Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-12-18


"E'nl not Particular
''Oh, you're nos particular. Jim, bring
ut the cheStn 1T T"
No" said Frank, never mind. / don't
Sant 10 see him. want you TO choose a
socSa fer me.
No doubt horse dealers are as honest as
ther dealers, but Mr.. BSrker's establishment
vas iudeScriba5le. 1t might have been that
f s convicted forger given blank check
md asked TO take care OF it, or that of
wolf TO whom sheep brought its lamb
md begged that it might be looked after for
while, or that of q cat asked TO stand SEN
incl over the cream.
Yet be was equal 10 the occasion. ''Want
ne 10 choose horses Can't do better. sir.
Whenever the duke or the marquis wants a
horse in a hurry they write to me to send
hem one. S'poSe if can suit the duke can
suit ou.H
I don't know. I'm fdgety. You can
ny"
sin Barker could not feel certain whether
1e was dealing with sharp man or a
DOL.
There's the chestnut spoke Of He's the
TeTy thing for YOU"
How nluchs' said Frank laconicallv.
lone hundred and twenty guineaS, . sid
Mr.. Barker with that emphasis on the last
word which says that the vendor is proof
against the same number Of pounds.
Look here" said Frank, sharply, you
ind me horse for six weeks. Idon't care if
us black, brown, or blue. Name the lowest
price You mean TO take, and if the price suits
me and buy 1t and don't find any particular
vices II give You twenty per cent. more, and
The horse to resell for me at the end of that
time. Now then, is it the chestnut"
BarAer made long pause; then, with an
assumption OF candor, said: mo, sir, after
that it isn't the chestnut, You come here:
Ill show you what it is
Mr.. Carruthers never told any one the
exact price his horse cost him, SO we will not
force ourselves into his secrets. He left the
repository, having settled that if veterinary
surgeons certificate could accompany the
dark bay horse just shown him it might be
sent TO Hazlewood House that afternoon.
Then he babe Mr.. Barker good-day and
strolled back to Oakbury.
Just before he reached Hazlewood House he
was overtallen by Beatrice and her cavalier.
They refined up and spoke Il few words
Young Purton was in high good humor, and
delightfully."- condesccnding.
Pity You don't ride, Mr.. CarrutherS," he
said.
1t is a pity. VIII You coach mes Re
venge is sweet, you know"
IN bring my fathers old horse round
some morning and give you lesson. dare
say you would soon pick it up
You were always kind-hearted boy
said Frank gratefully. Miss Clauson, dc
You think l could learn to ride:'
You are too lazy, fear
Yes; l suspect l am. won't trouble
you, Purton. Good-by."
The horses trotted on, and Frank sauntered
back to Lakewood House smiling placidly
In the afternoon, to Miss ClausonS supreme
establishment, the new purchase arrived She
and Frank were in the garden at the time.
The bay was placed in Mr.. Giles charge, and
that parsonage, after inspecting it, rejoiced
for two reasons: the first, that Mr.. Barker
had not ''bested" Frank; the second, that
even if Frank had "bestedn Mr.. Barker, the
horse must have cost a pot of money, and al
whatever figure his. Williams, introduction
might be assessed, the bacllsheesh must be
worth having.
Il thought you didn't care for riding, " saiC
Beatrice.
Il don't--much."
Then why buy such a horseF'
because [ should like to ride with YOU"
He gave her one of his quick glances
Beatrice turned away, asha med to feel that
she was blushing She was very cold and
reserved during the evening, yet the auda,
cious young man chose to take it for granted
that she would accept him for her cavalier
rice PuIton superseded.
Horace having duly admired the horse and
shaken his head at the palpable extrava
gauce, made u series of elaborate rule-of
three calculations, and determined, if three
horses ate a certain quantity of certain
things III a certain time, how n fourth horse
would affect the quantity, the things and the
tine
Young Purton was too shy to offer his
escort ON the next morning-he feared lest
he might wear out his welcome. So his ride
was solitary one. Judge his utter disgust
when, quietly trotting alsng, he encountered
Miss Ciauson and Mr.. Carruthers, the latte1
mounted on steed the like to which Mr.
Purton had for years longed to own, and
moreover, riding as if he knew all about it
This sight was very bed for young Purton
Had he been poetical he might have com
pared himself to the eagle struck down by it.
own quill. As it was, he muttered, "a jolly
sell, by Jove!" and after the unavoidable
greetings and Mr.. Carruthers' inevitabl,
lit of badinage, rode home in disconsolat'
state.