Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-10-22

churn man SW0re ne was nlTlDR Dy the
day common livery stable plug that
he would be- could beat Sultana one
mile heat anyway, and he pulled out a
roll of bills like fat mans leg to make
his bluff good. To Mr.. Carter. who was
out for the dust and meant business all
the time, that proposition seemed a pc
cnliarly juicy piece Of pie. He knew
well enough that his mare could beat
Nabob any day and at any distance, and
the idea of any fool matching common
livery roadster against her made him
happy, especially for a one-mile heat,
which was the surest thing she had.
The upshot Of their wrangle was that
they actually made q match for five
hundred dollars a side, one-mile heat,
between Sultana and my roadster, to be
trotted the next morning at an hour
when the track would be free.
A few minutes after the match was
made, Sutherland's partner in the
churn business wobbled into the saloon
where the horse talk was going on, and
he was full as q goat. BE seemed nab
bergasted when he heard, and succeed
ed in undertaking, what had been 60
ing on, and the two partners had quite
a row, Hutchinson calling his fat friend
all kinds OF fool for what be had done.
But when some outsiders interfered In
the interests Of the public peace, which
seemed liable TO be broken, little Hutch
lnson turned on them savage as a mink,
and, swerving right around, as drunk
en- man will, he swore he would stand
by his partner, whatever his partner
was right. and he would back his part
ner with every dollar he had. Then he
flashed up roll OF bills like the other
chaps except that 1t seemed to have
grown up to maturity.
When the story OF the match got
around the next morning, there was a
feeling of sadness In the community on
account OF all the churchman's money
being up with Mr.. Carter and his friends
for it was felt that those who had not
got piece OF SO good thing had actu-
ally lost.
I didn't have a cent up. When Suther-
land brought the horse home, after the
match was on, he didn't seem to me
even lutte bit drunk. he told me
what was up, offered to deposite the
value OF the horse as security he would
not be harmed, and said he would give
me one hundred dollars il he won, and
fifty anyway, so l told him 1t was all
right as far as 1 was concerned, but l
was sorry he was going TO lose his
money. He sort Of smiled, but then
seemed to recollect himself and sighed,
remarking that 1t couldn't be helped
now" put he wished l you'd let Hutch
inson stay in the stable that night with
the Waterman, to see that no harm
came 70 the horse, because he didn't
trust those racing men.
knew, OF course, that Carter and
his gang had too sure thing for it to
be worth their while to drug the horse,
even ii they had the chance, but
humored him and Hutchinson staid.
For a man who didn't know much
about horses, the way he rubbed that
roadster down, and bathed his legs, fed
him, tested his shoes, and so on, was
really surprising. A queer sort Of feel
ing foated into mind, not exactly sus'
| picion but the biggest uncertainty
ever felt, and l concluded l wouldn't
! bet. And the next morning, when
saw 1t was Hutchinson and not Suther'
land who took the reins and that he
suddenly looked like driver from
wayback, was quite satisfied l hadn't
bet any, though 1 could not anyway,
| l Just said nothing TO anybody.
Well, ID trot came off. My livery
plug went away from Sultana at the
quarter: was two good lengths ahead at
the half; at the three-quarter the pace
was so hot for her that she broke and
went up into the air and by the time
/ her driver got her down again 10 6
square gait she was too far behind tC
even save her distance. You never saw
such person in your life. The public
howled and CRASHED its teeth. My
How felix's did swear that day! AS fol
Carter he was just wild; swore that II
was a put-up joe, said the horse was 8
ringer and demanded that all bets
should be declared off. But the churI
men proved the honesty Of their petit
ton easily enough by me and the bet:
were paid
Mr. Sutherland didn't wait to close
up his churn business. he just left IL
He and his partner, after giving me thu
hundred he had promised, took the mex
train for Detroit.
1 felt ten feet high that night and
wouldn't take ten thousand dollars fol
my roadster. In fact 1 refused five
| thousand. In my minds eye l had
world beaten, one 10 take out on the
grand circuit aud win everything with
| il.
But along in the forenoon OF the next
day an Indiana Sherff-irom Marshall
county, think, II remember right
came TO town looking for stolen horse
and found him. Yes, you've guessed
right; it was my roadster. The owner
of the horse was along and identified
the beast. The bill OF sale in his name
which l had was forgery. Proof was
clear and l could do nothing but give
up. The owner was square enough,
however, to give me back the hundred
had paid to the thief. so that on the
whole transaction / was one hundred
and forty dollars ahead and had no
right to complain.
m Is