Evening star., 1902-08-30

doctor gave Mr.. Mortimer in setting his
arm declared Allis.
But it was racing injured the horses
leg" interposed DOlman.
But your horse has got ringbone, Mr
DOlman," said Allis, land a SPAWN, too
I've been looking at him. That's because
you drive him too fast on hard roads. And
his feet are contracted from neglect in
shoeing. It's just cruel the way that poor
old horse has been neglected. Race horses
are much better taken care Of
Allis' sudden onslaught switched Mr..
Dolman from the aggressive to the defen
sive with celerity.
Il confess, 1 know very little about
horses" he was forced to apologize then,
with something of asperity: The spiritual
welfare of my congregation takes up my
entire time
This rebuke caused a momentary silence.
and Dolman. turning to Mortimer, said, Il
hope you don't approve of racing, sir
Mortimer didn't but a look from Allis'
eyes ineXplicably enough caused him to
hedge very considerably in his reply.
Il know nothing about the race course"
he said, but from what | see of the thor
oughbreds | believe man would have to
be of very low order If their noble natures
did not appeal to him. l think that courage
and honesty and gentleness-they all seem
to have it-must always have a good in
fiuence. Why, sir he continued with
touch of excitement, Il think man would
be ashamed to feel that he was making
himself lower than the horses he had to
do with
AlIis looked grateful. Even Porter turned
half about in his chair and gazed with
touch of Wonderment at the battered young
man who had substituted common sense for
SOphistical reasoning.
The reverend gentleman frowned. IT'S
not the horses at all, he said; its the
men who are disreputabl ble.'
Mrs. Porter gave a little warning cough
In his zealousness Mr.. Dolman might anger
her husband; then his logic would avail
little.
The men are like the horses" commented
Porter; some bad and some good. They
average about the same as they do in
anything else, mostly good, l think. OF
course, when you get a bad one he stands
out, and everybody sees him.
And sometimes horses-and men, too 7
suppose-get bad name when they don't
deserve it," added Allis. Everybody says
LauZanne is bad, but know he's not"
That was case of this dreadful dis
honestly said Mrs. Porter, speaking
to Crane. You know, Mr.. Crane, last
summer rascally man sold my husband a
crooked horse-now, John what are YOU
laughing at?'' for her husband was shaking
in his chair.
II was wondering what a crooked horse
would look like he answered. and there
were sobs in his voice.
Why, John, when you brought him home
you said he was crooked"
AS usual, Allis Strengthened matters ont.
II was the man who was crooked. Mother
means Lauzanne," she continued
Yes, proceeded the good woman, "a
Mr.. Langdon, l remember now treat ed NV
husband most shamefully over this horse
Crane WINGED. He would have preferred
thumbscrews just then.
John is honest himself went on Mrs
Porter, "and he believes other men: and
this horse had some drug given him to
make him look nice, so that my husband
would buy him.
Shameful. protested Dolman Are men
allowed to give horses drugs?" He appealed
to Mr.. Porter
point '''"'
But evidently it is DONE" contended Dol
man.
II think there's very little of It," said
Porter.
This turn of the conversation made Crane
feel very uneasy.
DO you think, Mr.. Porter" he asked.
that there was anything of that sort over
Lauzanne? Do you think Langdon wouId9,
he hesitated
Mr.. Langdon has a tolerabIe idea of
what l Think answered Porter. ~
snouidn't trust that man too much II |
were you. He's got cunning enough.
though. to run straight with a man like
yourself who has a horse or two in his
stable, ana doesn't go in for betting very
heavily" 49,
Il know very little about ,him," protested
crane; and. as you say he will prob
bly, act quite straightforward with me. at
least" -
Yes" continued Porter, half wearilv. as
though he wished to finish the distastefuI
discussion, there are black sheep in rae