The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-10-31
"Do ycu7 Why, took you to be-" l checked myself, but he coolly finished che aausn,@a fnr r.A.

checked myself, but nc coolty hnished the sentence for me:
 "A gypsy, yer honorf Am right yez are to a section sDowse, the gypsy,' they do call me. An that's how comes to dale in such cattle in my small way What wid thrampin' the counthry from one town to another, and from one gin. tleman's house to another-op business shure there isn't har'ly a horse in the county worth the name that's been bought or sould widout Dowse, the gypsy, hay in stir at the pot! An that's the way, too, that can sell a good horse chaper betimes than e'er a regular daler in Ore land. For ye see, Pm there on the spot ready to pick up haste afore it's made up its mind to be sould, as l may say An when have purty consarn to oblige the genthry wid, shure there isn't one of the quality for twinty, ay, or for fifv miles aroun' as wouldn't rather buy from Dowse, the gypsy, than at the biggest fair or the biggest sale as ever was"
 listened with growing interest to the mans monologue. Shaking one rough ened fore6nger impressively he went on solemnly:
 "And why? I'll tell ytz! It's bekase |"
 
 language and forcefulness of gesture, while his dark face glo~ed with honest pride and excisement-"i it's bekase they'd liefer buy, an buy chape, from an honest gypsy, horse as IS sure to be tearin' good un, or middlin' un, accordin' as the honest gypsy swears to it, than buy, an buy dear, ye mind, from big daler, as may or may not be honest, baste as may or may not be good, accordin' as chance and the laws of natur' have set tied 1t atwixt 'em."
 There was rugged bluntness and sim cerity about the mans face and his whole bearing. These, combined with the truthful ring in his voice, attracted me toward him irresistibly, and l inquired without further circumlocution
 Well, Dowse, then perhaps you could tell me whether am likely to get a tair bid for my horse2 And to be able to get one in exchange a trlfle younger "-the gypsy eyed me with grave attention-"and smarter, and altogether more showy?"
 Horses IS chape as dirt now. yer hon. or. The m arkes is down dead low. An it's not big price yell get for the old un this day. Av it wor COW, now, or a high-steppin', naughty young baste ye wor sellln', ye nigh, name yer own price, an get it too, bedad "
 Hml That S bad!" muttered re- Aectively. Looking at it in that light, il seems as if shall have to sell cheap, and to buy dear"
 "Thrue for yez! Thrue for yez Ye never spoke thruer word l" laughed my friend hilariously, apparently under the delusion that my speech was intended for witty one. An it's by the right leg ye've got the ould pig this offer! Buy dear, an sell chapel That's always the way; it is sol"
 The fellows mirth was infectious, and could not help laughing at his simplic- ity.
 "Now. my fiue fellow, perhaps you will tell me what figure horse like this is likely to be put up at?"
 He dodged the question. That did not surprise me. No matter how straight forward the individual Irish peasant may be, he will invariably shirk giving di- rect answer. He IS cautious to degree, and objects to committing himself.
 Horses is chape now," he repeated oracularly. Might yer honor be manin' to swap, now or to sell, an thin buy again?" The query was put with all the frankly displayed curiosity of a child. !" Bekase Id say swap!' av ye wor ask in fot my advice"
 "Oh, really do not care. If I swap as you say, should of course be wiling to give few pounds into the bargain. And if 1 sell first, what price shou.d d stipulate for, do you think, in the present state of the market?'
 "Snure, av ye put a raisonable small price on him, yer honor, it's besaged yell be wid the farmers, and thrademen, an sich like. An av ye put big price on him, sorra lonely bid yell get from no Y ull yestherday, an that s big word"
 And what" pursued patiently but persistently, like a cautious entomologlst stalking lively butterfly on the window pane, hoping each moment to transix him with the deadly pin-"what would you call big price, may ask?'
 What prlce might yer honor be willin' to take 2' q had not yet secured my vol atile prey),
 "Well, it could get bid of f4o for him, might" The gypsy looKed up incredulously into my face, then grinned appreci A,ively.
 Were jokin' yer honor. An why not ? Says to meselt the minute claps eyes on yez His honor got big share says l, of ould Oreland's mother, wit. It himself will bother the dalers when he tackles 'em.' seen it in the turn of yer eye"
 "All the same, Dowse, am perfectly serious this time. Hes most valuable horse, almost thoroug ghbred, and was a capittl hunter in his day" Thin av it's in earnest ve Il be, an ye mane to s,ickle for 64o, av ye wait, be- gorra, from this fan ull the next, sorra the ghost of an offer will ye git, an that's the thruth for yez"
 | Now the fact of the matter was this: should have jumped A, the chance of L3o for the old nag, or 625 either. But ~e know--by what la ot morality or justice