The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-27
JOSEPH,S e.S7 HORSE.
A Slight Mistake on n Track That Prevented
the Carrying Out of n Deal.

the Carrying Out of n Deal.
Il never could miss a horse DEAL" said one
Of the former proprietors Of the Gutenberg
racetrack with a chuckle OF satisfaction. but
my last venture was a Jim Dandy. Over in
Jersey a few weeks ago l was driving along the
pike about Ave miles from my country home
when an old farmer l know poked his whis-
kers over his fence and asked II l didn't want
to buy an ancient plug which he held by a hal
ter TO keen from falling down. l stopped, of
course. and examined the steed. There was
about So worth of meat on him, So worth OF
vitality and . cents worth OF speed, | didn't
exactly see what 1 could do with amonu-
mental wreck. but the h~crse-t;i passion
grew strong within me and l salG.
How much for the equine gold brick?'
" Thirty dollars returned tho farmer.
For how many?' I asked politely.
This is selected stock. Comes one in a
box was his retort.
IN give you ten.' said /, and no questions
asked
Lets divide the pot he said. Call ittwenty
and this beautiful Hambletonian is your'n.'
well. l liked the farmer and 1 liked his
sporty talk. and as 1 had spent som previous
time in dalliance at the roadhouse. money had
ceased to look as lovely as usual. So l gave
him the twenty and led the four-legged grave
yard home. l kept him on grass for a week or
two and noticed that he began to pick no a
little form. This also attracted the attention
OF a coal-black gentleman whom / employ on
my place as valet to the cows and lesser stock.
One bright. dewy morning he shuffied up and
Boss. what ,yo' taak TO- de new .hcss?'
Does some benevolent association want to
grinned till his teeth looked like a monument
Os.h ~ e: s s%6;i said he, Abs lookin' 70 boss
":Bn this is a very, valuable animal. Joseph
said l rehectiyeiy. and 3r, his possibilities in
worries ne is his impossibilities. l should
~" "n!1ARm give yo' fifty. boss broke in Joseph.
'Cawn't spare no more'n dat
a kind heart and a generous, noble nature
have always been era against gSn me ie IN n matters b,auIt ro OF
tleman for his half-century and dismissed the
transaction from my mind as unworthy OF re-
greet. But a few days after he came around to
Boss. said he. Abs pow'ful sorry TO- yo'.'
What's the matter with me3' asked. Am
".Yo done will be Wen 70, heahs de news,
preston at this evidence Of decadenee, Re
member Ananias, and what one puny little eff
Fact. boss; deed hit is he in sisted. Then
" appeared in the neiGhborhood to come and
Two-thuty-seven's his time. sah.' said the
which he Explained in some conf ion had
been pressnted 70 him BY a lady friend for
the track m trotted him round in yo' ole sulky
In dat time. sub. 'cordin' TO de watch,
wiI,,I II that III his Is the he ease sS F.; J9lTSe BaE 81 said ( n !; i am
charitable light. i, perceive that his days are
cold stone. You may touch me for $50 and
III take the animal of, your hands
"'Bi him up. boss said he. Abs used to
Joseph, said !. you Grisve me deeply;
restrain the hand OF benevolence3 I'll give
~ Moneyrl have T. talk louder'n dat, boss
said the perverse one. Once mo-. eff yo'
please, uo. no, r,o,,
u" OATS A. b. {. boss. SLING, some good ole
ran WEI g. be SSfq 3 s / ESt t hSsa y Ei,h 5Gps Sgsr he ns
stop watch. and the bony old glue-pot filler
paying my cash, The track, In question is an
abandoned bicycle course which ] overhauled
I hoEse spr anG e lie a b s9rlas'% o m p!af feie iof my WIEN 9%n
we arrived the two, black gentlemen hustled
the nag into an old snlky. Joseph mounted.
course. The runt pulled his stop watch and
consulted mine: Joseph piled the whip and
which appeared to be about as much as a
goat hitched to n canal boat.
by and by, as the sur went down and the
moon came up. Joseph and his horse came
under the wire. "
the rInt's face in hall.
He lone hit in two-thuty-siN an er half
he answered. and | laid my. weary head be-
tween highlands and laughed, Till it hurt me.
'Wha' 70 yo' laugh. bossT asked Joseph.
coming M 10 receive the expected S120. Am
yo' glad o git him so cheap
Joseph. | said, when ] caught my breath.
III not deprive You Of your thoroughbred un.
alter, my figures. Instead of s125. ! have
not the heart TO offer you more than SIPS.
+" 'Fo' de Lawd's sake. boss! What's de
mattah wild vo'T' Gasped Joseph, pop.eyed with
astonishment., Didn't he go, round de
track in twO-thutY-six an er half
Fl" He did for a fact. Jose phi he did said i.
" Den. what's wrong he demanded:
answered, Only tRhis happens to be a half,
And both black gentlemen fell down in the
1 duaf ~