The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-08-09

THE costliest horse ever ran
curry-comb over was Prince Max
said the city liveryman In those
days | had charge of one OF the lars-
est private stables in New England.
Twenty men took orders from me; ana
the values of some Of the animals
under my care ran into five tgures'
But Max was the king of them an
He was blooded trotter with rec
ord on every important track IN the
country. more intelligent than some
men i've known, and with pedigree
longer than your arm Whenever ne
travelled he had his own comfortable
private car. with an experienced
groom as valet and chef Nothing IN
those stables was too good Tor him'
and we were proud as peacocks When-
ever he won a race.
Imagine, then, our surprise ana
CONSERVATION, the second day in july
when got a wire that the Prince
had been sold worse still, he must
start for New York the next day HIS
car was in the repair shop, and that
very morning his groom had set out
for Buffalo, with another horse But
orders were orders, and must be
obeyed.
Il engaged the best box car obtain
able at such short notice, and arranged
to accompany Max myself, partly be-
cause disliked to trust him with an
inexperienced man, partly because
wanted to see as much Of him as pos
sible before saying good-by. AT .
o'clock the next afternoon we were
switched into long freight, and rolled
away southwark
Our car was carpeted with straw
and carefully padded; light and air
came plentifully through strong wood
en- gratings over the open doors A
bale Of pressed hay barrel of oats
and fine feel, and metal water
tank and pals comprised our furnish
ings. My hammock swung from
hook in one corner to the end Of a
grating We planned to make our two
days journey as comfortably as pos
sible.
Wasn't it hot that first might!
got but little sleep Max, unhaltered,
trod restlessly round his narrow, UNI
familiar quarters, now and then push
ing his soft muzzle into my face Every
half-hour, so at least it seemed to me,
whenever | dozed off, the brakeman
would clump along overhead, whist
ling, Way down upon the Swanee
River, or some equally cheerful tune.
He was fond Of music that brakeman.
But he wore unnecessarily heavy
shoes.
After midnight every town was ex-
ploding with patriotism in honor of the
Fourth. With dawn the atmosphere
became sweltering, Our car, freshly
painted green, appeared to draw the
heat Noon came and went Our gen
eral course was south; and the west
ern sun, streaming through the wood
en- CRATE, checkered the straw with
light Sometimes the hot rays fell on
me, sometimes on Max. at last
shut the door This improved matters
a little, although it made the air very
close
The Prince was extremely sensitive
to discomfort. His restlessness and his
rolling eyes showed that his nerves
were on edge. | am sure we both were
thankful when the sun dropped be-
low the horizon
"A series of detonations heralded the
approach of a good sized town. /
tried to open the door but it stuck
fast. The heat was still intense, and
Max felt it, Although | did my best
to soothe him, he quiyered at every
explosion.
We pulled slowly through the
suburbs. My ear caught steady rat
tie ahead like the popping of rifles.
Nearer and louder 1t came; crack
crack! crack-craok-crack! What could
it be? was not long in learning.
The track crossed the principal
street at right angles; and here a
crowd ofeboys, supplied with torpedoes
we're peppering the train from engine
to caboose. They were on the western
aide, so that | could not see them.
but what shout they set up at the
sight of our brilliantly painted car!
Look what's coming! Look what's
coming! All together, fellows.
"ODe lad in especial had shrill.
piercing voice, which rang loud above
the others. ! tried TO shout warning,
but big torpedo struck fairly on the