Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-10-10
HE GOT THE ogAcoNs MARE.
A Gracoiess Scamp who Stole From De-
Ionseiess Man ON sunday.

A Gracelcss Scamp who Stole From De-
Tcnsciess Man ON Sunday.
A Portland man went up in the country
20 buy q horse recently. II was on Sunday,
by the way, the only day that the busy clti-
zen could spare from his occupation. He
had no definite idea Just where he was 60
ing, but he had his eye out for anything on
four legs that looked promising. Finally
ms he drove along pretty country high
way he espied three horses in q small stable
yard lie drove up, hitched his steCd and
leaned upon the fence, looking the stock
over. Que young mare attracted his atten-
ton especially, and he was admiring her
when the house door opened and an old
man Of very trim countenance came out.
There were the usual prelimin0rie8 about
the weather, and then the farmer asked.
Looking for anything pnrticularW
well, want to buya horse and must
confess like the looks of that mare there
very much. What is your priceW
Tut, tut. ! never do business ON the
Lords day Why, sir, Pm deacon in the
church, and whatever else | may do / will
not proianc the Lords day by buying and
selling Why, sir, seems as though all you
city folks wanted to come out here and
decker on sunday"
The Portland man commenced TO feel
ashamed before the grave, gray eyes of this
old man. The farmer continued;
Isn't there one day you can rest from
your everlasting tradingH Now, last Sun
day man came along here, snid he was
from Portland and he offered 500 for that
mare. Dear me-ridiculousl Why, she's
worth-I mean scandalous-to talk trade
on the sabbath. Two hundred dollarsnever
can buy her. Why, she can show u two
tut, tut mean shall show any one the
door who comes round here talking trade
Sundays, No offense to YOU mister Isee
you take quite an interest in the mare You
won't find better ono round here, I'll tell
you that. We had little brush on the
road day before yesterday, aud j cleaned
'em out, audi consider that the least that
n man eau do is to keep from trading horses
on Sunday. II man should offer me $3.50
today Sunday wouldn't look at him; no,
sir, wouldn't'--
The Portland man gravely took out his
pocketbook and opening 1t laid It on the
fence. Then he mostened his thumb and
forehnger, and not paying the least atten-
tion to the farmer he counted out S225,
doubled II up and advanced toward tho
deacon. The latter danced backward, flap
ping his hands deprccstingly like great
Shanghai and nxpustulating earnestly. The
visitor paused and impressivcly added u
$40 bill TO the wad, while the cleaning eyes
regarded him iutently, He walked plumb
up to the deacon, grabbed his hand and ut
tempted TO cram the money into the broad
palm. The deacon would not allow it-no,
not he. He backed away toward the yard,
uHfastened the gate and Disappeared in the
stable, In minute he came out, halter
in his hand. Said he, with u queer gruff-
ness
I've good mind to order you off tho
premises sec you're determined to steal
the mare. You're bigger'n l nm, and |
don't know as / can help myself, but II
you're bound to do it s'pose youth steal
this halter too"
The old man had whirlcd around his back
to the visitor He held his great hand be-
hind his back, palm upward, and his fingers
were wriggling like Holsters claws The
Portland man tiptoed up, jammed the
money into the itching fist, caught the
mare and towed her away behind his car
riage All this time he was getting good
deacon's opinion Of n graceless scamp who
would steal horse FROM dcfensoless man
on STANDARDIZATION journal,