Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1889-12-21

came up the road To the great house
leading horse which was so lam
that il could hardly walk Capt
jackson was al the gate, Just ready /.
start with his dogs for the woods.
The stranger introduced himself a
John Leicester of New York He sail
that he was making trip through tn,
country for pleasure. Half mil,
back on the road his horse had steppe<
on a rolling stone and strained ten
don lie asked permission to stabl,
the animal for a few days until the
lameness had subsidized. Ii he coult
leave the horse he would go on 20 ths
center and find accommodations fol
himself until such time as he could
continue his journey.
As Capt Jackson never turned q
tramp away, he was not likely to re-
fuse hospitality to well dressed and
evidently refined stranger. He led
the way to the stable and gave orders
to the hostler to battle the strained leg
and bandage it. He then turned to
the stranger and said, - on will be
my guest until your horse has recov-
cred "
| The stranger protested, but Capt
jackson insisted. and SO he remained.
Providing his guest with gun, the
captain led the way to the wood, and
a capital days sport was enjoyed.
1t was week before the horse was
cured of his lameness. During that
| time the captain had grown to like Mr..
Leicester exceedingly, and the feeling
of warm regard seemed 10 be second
ed by his guest. The two became
| quite confidential over their evening
cigars.
The evening before Mr.. Leicester
was to resume his journey Capt. Jack
son confided in him the one burning
desire of his heart
Il tell you, Leicester, / have been
| done up by the boys SO many times
that am just aching to get even with
| them If l could get the better of
| them once, In good shape, / would be
satisfied. 1t would pay for all have
stood from them"
well, then, why in blazes don't
your You ought to be able to cope
with them"
81 would if there were not so many.
Why, / can't do thing but what they
are posted If go off to hunt up a
horse that can beat them all, what do
you suppose they dol Telegraph to
every blamed horse sharp and I get
fooled myself. / have bought more
than a dozen horses and had the pleas
ure of seeing them walked away from
in races. l can't do it. I'd be happy
If / could down them Just once, but
I'm powerless in their hands"
Nonsense. I'll help you. know
of horse that can be bought cheap.
He is sorry looking animrl, but,
Stars and Stripes, if he isn't creased
lightning in racei To look at him
you wouldn't imagine that he could
run mile inside of week, but he's
living deception"
Just the thing, if could only get
him"
'Of course you can get him. His
owner is a friend of mine. and I'll
write to him to ship the animal to you,
and he'll do it. You needn't put up
the purchase money until he has |
proved satisfactory"
Good If you'll do this TIL be |
your lifelong friend"
We'll, I'll do it. Now, you want to |
bet all you can on the race when you |
have the articles signed for match. |
You can get all the odds you want |
when they see the horse. You don't
want to make more than one match |
either"
why not2''
ooh, nothing; only the horse might
be beaten in a second race. And an
other thing, you don't want to give
him any training before the race, and
you want to make it q mile and half, |
for the animal might not get down to
business much before the half mile
mark Is reached"
Mr.. Leicester gave further minute
directions regarding the care of the
animal prior to the race, and then re-
tired to the captains study 70 write
the letter.
Two weeks later the horse arrived.
Capt jackson had quietly announced
that he was expecting a racer that
would distance the best in the section.
Accordingly, large crowd gathered
to see the wonder. AS the horse was
led from the car a shout went up from
the crowd. The animal was the worst
specimen of horsefesh seen in that
town for many a day. His bones
seemed about ready to push their way
through the skin, and as he walked
he stumbled with his fore feet, and
showed unmistakable lameness be-
hind.
another joke on the captain" was
the thought which occurred to the
spectators. The captains feelings
would De nara 10 express. lie began
to believe that he was destined to be
sold continually. However, he de-
termined to prove game. and if any
one offered to race against the bag
of bones he would make a match
and stand the loss heroically. He
wouldn't give up until the wager
was lost.
Naturally he had not long to wait
for challenge to race. The news of
the new horse spread rapidly, and be-
fore night six owners of runners of
local celebrity had called to make
matches. Capt Jackson received them
as if he was confident of winning. He
stipulated that his horse should run
against all corners In one race.
The owners agreed to this plan.
Each was eager to place 500 on his
own horse, the captain to cover each
sum with $50. The articles were
drawn up and signed, the date for the
race settled upon, and the money
placed in the hands of stakeholder.
No sooner had the announcement Of
the race been given the public than