Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-07-09

l.
sometimes drawn the long bow little
ON the subject of horsef1esh. Horses
have always been the ruling passion of
my life, and who is there who will not
dilate little to add interest to story
when mounted upon his favorite hobby.
When it comes to selling horse that
is a different matter. / would not for
the world convey false idea to an in
aending purchaser. In this particular
case 1 was as innocent as the driven
snow, although Wilkins seemed to feel
hurt about it. 1t was all Enderby's
fault, although he declares he was per-
fectly blameless. Indeed, Wilkins for
some strange reason seems to hold me
responsible for the whole affair. And
this is how it happened:
We were riding home one day after
good days sport with Radnor hounds,
Willikens, Enderby and myself. Our
destination was Oak Lodge, as called
my modest little hunting box near Bryn
Mawr. Here L kept bachelors hall dur
ing the hunting season and as L had
first-class cook, and well-stocked cell
lar, never lacked for company. There
was room for three or four men and &C
commodations in the stable for half
dozen hunters, and so, with one thing
and another by hook or crook, we man.
aged to spend the time very pleasantly
at Oak Lodge.
Enderby was an old college chum of
mine and an enthusiastic hunting man.
He had hunted the fore" part of the
season with the Genessee hounds, up in
New York state, and now he was put
ting up with me for a couple of months
with the Radnor. He brought q couple
of hunters down with him from Genes
see that never stopped for anything
with the Radnor, and, indeed, our simple
rustic members rather looked askance
at this thoroughgoing sportsman,
whose pink and feathers" and gen.
eral get-up were equal to Melton form.
Indeed, there were not lacking certain
suspicious individuals who declared
that Enderby had axes to grind; in
other words, horses to sell, and that he
would leave the Radnor country with
heavier pocketbook, while one or two
of our gulliblc members should become
the owners of his gees" Of course,
they would turn out to be worthless in
this case. This suspicion came to my
ears through one of my grooms, and
mention it here only to show how an
honest mans motives may be impunged
by people who really know nothing
about the matter. Confdentially, may
say here that shouldn't care to buy
horse of Enderby myself. He is such
capital horseman and so well up to- all
the tricks of the animal that a horse
may turn out to be quite the other way
IN the hands of some one else. But
Enderby is not to blame for that. He
can't help being such good horseman.
Now Willikens was of quite differ
emit sort. l have known Williloens since
we were at school and like him in his
way, but there are certain traits about
Willikens which are obnoxious and
ought to be discouraged. He is boast
full and he is self-confdent and, more
over, his self-confidence is not founded
upon any good cause. It's notorious
fact that Willikens only came into his
money in left-handed sort of way.
I forget how it was exactly, but he
got it, cool million and accrued in
terest, when he reached the age of 21.
Ever since then he has been trying to
convince the world of the fact that ne
knows all there is worth knowing about
horses, and it has been uphill work
for Willikens. It has been expensive,
too, for he never would listen to the
advice of friend. have offered Wilt
kens time and time again horses which
were worth three times the amount
asked, but he would never have them.
Instead of that he would go off to some
dealer and get most everlastingly stuck
Consequently, he never had anything
in his stables that could stand on four
legs.
We had been talking of our mounts
and Enderby, in spirit of compassion,
had just offered Willikens to let him
have, as special favor, the horse he
was riding for the insignificant sum
of $1,000. 1t would put him to some
inconvenience, Enderby said, as he
would have to finish out the season with
one hunter or else look around for an,
other mount. 1 said he might ride one
of mine in the meantime, but even ON
combined self-sacrifie failed to impress
Willikens, and so he lost another golden
opportunity.
We drew rein at Oak Lodge about
this time, and as it was growing late
we went to our rooms to get off our
hunting toys and dress for dinner
After dinner Enderby proposed thai
we should go out and have look at the
horses before the stables were closet
tor the night. Enderby and had been il
town couple of days before, and hav
ing nothing else to do we dropped int,
one of the places where horses are solt
at auction. 1t SO happened that the,
were selling an animal, or trying t
sell him rather, at the time that looked
to be almost thoroughbred. We coulc
scarcely see the horse for the crowd O
nen which surrounded him, and d
Enderby pressed forward to get lool
at him the auctioneer looked appeal
ingly towards him. There had not bee,
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