Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-08-30

entry and in the hippodroaie recess.
Even the ring horses have their share
If road work in wagon show.
To the dappled grays used by Mile.
Zaretti. WIN was a top liner On the
bills, fell the lot Of pulling the ticket
wagon, this being the lightest work.
1t was Mile Zarettis habit to ride one
at the afternoon show, the other in the
evening. So when the nigh gray de-
veloped a shoulder gall on the day that
the off one went lame there arose an
emergency. Also there ensued trouble
for the driver of the ticket wagon.
First be was tongue dashed by made
moiselle, then he was fined weeks
pay and threatened with discharge by
the manager. But when the increasing
wrath of the champion lady equestri-
enne Of America led her to demand his
instant and painful humiliation the
worm turned The driver profanely
declared that he knew his business.
He had Travelled with Yank Robinson,
he had, and no female hair grabber I'M
der canvas should call him down more
than once in the same day. There was
more of this, added merely for empha-
sis. Mile. Zaretti saw the point. She
had gone too far. Whereupon she dis
creetly turned on her high French heels
and meekly asked the boss hostler for
the most promising animal he had.
The boss picked out Calico
No sooner was the top up that day
than Calico's training began. Well it
was that he had learned obedience, for
this was to be his one great opportuni-
ty. Many a time had Calico circled
around the banked rings outer circum-
ference, but never had he been within
it. Neither had he worn before broad
pad. By dint of leading and coaxing
he was made to understand that his
part of the act was to canter around
the ring with Mile. Zaretti on his back,
where she was to be allowed to go
through as many motions as she
pleased.
For a green horse Calico conducted
himself with much credit He did not
stumble. He did not shy at the ring
masters whip. He did not try to dodge
the banners or the hoops after he found
how harmless they were.
"Well, if cut my act perhaps / can
manage, but if break my neck ! hope
you'll murder that fool driver" was
Mile. Zaretti's verdict and petition
when the lesson ended.
Mile Zaretti's gyrations that after
noon and evening were somewhat tame
when you consider the manner in
which she was billed. Calico did his
part with only a few excusable blum
ders, and she was so pleased that he
got the apples and sugar plums which
usually rewarded the grays.
The CALLED shoulder healed, but the
lame leg developed into an incurably
stiff joint. Three nights later Calico,
to his great joy, left the band chariot
team forever, to find himself on the
light ticket wagon and regularly en-
tered as ring horse. Nor was this
all When the season closed Nile.
Zaretti bought Calico at an exorbitant
price He was shipped to strange
place, where they put him in box
stall, fed him with generous regularity
and asked him to do absolutely moth
ing at all.
1t was month before Calico saw his
mistress again He had been taken
into great barnlike structure which
had many skylights and windows.
Here was an ideal ring, smooth and
springy, with no hidden rocks or soft
spots such as one sometimes finds
when on the road Mile. Zaretti no
longer wore her spangled pink dress.
Instead she appeared in serviceable
knickerbeckers and wore wooden soled
slippers on her feet In the middle OF
the ring a man who was turning him
self into a human pinwheel stopped
long enough to shout: Hello, Kate!
Signed yet?'
ssYou bet. said Mile. Zaretti. Next
spring / go out by rail with three
topper. I'm going to do the real bare
back act too. No more broad pads
and wagon shows for Katie. Hey,
Jim, rig up your Stokes mechanic
Jim, stout man who wore his
suspenders outside blue sweater and
talked huskily, arranged swinging
derrick arm, the purpose of which, it
developed, was to keep Mile. Zaretti
off the ground whenever she missed
her footing on Calico's back. There was
a broad leather belt around her waist
and to this was fastened a rope. Very
often was this needed during those
first three weeks of practice. for, true
to her word, Mile Zaretti no longer
strapped on Calico's back the broad
pad to which he had been accustomed
At first the wooden soles hurt and
made him finch, but in time the skin
became toughened and he minded them
not at all, although Mile. zaretti was
no featherweight.
Long before the snow was gone Mile.
Zaretti had discarded the derrick arm.
Urging Calico to his best speed, she
would grasp the cinch handles and
with one light bound land on his well
resined back Then, as he circled