The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-09
JosEPH's z.37 n
A Slight Mistake on n Track Pre-
vented the Carrying Out Of q Deal.

~ AaNt Nlath viii n
chuckle of satisfaction. but my las
venture was a Jim Dandy. over in
Jersey a few weeks ago I was driving
along the pike about five miles from
my country home when al old farmer
I know poked his whiskers over his
fence n asked II / didn't want TO
buy an ancient plug which he held by
a halter to keep from falling down. I
stopped. Of course. and examined the
steed. There was about SO worth OF
meat on him. s. worth of vitality and
2 cents worth of speed. / didn't ex-
actly see what l could do with such a
monumental wreck. but the horse-trad-
ing passion grew strong within me and
I said:
How much for the equine gold
brick?'
Thirty dollars returned the TAR
mer.
For how manyT I asked po-
litely.
"aThis is selected stock. Comes one
I'm a box was his retort.
"rll give you slo.' said /. and no
questions asked
Let's divide the pot he said. 'Call
II $50 and this beautiful Hambletonian
Is your'n.'
well. I liked the farmer and I liked
his sporty talk. and rs I had spent
some previous time in dalliance at the
road house. none had ceased to look
as lovely as usual. So / gave him the
$40 and led the four-legged graveyard
home. I kept him on grass for a week
or two and noticed that he began to
pick up a little form. This also at
tracted the attention OF a coal-black
gentleman whom I employ on my place
as valet to the cows and lesser stock.
one bright. dewy morning he shuffied
up n said:
BOSS. what yo' taak 70 de new
hoss?'
Does some benevolent association
want to buy him?' I asked. The black
gentleman grinned till his teeth looked
like a builders exhibit at
a worlds fair.
"'No. sah.' said he. Abs lookin' 70
boss flesh 70 m'self.'
but this is a very valuable animal.
Joseph said l refectively. and his pos
sibilities in speed are unlimited. The
only thing hat worries me is his i'm
possibilities. / should think 800
"'Ah'1 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 against me In
matters OF so I sold the nag
To the black gentleman for his half-cen-
fury. and dismissed the transaction
from my mind as unworthy of regret.
But a few days after he came around
to discuss his purchase.
Boss said he. Abs powerful sorry
To- yo'.'
whats the matter with me?' /
asked. Am l sick AGAIN.
"'Yo' done will be wen yo' heahs de
news he answered. Boss. dat fifty
dollah boss yo' done sole me goes in
two-thuty-sevenl'
Don't. Joseph said I. panied be-
yond expression at this evidence of de-
cadence Remember Ananias and what
| npa nInV lftfIa affArf AfA for hfD.
Fact. boss: deed hit u.s. he insist
ed. Then he called a IN of an African
VIC a recently appeared in the
neighborhood to come and bach UP his
assertion.
"'Two-thuty-seven's his time. sab.
stop watch, which he explained In SONS
confusion had been presented to him by
a lady friend for being good. Men
Joe don had him down to the tracl
N trotted him round I'm yo' ole sulky
i'm dat time. sub, 'cordin' to de watch.
If that Is the case. Joseph said I
Il am willing to buy the animal bach
at a comfortable advance. Looking al
the horse now in a charitable light.
perceive that his days are numbered
and will oon be tabulated on a cold
cold stone. You may touch me for IS,
and I'll take the animal OF your hands.
But the low-down African grinned
Ilu nlfi up bOrcs Hdlu ne. All
used TO auctions
Joseph said I. you grieve m.
deeply. Would you for the mere greco
Of filthy gold restrain the and OF be.
nevolence? I'll give you $685.
"'Moneyn have 4 talk louder'n dat
boss said the perverse one. 'onc'
mo-. eff yo' please
seventy dollars. then. IL your,
good
"'Dats A. Il. G. boss. Sling som,
good ole diction'ry lagwidge wild fire.
figahs i'm hit
well. before I got through with Jos
eph he ran me up to 1925. Then I start
ed over TO the track with him. his run
friend with the stop watch. and tn
bony old glue-pot filler of a horse q
witness a performance before payini
my rash. The track in question is al
abandoned bicycle course which I over
hauled last spring as a sprinting plac
for my own horses and the horses n
my friends. When we arrived the tw,
black gentlemen hustled the nag int
an old sulky. Joseph mounted. and tn
funeral procession nov up the cours,
The runt pulled his stop watch and
consulted mine. Joseph piled the viii
and let his record-breaker out for all h
was worth. which appeared to be abou
~ much as a goat hitched to a cana
boat.
by and by. as the sun went dow.
and the moor came up. Joseph and hi
horse came under the wire.
whats de time? he asked his sabl
friend expectantly. A smile Of trump
split the runt's face in half.
He done hit in two-thGty-six al
er half he answered. and ! laid m
weary head between my hands an
laughed till IL hurt me.
"'what 70 yo' laugh. boss?' aske
Joseph. coming up to receive the ex
pected sl25. Am yo' glad Z git him 6
cheap
Joseph l said. when I caught m
breath. RI not deprive o OF you
thoroughbred unless you insist. and !
that event. I must alter my figures. In
stead of s125. / have not the heart I
offer you more than SIPS
"'Fo' de Lawd's sake. boss, What
de mattah wild yo'?' gasped JOSEPH
pop-eyed with establishment. Didn't
go round de track In two-thuty-six al
er halfg
"'He did for a fact. Joseph; he did
= said