Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-10-04

tip of his black tail to the end of his
crinkiy forelock. He had been broken
to saddle by Green Mountain boy
who knew more of horse nature than
of the trashy things writ in books. He
gave Skipper kind words and an occa-
sional friendly pat on the flank. So
Shippers disposition was sweet and
his nature trusting one.
This is why Skipper learned SO soon
the ways of the city. The first time he
saw one of those little wheeled houses,
all windows and full of people, come
rushing down the street with fearful
whirr and clank of bell he wanted to
bolt. But the man on his back spoke
In an easy, calm voice, saying: 5000!
There, me by. Aisy wild ye. So-o-o!'
which was excellent advice, for the
queer contrivance whizzed by and did
him no harm. In week he could
watch one without even prlcking up
his ears.
It was strange work Skipper had
been brought to the city to do. As a
colt he had seen horses dragging plows,
pulling big loads of hay and hitched to
many kinds of vehicles. He himself
had drawn a light buggy and thought
it good fun, though you did have to
keep your heels down and trot instead
of canter He had liked best to lope
of with the boy on his back down to
the Corners, where the store was.
But here there were no plows or
hay carts or moving machines. There
were many heavy wagons, it was true,
but these were all drawn by stocky
Percherons and big western grays or
stout Canada blacks who seemed fully
equal to the task.
Also there were carriages-my, what
shiny carriages And what smart,
sleek looking horses drew them! And
how high they did hold their heads and
how they did throw their feet about
just as if they were dancing on eggs!
proud, stuck up things" thought
Skipper.
1t was clear that none Of this work
was for him. Early on the first morn
ing of his service men in brass but
toned blue coats came to the stable
to feed and rub down the horses. Skip
per's man had two names. One was
Officer Martin; at least, that was the
one to which he answered when the
man with the cap called the roll before
they rode out for duty. The other name
was "Reddy.D That was what the rest
Of the men in blue coats called him.
Skipper noticed that he had red hair
and concluded that Freddy must be
his real name
AS for Shippers name, it was written
on the tag tied to the halter which he
wore when he came to the city. Skip
per heard him read it. The boy on the
farm had done that, and Skipper was
glad, for he liked the name.
There was much to learn in those
first few weeks, and Skipper learned
it quickly. He came to know that at
inspection, which began the day, you
must stand with your nose just on a
line with that of the horse on either
side. If you didn't you felt the bit or
the spurs. He mastered the meaning
Of fright Dress sIeft Dress" for
ward, . 'fours right" and a lot Of other
things. Some of them were very
strange.
Now, on the farm they had said,
whoa, boy and "Gid a-a-ap.p Here
they said, Halt and forward" But
.Reddy" used none of these terms. He
pressed with his knees on your withers,
loosened the reins and made q queer
little chirrup when he wanted you to
gallop. He let you know when he want
ed you to stop by the lightest pressure
on the bit.
It was lazy work, though. Sometimes
when Skipper was just aching for a
brisk canter he had to pace soberly
through the park driveways-fo Skip
per, although I don't believe / mem
toned 1t before, was part and parcel of
the mounted police force. But there,
you could know that by the yellow
letters on his saddle blanket.
For half an hour at time he would
stand Just on the edge Of the roadway
and at an exact right angle with it, mo-
tionless as the horse ridden by the
bronze soldier up near the Mall. RED
dy'' would sit as still in the saddle too.
It was hard for Skipper to stand there
and see those mincing cobs go by, their
pad housing all a-glitter, crests on their
binders, jingIing their pole chains and
switching their absurd little stubs Of
tails. But 1t was still more tantalzing
to watch the saddle horses canter past
In the soft bride path on the other side
OF the roadway. But, then, when you
are on the force you must do your duty
One afternoon as Skipper was stand
ing post like this he caught new note
that rose above the hum of the park
traffic. 1t was the quick, nervous beat
OF hoofs which rang sharply on the
hard macadam. There were screams
too. It was runaway. Skipper knew
this even before he saw the bell-like
nostrils, the straining eyes and the
foam fecked lips Of the horse or the
scared man in the carriage behind. It
was case Of broken rein.
How the sight made Shippers blood