The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1905-07-01
pLUCKY MARE SAVED HIN.
kNEE.pEEP IN BLUEGRASS.

Well Dressed young Wan netdte
Why He Was So Anxious to Buy ;
Buekskin Horse, Despite Lame Be
hind-DoIIy Proved True in Pinch
A young man well dressed and in I
great hurry, rushed up to the railroad
tracks toward the horse runway O
the South St. Paul yard. He was ou
of breath when he arrived at tht
chute, where load of horses shipped
from New Mexico was about to be
unloaded.
When the young man reached the
place two or three animals mad al
ready passed down the chute and
were stretching their legs in the cor
raj. The young man examined the
animals sharply and then stepped w
to the agent Of the consignee.
~Could buy one OF those horses?'
Certainly, young man. that's what
we get 'em for" replied the agent
(Which one do you want?"
There was an expression Of perplex-
ity on the face of the customer II
would bet my head heard her whin-
n.y." he muttered.
They aren't very pretty lot" ven
tured the agent. "but they're all right.
By George, there's one more in the
car" he exclaimed, as he raised the
bars he had dropped and allowed a
buskskin mare, desperately lame be-
hind, to come out.
The face of the young man lighted
up. and he sprang at the fence and
valuted it before the agent could pre-
vent him.
Dolly! It's you, Dolly" he sobbed,
as he threw his arms about the little
mares neck. She rubbed her nose
on his coat and pricked her ears for
ward and backward with pleasure at
the meeting.
The agent allowed the horse and
man to say "howdy' to each other and
then inquired:
well, young fellow, how much will
you give for her?"
How much do you want?" replied
the man.
"Sixty-five dollars said the agent,
and the young man started to count
out the bills.
The mare stood quietly by until
The trade had been made and then
her new owner to the corral |
Il don't need any halter" said the
young man. Il guess we know one |
another we'll enough to get to the
barn without being roped."
The mare followed like a dog and
ogether they entered one of the big
stables.
Give her all she wants and fix her
lp as well as you can,' he remarked
9 the barn men, and after looking
'ver his purchase for several minutes,
le went into the Office.
Seems to know you, sir said one
I the h0stlers.
Yes, | should think so," replied the
uung man. "She knows me and
ertainly know her. She isn't pretty,
ut wouldn't trade her for English
ID. or Hamburg Belle, or any OF :
hose flyers, and | guess Dan Patch
'ould be overlooked if Mr.. Savage ,
hould offer to swap with me for
oily"
"Why?"
Well, I'll tell you. A year ago
Dt summer l was In the California i
l was broke as the old t
an and myself had temporary dis |
sleement. | was working with +
airoad as timekeeper had to ride d
seive miles day through the rough II
: country In California and the lit n
mare used to carry me. I
= would not be here IL 1t had not e
'en Tor her nerve when mine failed. r.
ae DAY We were going along a twist re
trail that was being changed into W
railroad grade. The men had clear Fl
me chaparral from both sides, and
summy. resinous stuff lay stewing 81
ne sun. The grade lay along the 81
. OF canyon and in some places tn
mountain was SO steep that a tn
q could toss a stone half a mile. Is
me grade had been carried into ca
gulches on either side Of a jut- p,
spur and then out again on the he
= OF the spur and around to the lii
'osite gulch. The front OF the spur
straight up 500 feet, and where he
grade passed around 1t si1elved wi
At an angle of about thirty de. We
es to river $500 feet below. Fc
y was a bad sort of a place for su
enderfoot. but Dolly and myself It's
negotiated it many times and on
confidence in her judgment. Pc
Jolly kept pricking her ears back co
9 and casting sidelong glances at pr
and ! did all l could to soothe tn;
Finally there came a puff of sh'
mat carried some of the brands ou
: out on the mountain side, and an
lew more seconds, by leaning ev'
tne edge Of the grade. l could Lo
me blue smoke and yellow flames
hey ate their way into the heaps
rush. The smell OF the rosin in
struck me as being too edi
Tor comfort, and / told the lit for
mare to move along. in
Vhen : gust Of white flame swept Th