Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-16
ETHICS OF A
HORSE TRADE
"MUM's THE WORD" is THE
RULE
LET THE OTHER FELLOW BLOW
OFF
Two incidents Related by Veterans Of
the Business Proving the Value
of Silence in a
Deal

mo, SIR I never held 20 that idea"
Two horse traders were talking yes
terday of the ethics of the business,
and the short, fat man made the fore
going remark in speaking of the opin-
ion of persons outside the craft that
horsemen should tell all they knew
concerning animals offered for sale
Il always do just as | did with a
team the other day. the shor. man
continued, drawing his slouch hat down
right. The mare want short of 1S
year old and the old hoss didn't have
more'n two years the best of her. But
they was good lookers-fat, ami they
stepped pretty lively, too. I'd cut the
hair out O their ears and they pricl1ed
up their heads at sounds like young
colts. Well, when the fellow said he'd
big enough-$250, L said. He looked
en- over and asked me if there was
anything wrong with 'em and how old
they was.
Now, see here l says-just like |
always do in trades like that. Now,
see here, stranger, don't know no
more about horsefiesh than you do.
they're sound as those new In God We
Trust gold pieces. You en- see for
yourself that their legs is as clean as
rifle barrels and they're in good con-
6ltion.'
age? Never a word of course. 1
saw the man was just leetle green
and never mentioned it. He didn't
either, then-but the next morning he
came back and talked them animals
ages to me.
Runs Doctor in on Deal
after he'd paid me 1925 in hard
money, he goes and gets horse doctor
to look that team over. The doctor
te lis him they're all right, barrin' tn
fact they was old enough for citizen
ship, an my friend wants to trade me
lack. l told him they didn't no re-
niggin go and he'd have to keep the
veterans even If he'd sue me.
Il told him as tell you that l told
him all had any business tellin' him.
II he got bit it was his own fault.
can't see how boss trader can be said
to be misrepresentin things when he
Jus keeps his mouth shut"
Right you are, neighbor," the tall
man with the black hat answered
Fright y'are. Men in our business has
the right to take advantages of what
few opportunities come our way
rec'lect a swap l made month ago.
had a little span of mules, good ones
too, and young. A fellow 1 knowed-
he was boss snapper, too-had the
fTiskiest little stopper you ever saw
hitched to a trap. I wanted the animal
to do the society act on the boulevards,
an so l went to his owner and offered
him a trade. I offered to swap the
mules for the trotter and $50 to boot.
1T looked like a good trade to the
boy. Too good, guess, and he squint-
ed at them mules and jerked 'em around
until I was afraid one of 'em would
kick him or bite him and ruin the
deal. He finally says it's trade, an
l took the colt and fifty bucks.
Mule Has "Horse Neck" Thirst
II saw him the next mornin'. He
didn't say nothin for minute an then
busted out:
Jim. 1 didn't believe you'd treat an
old friend that way. 1 suspic,oned
somethin' was wrong an when l got
that pair of jackrabbits home I soon
found out. / took 'em to the water
tank to drink an that off critter got
right down on his knees and begun to
drink like he was starved! My little
girl was out there, an she asked me If
il was a prayin' mule. I wasn't feelin
very religious just then I en- tell you
But, say, Jim, have you tried every
thing you knew to cure that varmint's
stiff neck?
II told him had an he sold the ami
NAL to a huckster two days after
but as you was sayin' a man don't
want to say too much, an If he's
swappin' ponies he better jest restrain
his vocabulary an let the other guy
do the conversation stunts"