The record-union., 1894-11-02
FARMERS AND A HORSE TRADE.
Coombes Helped Them Out and They
Learned by EXnerience.

A man named Coombes was a recog-
nized authority on horses, not only in a
certain lumber region in Pennsylvania,
where he carried on a brisk business
trading and selling horses and fitting out
the iumbermen with teams, but also in
the adjacent county, which was an agri-
cultural district, ne had gained a reputa-
ton for shrewdness and square dealing.
When the county fair was held in Sep
teinber he was on the spot, and in front
OF the little store which he made his
headquarters there was always line of
horses hitched to the fence, which the
owners had driven from different parts
of the county to be sold or traded, ac-
cording to the pleasure of Mr.. Coon bes.
One day as Coombes was leaning against
his doorpost discussing the merits of a
promising three-year-old with the en-
thusiastic owner of the animal, o wagon
entered the inclosure in front of the shop
and stopped at the door. A man covered
with dust, with red face and wild ap-
pearance, jumped from the wagon and
addressed MIR. Coombes
We'll, l am glad to see you, Mr..
Ceoinbes. Business looks promising
with you," looking around at The horses
on the grounds. Perhaps l am not
dusty and hot, and perhaps L don't think
a deal Of you to como twenty miles i'll this
weather to make a trade with you. Just
beauty, he is. There isn't another llk e
him in the country, but the fact is he Is
too speedy for me. L want a horse that
will go well with the other horse-some-
thing not too fast, something strong and
steady"
Mr.. Coombes showed much interest in
the matter, and the farmer became more
and more convinced that he had acted
wisely in seeking his services. While
they were talking he saw Mr.. Coombes'
eye rest in dreamy way on a pair of
horses that were hitched near the door.
The instant he saw the object of Coombes'
attention he exclaimed: Cad, sir,
think we have struck the very horse /
want, the off horse-that bay there. Look
him over. Ii he is sound and kind he
will do for me. I'll trade even. How
does that strike your"
II don't know answered Coombes,
doubtfully. she is an especially fine
animal"
''Well, will throw in $40. I will just
step over to the fair grounds, and you
can think it over"
Presently another man appeared the
owner of the especially fine animal"
"Have you found what / want?" he
asked. 81 must be getting home again.
Twenty miles before dark"
Take a look at this horse" said
Coombes, pointing to the animal that the
OW liST HdO CAll0u tOO SpOSuys ne Is
just what you want-fast, lightly built
and good match for your other horse"
The farmer looked at the horse, COM
pared it with his own horse, had it
htched up and driven around the in
closure. and finally exclaimed: First
rate; is it an even trader"
Throw in $40 and you can have him."
answered Coombes."
''Its bargain" !" said the farmer. He
gave Coombes Sl0 and leaving his .'espe-
cially fine ANIMAL" he drove his other
horse and its new mate down the dusty
street. When he had travelled about a
mile one OF the horses cast shoe and he
was obliged to stop at blacksmith shop
beside the road. While he was chatting
with his old acquaintance the blacksmith.
and waiting for the shoeing to be COM
pieted, he saw wagon stop at the door
and an agitated voice exclaimed "Neigh-
Dor, / want to know where you got that
horse?" pointing to the newly ACQUIRED
animal. The owner came out of the shop
and answered with pride: He's a fine
piece of horseflesh, amt he? L made a
trade with Coombes. L" but he stopped
abruptly. Tor his eye rested on the off
horse in MS neigh boris team. and he saw
in it his lately discarded property.
The two men look ed at each other.
How much did you pay to boot ?n
asked the man in the wagon.
Ten dollars" answered the other;
"and your"
Ten dollars
They were neighbors; they lived a
quarter of mile from each other, and
they drove home slowly. side by side,
thinking, no doubt, of the long twenty
miles over the dusty rord, of the $40, and
sometimes OF Coombes.--N. Y. Tribune.