchell paid
the margin and lodged brute number
TWO in his stable. The second venture
proved worse than the first. In addition
to multitude of boils of all shapes,
ages and sizes, the animal was blind in
one eye, and palpably deprived of the
sense of hearing. His legs in few
hours began to swell and assume those
of the famous crooked little man in
Mother Goose's melodies. His tail was
a mixture of horse hair and oakum; and
looked no more like tail than stub
broom. Whereas the former horse was
weak and devoid of ambition, this one
was strong-in his hind legs-and
kicked exactly like a mule, except that
his kick had trife longer reach. He
ate about half the manger, and bit a
panel out of the bucket left accidentally
in his stall. Mitchell returned him in
disgust to Brockway, who again ex
pressed profound regret. ''Come with
me, my young friend,'' he said, to Mr..
Judges stable, where, am sure, we
can get horse that will suit you to 8
r"
So they went to Judges. There
being no horses which suited Mitchell.
he was prevailed upon to take q mule
on trial, which he did. Brockway led
the mule as far as the stable door and
then passed him over to Mitchell. The
latter, after some persuasion, succeeded
in housing his prize. This was in the
afternoon. That night Mitchell had g
dream in which he saw his handsome
mule attired with wings and flying
through space after the manner OF
Pegasus. The next morning he went
down to the stable to look at the brute.
He was evidently all there, from the
appearance of a large, ragged hole il
the door. A friend, who was with
Mitchell, suggested that the door mus
have been struck with lightning.
They opened the door cautiously anc
stepped inside. The intelligent mule
turned his head, cooked his ears, anc
slowly winked at them, as one who woulC
say: Don't come too near. Tn
treacherous Buckets, straw, broom
and pieces of the stall were lying
around in confusion. Mitchell climbed
over an adjoining stall, seized rope
which was around the mules neck. ano
attempted to lead HIM out. He was
decidedly adverse to going, and speedily
indicated as much by a series of vigor.
Gus kicks. Several of the neighbors
were called in, and every effort ws
made to induce the mule TO leave the
premises, but to no purpose. A derrick
was rugged up, and an attempt made tc
lift the brute out through the roof. He
would not lift, for the simple reason
that no one could get near enough &c
him to tie strap around him Ameas-
ure of oats was placed outside the door.
He gazed st the oats, but shook his
ears and tail ominously. and with neat
kick scattered the feed all over the
square. At last he was left alone, and
Judge was notified to take him away.
This he refused to do. Mitchell brought
suit to recover his money, and also
threatened to institute criminal prose-
cution. The money was refunded, and
Judge, who lad doctored the mule. led
him away as gently as If he had been .
Observation-Disclosures Press.