The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1897-03-27

way he could keep the boot money had
paid him and land $10-clean. cold
cash-in his tanks rs easy as pieltin
It up in the big road. I'll bet my Sun
day boots Rufe, that he has made 30
trades like that. You took notice OF
how he kept hangin around and waitin
for me to say SOM ethin, which | never
did say. Wen, he was jest simply beat
out in his own game, and | could set
that 1t cut him to the bone Right now
l will bet the best mule in the settle
ment 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 a good look at Andy'a
high-headed, calico pony. Torectly it
so happened that we met up with an
other stranger Andy tickled scallop-
back Billy in the nanks 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 evenin ?''
mot il 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 trade if you ara
any ways sufferin for one"
"Well, howwill you change with me?-
says the stranger. which he was ridin
of a little roam mare some IL or 10 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 NE right with
the figgers will let you know
So the stranger he first made n pass
at Andy TO trade even, and from that he
went to o1ferin boot. All this time
Andy said nothin-only kept ON shaliin
his hcad-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 of 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 | thought in my soul he
would 60 off in a dead trance right
there in the big road.
Say, mister, L wouldn't ride that
dang thing home and turn him loose in
my fathers lot for $50" 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"
Il want to rue back and go home
says the young man, whilst his voice
wavered and trem bled like he was
fiXin to cry.
II don't know how it is over in your
settlement says Andy, "but we don't
trade horses that a way around Rocky
Creek"
II will give you the pony even trade
for my mare, and you can keep the
boot money" the young man went on
loolIin powerful sorry like and pitt
full. "Durned If I wouldn't tote my
saddle and walk home before l would
ride this Internal freak of nature
you have done made one trade al
ready this eveniD, and if nothin else
will do reckon. L will have to- let you
make another one" says Andy. Throw
your saddle on the mare and 90 on back
home to your ma, and the next time
you start out on a horse swappin STAN
pede fight shy of the Rocky Greek
settlement"