The Dolores star., 1909-06-11
SatferIee's
Deal
copyrisht. by J. B. Lppincott Cob
ny ALFRED .STODDART

1T is long time." said Middleton.
Since We have sold Satterlee
horse"
That's so." answered the NJ. F. II.
Nov ] have a hunter ! don't need.
think he would just suit Percy
There's that brown cob that Hig-
gins stuck me with" put in Ralph Cor
ing. Il wonder II Satterlee wants
cob"
i was a warm afternoon In the
early fall. There had been a little des
ultory polo, but the season was over
and the game lacked snap. 1t was al
most too soon to think of hunting yet.
and so the Meadowthorpe crowd-or
rather. the three or four members Of
1t who sat on the clubhouse porch
cast about them for some other sport
Percy wants a new hack pony"
spoke up Tom Halliday. Il hear the
one he has Is a cribber."
HIN! I'm Just out OF ponies. My
usual luck" growled Middleton. And.
speaking of angels, hear the rustic
OF their wings-or the putting OF Sat
terlee's cribber. for here he comes"
Mr.. Percival Satterlee cantered up
the lane which led to the clubhouse
porch sitting back gracefully In his
saddle, AZ became the rider of pony
with rocking horse gait. He pulled
the animal back upon his launches
and alighted with something Of o
flourish. requesting waiter to ring
for groom to take his pony.
Nice pony you have there, Percy"
ventured Bradbury. the NJ. F. H.. eying
the rather good-looking brown hack.
"Yes. pretty fair pony. but he's hard
ly up to my weight. I've a notion to
let him 60"
is that the only fault he has?"
IF he has any others. l haven't
discovered 'em yet" returyed Satter-
lee. thinking possibly that this was
his opportunity to do" some Of the
chaps who had done him SO often.
"l've got one that might trade
with you." mused Middleton reflec
lively.
Thought you just said you were out
Of pouies?" questioned the NJ. F. H.
Only one left. but he's a good one
I'll you what, Satterlee, my wife's iE
town and I'm dining here at the club
You stop and dine with me. and. mean.
while. II you will let my man ride your
pony over to my place he can fetch
my pony back. You can look 1t over
after dinner. and II you like 1t we car
trade. II not, I'll send your pony back
the first thing in the morning"
We'll. I'm game" answered Satter'
lee. especially as Mrs. Satterlee IL
dining with her mother this evening"
1t is astonishing what an interest
country gentlemen take In horse
deal, even such an insignificant one
as an exchange of 14-hand ponies. In
a short time Middleton's cosy little
dinner a deux had extended itself to
dinner for the crowd. Five in all
gathered around the table in the end
Middleton. Satterlee, Ralph Goring,
Tom Halliday, and Bradbury. the M.
F. H.
Many subjects of conversation came
up for discussion polo season just
passed. the hounds. their hunters, the
prospects for the fox-hunting. for the
fall race-meeting-but eventually the
talk always got around to the trade in
ponies. It was evident that all the
men present took more or less interest
in It.
Satterlee was in rare good -humor.
At last, thought he. his opportunity
had come. II he could only succeed
in palming his worthless cribber of
on Middleton In exchange for any sort
of pony that would go on four legs,
Percy felt that his ambition would be
satisfied. And Fate seemed to be play
ing into his hands, for Middleton was
apparently very much taken with the
cribber.
You may be sure that Satterlee
dined and wined well-under the cir
cumstances: not too well. perhaps, but
rather more than wisely for a man
engaged in what David Harum would
call a "hoss.swap" At all events, he
was talking louder than anyone else
by the time the party arose from the
table and sauntered out to the stable
yard.
Middleton said his man should be
there with his own pony by tnat time,
and, sure enough, there was a groom
leading a pony to and fro under the
electric lights in the stable-yard.
The pony was about the same size
as Satterlee's, but his color was quite
different. Satterlee's pony was rich
brown. This one was dirty slate-col-
or. Also he was thinner-looking than
Satterlee's pony, and while the crib
Der had two white forefeet, this ami
malls legs we're Of the same slaty hue
as his body.
He seemed quiet and well-mannered,
which Satterlee noted with satisfac-
ton. The stable-yard was large and
well-lighted, and Middleton begged
Satterlee to throw his leg over him."
The latter did mount the pony, after
some persuasion and with no little diff