The Washington herald., 1907-05-05
7hrOWdi
Hank DeWbeTry Had a
ChanSt 10 Get a HOSS
for Nothing, but
Failed

There was a good cal OF excitement and
almost a fatality In Bingville last Tues
day afternoon which come about in a
pecooliar way. Hoke Smith had rode into
BingvtlIe from his farm TWO miles west
70 see Il there was any mail for him at
the postohice (there wasn'D and TO get
five Lbs OF sugar at Hen Weathersoy' 3
store for his wife and a LIB. Of prunes II
Hen had any Che had).
Hoke rode his little piebald Intun pony
which ne purchased last year from Abe
Hawkins who bought II from a man who
brought car load OF ponies from Texas
and sold them out TO whoever wished 70
buy one for SIS each. Hoke's pony didn't
have no name when he bought Il but II
had a brand on its rump which was a
&c" IN q circle and so HoNe he called
the pony "Ginjer" which he calkilated
was what the &c" stood for.
Well after Hoke had asked for his mail
and purchased his sugar and prunss and
also a seegar which he set down In the
store and smoked up while be engaged IN
social discourse on the crops. et cetera,
he calkilated he must be on his way back
70 the farm, so he went outside the store
and unhitched Ginter from the hitching
rail Several OF The fellers had follered
Hoke outen the store TO wish him god
speed and see him on, as you might say,
and among them was Hank Dewberry.
Hcke he put the prunes IN one end OF
grain bag and the sugar In t'other and
slung the bag crOst the saddle and elm
on the pony which seemed 20 be most
asleep While Hoke was getting his feet
axed In the stirrups Hank Dewberry he
I'D and saws, ''Toke I calkilate that pony
would be a tolerable good riding boss If
he was a leetle more wide awake"
Hes wide awake enough" says Hoke:
he's got enough git-up-and-go in him
when he wants IL.
"Aw shueks," says Hank, ne amt
got no more sprawl n a ole COW, that
pony sin't-he couldn't keep up 70 the
hearse at a funeral.
II kind OF riIed Hoks up to have any
person make inVidious remarks Ike that
concerning his pony and so he jumps
ofsen the pony and goes up to Hank and
says 'I'll tell you what I'll DO. Hank
Dewberry-I'u let you take this pony and
git on him right here and now and II you
kin ride him down Main street to the
Town Hall and back and stay IN the
saddle all the time you're doin' It. I'll
make you a present OF him an Il was
to sell him wouldn't take a cent less'n
q hundred dollars for him"
''You surprise me-" says Hank. DO
4
down 10 the Town Hall an back / sit
him % keep for my own personal prop
erty7''
'sThem's what mean" says Hoke.
AN I call on everybody present to be a
witness"
by gosh, III take you up" says Hank
hauling of his coat, but !t's almost A
shame to get a hoss so easy-seems. ike
was gettin' him under false pretenges -
Hoke didn't say nothing to this-hs
iest handed Hank the reIns and everv-
body present gethered around to see
what would happen. AS for Ginter. he
opened his eyes and seemed to take
notice OF Hank. but he looked as friend
Iy as could be and when Hank TUX mol;
OF his name IN one hand and the back
Of the saddle with tOther and put hts
foot IN the stirrup and says. Steady
nov. Ginjer, It'll I git on!' Giajer he
stood Jest as quiet as a lamb and Hank
he pulled hlsself into the saddle and
gathered Up the relns and looked around
with a smile GinjeF stood there with his
head down like as II he would haft 10
be pushed II ne was ever moved outen
his tracks ct eaikiiate he's as good as
mine right now" SAYS Hank to Hoks
"an I give you warning that You can't
back out" ''I don't want TO back out"
s2ys Hoke. go ahead and ride him to