The herald., 1895-05-05
Los ANGELES HERALD: SUNDAY MORNING, MAY 5,
ig books marked with fiery letters,

the rim turned straight up and two
bright peacock feathers standing proudly
in the air; brown kaftan," calico
shirt of small Powered pattern. black vel
veteen trousers and the boots dripping
and shining from the free application Of
wood tar, boiled with sleeps tallow:
How do you like my mare?" continued
the jew isn't she "a beauty? Gentle as
for your little horse? Too small for
you, eh?"
go to the devil. you smooth-tongued
lair" answered Mikita; that old plug
| wouldn't have it for gift"
"Gott der Gerechter" exclaimed the
Jew; "calls this man my mare plug2
Have ever put my eyes on better
'klatske?' No, Mikita. your temper is
bad this morning. Let's go and have |
vodka that settles your stomach, makes |
you feel better Just have refused rs |
rubles for the animal. and you call it a
plug. But | see you are only joking; |
come, let us take q vodka
II don't mind to drink said Nikita,
''but won't trade horses"
All right. all right, we will drink to
warm our friens sdship up. If wecan' make
any masem atten' today we may do it
tomorrow; you know me, | am an honest
Jew"
Eyes. honest" sneered Nikita, ''your
face looks as if you had it stolen from the
picture gallery Of the devils grandmoth-
Small. what OF it? But he can 60 like a
cannon ball. When my wife and l go Sun
days to church the people all stop to look
at us as we pass.
Well well, no trade is no trade, but
we go and have drink the Jew
| philosophical and turning to an individ-
ual of his own race, he said something in
the peculiar Jewish jargon. mixture OF
Hebrew, German and Russian, and
walked off with Nikita to the tavern.
The other Jew rushed off as soon as he
saw his friend enter with the peasant,
and quickly had strong hair taken
| from the tail of the animal. tied around
the ankle of Nikita horse then ex-
changed few words with a gypsy and
man who looked like an escaped jailbird,
and returned with a diabolic grin on his
artful face.
| Nikita and the Jew were talking and
drinking as a gypsy and another man en-
| tered the place. and ordering some
vodka" the latter said: "A devilish
fine horse, that mare of Moses Weiss
mann; he asks $50 rubles; it is not too
much. but shall try to get her for 125 V
"Hush up!" answered the gypsy. pre-
tending to speak low but still loud
enough or Nikita to hear him. The
old fox is standing right behind us. If
he finds out that you want the horse he
Both emptied their glasses and walked
| out.
Soon the Jew and Nkita followed,
walking slowly along the road, taking
here and there q look at the display OF
merchandise. They passed the stand OF
| the money changer, who is kept by the
government under bonds. SO as not to
circulate counterfeit money. and has the
right to charge per cent for exchanging
currency for silver and copper and vice
versa, arriving at last at NIklta S
horse and wagon tied TO the fence OF , a
said the Jew. "but we'll built; looks as ii
he can travel. never have seen him go
in full speed. If you wish to put him
into my hands. | may get you good
price
"No, | told you the horse is not for
sale answered Nikita but Jump in !;
| will show you what he can do. "
The Jew climbed III the wagon and
Nikta unite the horse, patted the neck
of his prize and started; but. 10. the ami
NAL was lame-it could hardly walk. The
Jew laughed and accused Nlkita OF boast
ing with crippled horse. Soon there
gathered "a crowd. and a big man in city
clothes stepped forward and declared.
claiming to be Il veterinary surgeon, that
the horse had its shoulder dislocated.
rendering it useless, as 1t was an incur
able case Nikita felt as if mountain
had fallen upon him and believing his
horse 60 be unfit for future use he asked
the Jew the price of the mare he had u
short time ago called plug. a.
One hundred and fifty rubles is my
price "said the Jew. 'but see you are
in bad luck. To show you that am your
friend and an honest Jew. will take 100
rubles and your horse and Will try my
best to cure him. If | succeed, you can
buy him from me fol. so rubles ana if |
don't | am the loser.
This proposition seemed to Nikta too
good to refuse and he accepted. paid the
money and soon drove off with his new
| horse
AS soon as Nikita got out of sight the
Jew went to work. A quick cut liberated
the suffering animal from the tightly
drawn horsehalr; little liniment relieved
the Inflammation and III half ali hour the
horse was as active as ever. Now the Jew
went to the tavern. raped at the door OF
the gentlemen's room, and put his head
inside asking for Andrea Michaelowitch
Kostjakow. Come in. you old sinner. /"
said the young man, our old acqualnt-
ance. who told us of his adventure with
the fisher woman at the beginning OF our
story. anything new?'
Your honor" answered the Jew, 81
have your brown mare traded off. Got
fine, very fine, extra fine horse. but so
rubles had to pay to boot; give your
honor 100 rubles if your honor don't like
it vie haist! l can't do any better
"Wait minute will take a look at
the fine horse you have. l suppose 1T is
IL plug as bad as the mare and you are
trying to work me for the money" said
Kostjakow rising slowly from his seat
and thrusting in his pocket few rubles
he had won in game of cards. He
was tall. muscularly built man of nearly
80 years of age. light complexioned and
with an extremely kind expression in his
intelligent face. AS he entered the mar
ket place the peasants all lifted their hats.
They knew him; he was the baron or
landlord of Beresowka. Arriving at the
Jews stand he thoroughly examined the
horse and asked: with whom have you
been trading. Weissmann? l told you not
to cheat peasant"
IA city merchant your honor it was he
h ad loaded too heavy with vodka was
the prompt answer of the lying Jew.
"But how in the world did you make
the bucking brute even start" inquired
the young "barn."
"Oh your honor, we are fools. but some
times we know something more than an
every day fool, explained the Jew. "A
rouble spent for opium and brandy is we'll
placed but now, your honor. have the
fine horse taken to your barn. l think
the man will soon return afoot and may
want back the horse, by this time the
'alatske' is sure dead
''You are a rogue, Wessmann; here are
your 50 rubles, now send the animal over
to the stable, but ii find out that you
have cheated peasant l will turn the
hounds on you and chase you from here