The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-06-06
IIRIsH 81 q l,AID s.

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penter's assistance, his knowledge IS
the trotting stock s. the region being
encyclopaedia s. its scope. TO the
shrewdness Of q horse trader born and
bred he joined n reasonable amount
Of honesty, and, as theles could be no
baggling over his commission, he could
be relied on as a trustworthy adviser.
When I drew rein the following MORN
ing before his static he came ont to
meet me. with twinkle Of profession
al amusement in hisIeye as he glanced
at Mrs. Weston's steady old mare and
ramshaclxle blackboard.
"sam,' said I, getting down to bust
ness at once, ST want to buy a good
horse"
Like enough ye dew" he answered,
dryly. 'Many dews; some gifts EN-
II want your help. What's more, I'll
pay. for it,
''Now yer talkin' sense" said he,
warming up a little. "Buyin' boss s
like gittin' a wife; if yer don t know yer
bizness, good looks II fool We, nine times
out o ten. But what's yer pick, go or
show?" =
&C.," said I. "a horse that will stand
without tying, that's easy to drive, that
has no bad tricks, that will jog along
till he's called upon, and then will give
anything in the country his dustr-that's
the horse I'm after,
"D'jer ever try to name a baby SOS to
suit seven maiden ,aunts ?" he queried,
with what seemed to be unnecessary
irrelevance. -
+! "No."
s'Wall, I reckon we've got the same
kind of a job on hand"
ooh, come," said I, you're my re-
lance in this. Scratch your head, and
dig out what I'm after. twill be worth
your while" =
He reflected for moment.
'Wall," said he, 'sthere's nothin' to
suit we round here; but if yell come
along to Trent, I'll show ye just the
article yer after"
The proposal pleased me; for had
several errands to attend to in that
city, and a ride of less than an hour by
rail would carry us there.
"Come on, then,'' said Carpenter,
when had agreed to his plan; ''let's
get down ter the deepo. Trains due in
ten minutes" s...,-....st. -. 49,
During the trip he told me some
thing of the various happenings in
Bassettville. and, in turn, sought news
of Rodneytown in general, and of my
patient in particular, He had heard,
he said, a story that the invalid was 81
rich brewer from the south who had
been sent to a less enervating climate. I
prayed that the yarn might receive gen.
eral circulation and credence, though
how it had been started was one of the
mysteries of countryside gossip.
"He's from Charleston, South Car
liny, some folks allow" said Carpenter,
.suggestively.
.sFrom that direction, certainly" I
answered.
''He keeps mighty close" ..-.
'He has to. Quiet, absolute quiet, is
the best medicine he can have" hast
ened to explain.
:''Tain't much fun fer a man ter live
like clam" Carpenter observed. "Still,
it's livin', and that beats dyin' every
time. It's like fshin' fer bass and
catchin' bull-heads.''
When we left the train at the Trent
station, Sam led the way to the stable
where we hoped TO make q purchase.
The horse, big dark bay, long-legged
and with a wisp of a tail, was brought
out of his stall and trotted up and
down the street for inspection. He was
not pretty horse in any way, but
Carpenter gave me a nudge which
might be taken to indicate that the
animal met his approval. He drew me
aside, after having made a long and
thorough examination of the horse.
Slight years old, sound as a dollar;
wind and legs all right" said he, in a
whisper. tive seen him before. He's
good fer a mile under $40. Quiet as Il
lamb, no fool notions; sensible as a
Christian about trains-knows the
mime can't hurt him if he keeps off the
track
whats the price?"
give hundred-asked," said he, with
q strong emphasis on the last word.
whistled softly. 80.
ooh, that's the askin' price" he ex-
planned. cts like awoman's chignon:
it'll come Off" &fsa fles&a1.:ss< @sE
"I'm in your hands, said I. :'Under-
stand, 1 want your guarantee in this
business, and you'll be paid for it. Be-
sides the horse, need harness and
buggy"
''Wall," said he, after a moments cal
culation, ''I'll be fair with We. Will ye
give me what can clear under $500 fer
the hull outfit, boss, light-runnin'
buggy, and a good harness?"
'It's a bargain. I'll go to the bank,
draw the money, and bring it to you
here. Will you drive the rig to Bassett-
vile, SO that can get it there tonight
when come down by tramp
'sBy the time yer back from the bank
I'll have made the decker and be ready
to start said he. And he was as good
as his word. Before noon the payment
had been made and my new horse, was
trotting steadily along the road lead
ing from Trent. Carpenters praise Of
the animal had been enough to end my
doubts as to his speed, but could not
but wish that the steed were more pleas
ing to look upon. it..<
Though I wasted good deal of time
over midday, dinner and the various
] had to execute, I found
unnu req nh lin q the rai lvvave station that