The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1897-03-05

PAID hun ana land S1C-clean, cold
casih-in his f1anks as easy as pickin
it mp in the big road. I'll bet my Sun
day boots, Rufe, that he has made so
trades like that. You took notice Of
how he kept hangin around and waitin
for me to say sQnethin, which 1 never
did say. WeA, he was jest simply beat
out in his own game, and l could see
that it cut him to the bone. Right now
/ will bet the best mule in the settle
fnent that he would be more than glad
to rue the trade and let me name the
figgers. You only wait now till my time
comes and let me show you how easy
the trick will work There is some dirt
in it know, but accordin to the scrip
lures anything is fair in love and war
and politics and horse tradin."
AS we rid on towards home scallop-
back Billy danced and pranced and went
sideways and put on more airs than the
drum major of a brass band. Every
body we met in the road had to turn
round and take good look at Andy's
high-headed, calico pony. Torectly it
so happened that we met up with an
other stranger. Andy tickled scallop-
back Billy in the tanks with his spurs
and wouldn't let him break his gait.
But the stranger looked back at us and
hollered to Andy:
"Say, mister, are you ridin swappin
stock this evening"
Not if the court knows herself and
she ruther thinks she does" Andy come
back at him. "But at the same time
come from swappin stock myself, and
you mought bring on a trade if you are
any ways sufferin for one"
We'll, how will you change with me 2"
says the stranger, which he was ridin
of a little roam mare some 12 or 13 years
old.
This aint my time of year to trade"
says Andy, but if you want to put your
own trappins on this pony you mought
pitch in and do the tradin. Money
talks, and when you hit me right with
the fggers 1 will let you know"
So the stranger he first made q pass
at Andy to trade even, and from that he
went to offerin boot. All this time
Andy said nothin-only kept on shalkin
his head-till the stranger run the fig
gers up to $50, when the trade was
closed and Andy put the money in his
left flank pocket. Then they dis
mounted and changed brides and
pulled off their saddles. And, man
sir, when the stranger walked around
and saw that awful hole in the pony's
back he dropped his saddle to the
ground and L thought in my soul he
would go off in a dead trance right
there in the big road.
Say, mister, 1 wouldn't ride that
dang thing home and turn him loose in
my fathers lot for $5O," says the young
man when he recovered from the shock
sufficient to talk.
You made your own trade, young
man." says Andy, land if you don't love
to ride, walkin is tolerable good at
this season of the year"
''I want to rue back and go home,"
says the young man, whilst his voice
wavered and trembled like he was
fiXin to cry.
81 don't know how 1t is over in your
settlement" says Andy, "but we don't
trade horses that a way around Rocky
Creek"
Il will give you the pony even trade
for my mare, and you can keep the
boot money" the young man went on,
lool1in powerful sorry like and pitt
full. "Durned If 1 wouldn't tote my
saddle and walk home before would
ride this internal freak of nature"
"You have done made one trade al
ready this evenin, and if nothin else
will do 1 reckon. L will have to let you
make another one" say S Andy. Throw
your saddle on the mare and go on back
home to your ma, and the next time
you start out on horse swappin stam-
pede fight shy of the Rocky Creek
settlement"