The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-11-21

II
ceps to give US an advantage in life?
a subtle temptation, truly, and yet
the boy nneaaily recognized that it
was temptation, solicitation to
wrong.
He kept turning the matter over in
his mind, until it was time to close
the store for the evening. Then, be-
fore he went to his supper, he dropped
in at the hotel. The stranger was
waiting for him, and they sat ,wn in
corner Of the public room to discuss
the matter which was just then upper
most in the mind of both.
My name is Hackett, John Hack.
ett,' began the stranger, land the
landlord tells me tlat yours is Alonzo
Sawyer, Lon for short, which I prefer.
Now, Lon, I don't want to make any
false representations or statements,
even in horse trade. Those who
know mo call me square man, and
want to live mp to that reputation,
everywhere and under all circumstan-
ces. They tell me that you arc as
honest boy as ever was made, so
hope, if VIC come to any kind Of bust
ness deal, it will not be case Of
Greek meeting Greek. Now, Lon,
you know and know that my horse
would be valuable animal, If it
weren't for that unfortunate habit Of
cribhing. But having that habit,
which | suppose is incurable, he is
worth only comparatively small sum.
l wouldn't think Of selling him if he
weren't a acribber, that's sure. But T
want q perfectly sound horse, and if
you are willing to take this one,
knowing lis fault, and give me eighty
five dollars for him, it's trade.
What dye say?"
Lon flushed and paled. A strange
prickling sensation ran over his whole
body, and his brain seemed whirling
like toy windmill. He knew that by
a simple operation, which any ordi-
nary veterinarian could perform an
operation as familiar as A, B, C to
himself and to his father and grand
father before him-the most obsti-
nately cribbing horse could be cured
OF his fault and made perfectly sound.
He knew that if Mr.. Hackett's horse
shoald be SO treated, he would be as
sound as his own, and worth every
cent of the two hundred and fifty dol
!ars =hich be had paid for his own.
Here was a dazzling chance to take
advantage of anothers ignorance and
get just the horse he wanted for the
merest song.
Lon started up in great agitation
and walked to the window. Through
the dusk he could see the spire of the
village church. pure whito against tho
darkening sky and the first twinkling
stars. Only year ago, in that same
little church, with group of his fell
lows, he had pledged himself to the
Masters service. Alas! that his soul
should so soon be shaken to its foun-
dations by the most servile and mean.
est of temptations. In an instant he
whirled about and came back to Mr..
Haekett.
.Mr. Hackett," he cried, stI want
You to know that I can cure your horse
Of cribbing, in twenty minutes, so that
he will never do it again. The only
reason why he gnaws the manger, or
any wood that he cen get at, is because
his teeth are too long. They force
his. jaws apart and make them ache.
He gnaws to try to wear them down,
and, of course, the gnawing aud pull
ing make him swallow wind, and, in
time, he bloats and-gcts out of condi-
tion. That is all that ails any crib
bing horse. Now, I can take little
veterinary saw and cut your horses
teeth TO the right length, and he will
be curcd-I know it. / was tempted
to keep this knowledge back, and so
cheat you and get your horse for a
song. But, thank God! I've been
kept from doing such q wrong. Nov,
you say you d like TO keep your horse,
if only he were sound. can make
him sound, if you'll stop over day.
If don't succeed, or if Iinjure him
in any way, I'll buy him Of you and
give you hundred dollars for him. =
There was strange, glistenipg light
in Dir. Hackett,s eyes, as he put out
his large, frns hand and folded Lon 8
in a cordial grasp that lasted fully q
minute. Then he said: "Lon, my
boy, I'm glad for what You tell me
about the horse, but I'm more glad
for what You say about yoLsself. Eli
stop over, an you say. Good nightr,
m I, = q 49, 4 ! . -.