Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-12-12
A QUEER RACE.

II tell you III back my bay mare Yer
dant any distance under Il mile aud half
for $1,000 against any living quadruped
th the state. Now, then, money talksf''
The speaker was a typical American
sport, tall and well knit, OF ruddy COM
pleNion, with gray hair and mustache and
probably 40 years of age.
He was guest at the same house as my
self last fall, in pleasant little country
town in Iowa, whittier he, like the rest OF
US, had gone To recuperate for the winter
campaign. Our host was u genial, gen
erous hearted American, passionately fond
OF horses and all appertaining to them,
attending most meetings during the sea
son, and breeding little In an amateur
way at his country house, where we were
then located.
lie had one fault which constantly drove
his wife and pretty daughter to the verge
of distractions; that was he could not be
an hour In any mans company who
chanced to interest him on any subject
whatever, without giving that individual
n cordial invitation to his house for the
annual house party In the fall. This natu-
rally brought a discordant element into
the circle at times, regretted by no one
more than himself; but no matter how
diseordant the element might be, so long
dS lUt ktutful DtIuNiuF kept WlIiln the
bounds OF conventional society, nothing
was permitted to even hint that absence
was desirable. Hospitality was sacred,
and II mild curtain lecture ensued, and
a perpetual black mark was In future
placed against the delinquent's name, the
other guests knew nothing whatever Of
the matter
Last fall the disturbing atom was Col
Ford, not bad sort OF fellow In himself,
perhaps, but one decidedly out Of place in
the society that surrounded him just then.
No matter what the subject under dis
cussion was, he always had an opinion
upon it-a very decided, egotistical opin-
ion, delivered in a blatant tone with q
domineering air that plainly said, 'Apres
celia la deluge."
II can easily be imagined that this type,
Co many people, would be particularly ir-
ritating, for 10 calmly stand being con.
tradicted and out lied, upon every phase
and yarn of shooting, fishing or racing
without annoyance would rank man
very near the angels. ! am, personally
very far removed from a celestial temper.
ament, and the colonel, dOubtlessly noting
nss annoyance, appeared to seize every
opening | gave To direct his conversation
to me or at me This continued for some
time. Eouirt OI NtllED 4 ulNfONtFeu
had firm friend aud kindred spirit IN
my dislike TO the colonel in my hosts
pretty daughter, Miss Jennie, thorough
Amerl ,an girl full OF fun and mischief
and quite capable of carrying out am
scheme that might enter into her curl!
little head
When Col. Ford made his appearance a
Valley house, he was surprised to find
well fitted training stable, grounds laie
out into straight running tracks, roun,
trotting tracks, and all the paraphernalii
pertaining To AN expensive hobby carries
out to the fun by wealthy man. Mos
of us had our own horses along with us
and the days were passed In hunting
shooting, fishing. riding 10 points of inter
est in the vicinity, studying the minutia
Of the stable, or getting up running o
trotting races among ourselves just fo
fun and glory. The very first night h
arrived the colonel had telegraphed 10
his groom 20 bring along Ver,iant, an,
from that time he never ceased boring u
TO death about his mare, what she ha
done, and what she could do, until W
were weary Of the subject. The mare wa
certainly a fine piece of horsefiesh, an
had performed very ereditably In publ,
winning several events at Monmouth
Saratoga and ST. Louis in the precedin
season; but surely that was no excuse Il
her owner forever badgering every one /
make a match with him. We had a
come to rest and enjoy ourselves, not /
work ourselves to death in pursuit {
pleasure.
One day at dinner, to which | had til
good fortune 10 escort Miss Jennie, Ii
conversation turned upon very fast co
belonging to a friend Of mine living a fe'
hundred miles north of Valley house; ha
Just concluded my remarks, when Co
Ford burst out;
~ tell yon I'll back my bay mare We
dant any distance under mile and u hal
for 81 900, against any living quatlrupe
IN this state"
looked across ut him rather indignan
ly, not desiring any wager upon the ma
ter, when Miss Jennie chirruped: lis thu
so colonel What about weightsf'
'My dear young lady, catch weights,
course; have you "A match to proposet
80. would he delghtedp'
Miss Jennie laughed saucily, looked
me, and giving me a slight tap with h
foot under the table, said'
~ leave my case In your hands.
Z TO match my pig Peek-a-boo again
the colonel's Ner,iant, distance 800 yard
10 dc run tWo NNeAs beos Va oaA AZ
track !"
OF course the table roared with mer'
ment, the colonel turned FIRST crimson al
then white with rage; tried to laugh, b
could not, and finasy said;
Very funny, Miss Jennie, very funn
indeed
During the merriment Miss Jenr
whispered few words To me, and sal
IL do not see anything funny. colon
ron offered repeatedly TO back Veria
against anything In the state; Miss Jeur
takes you up, and lam empowered by b
10 draw mp articles of agreement, and {
posit the 1900 In any ones hands y
may suggest"
The colonel was staggered for momel
but recovered himself and said:
well, II II Is serious, let her go. j !
int Tom Carswell, here, for holder, a
will increase It to 5000 II you or any Q
want 20 60 the limit
Our host jumped into the pool, =
take 81, ,000"
Carswell said: 81 guess my thousa
Is as good as anOther's.e
George Hoyland took another, and
increased milne TO $4,000. Articles VI
drawn up, signed, and for the mex. !
days fun was rampant, every one tryi
70 find out what Miss Jennie and | VI
after with that pig. The colonel h
aloof. yerdant had regular exercise, O
nothing further was done.
Notwithstanding the rigid surveillal