Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-12-15
Mt PHOENIX BRATTLEBORO FRIDAY, DECEMBER 15
THE YouNesTER WHO CONQUERED.
A Story Of Cattle Show, a Colt and a
Foot Race.


early way to the fair, happened along in
the nick of time, and they all had some
thing to say.
She's handsomer than Herm Lacey's
colt, if she amt SO big, said Dan Bishop,
meaning to be kind.
That only made the ragged tail look
raggeder. If Katura only had size,
flowing symmetrical plume wouldn't be
needed so much.
Herms got Dandy Jim sulky broke,
and borrowed his Uncle Petes gig, so he
can drive round the track and show him
off," announced Dick Henley. Gee
whiz But he looks fine in that shiney
new harness."
Chauncey's courage went into his
boots. Hermon had told him about the
track project but the new harness had
not been hoped for then Well, he mad
no glistening rig for Katura, and through
the endless routine of the crowding fall
crops he had not yet seen time to break
her to shafts.
"Herm laughed to kill himself when
1 told him about Kats tall" chuckled
Tim Frazer. He said that calfs nibble
was all that stood between Dandy and
the brightest ribbon"
Chauncey ground his teeth.
He needn't be so greedy" rasped
Clint ellison. Hes got plenty more
things to exhibit. He's going to take a
calf and a heifer"
II,
Herm had showed him his fancy poultry
and doves, and told him about his rare
fruit and mammoth vegetables. His win
nings last year had amounted to a fine
sum.
He amt got room for thought about
Jim Dandy, nor none the rest'f the pre-
miums, he's so worked up over the foot
race" piped Sam Cole. Sam had thin,
shrill voice which the boys laughed at,
and a face like girl. But he was apt
to take mans measure to the width
of hair, and with those same boys his
estimates stood. whats horses tail
or turkeys feather side'f his own
muscles m grit?"
Jerry Goodel still looked Katura over,
critically, after the provoking way of
boys. you'll enter her, just the same,
tail or no tail?-looks's If the rats d
been at herr!
So they ratified on, moving away till
their clatter was lost to Chauncey's ach-
ing ears.
You'll enter her, just the same, tail
or no tail?" mimcked his brother owen.
II don't want to make a laughing
stock of her." said poor Chauncey.
Nonsense" Theo had said nothing
| when the boys were near, but now her
arm was around Katura's neck Judges
| with any eyes-and sense behind them
| can see that doesn't mar her natural
beauty. Hasn't she all the fine points?
short back, arched neck, small head
-Four legs, two eyes, ears ditto" put
| in Chauncey, grimly
Jim Dandy has a head like an OK"
| owen announced. And a long, weak
| back and lunky body!'
He has tail and name, and foretop,
| like a mermaid-or is it merman?-but
I'd try titles with him.
Proportions stand for something"
| Mr.. Aliens voice sounded a bugle note
| Ch1nnppV Gtr1iphtpnpd
| jected neck. His father was an acknowl-
| edged judge of live stock. Would you
scout second place? It's not a rank to
| put most any colt to shame,-second to
Herm Lacy's Jim Dandy"
| Chauncey swallowed hard and tried to
| meet the older eyes. They had seen
many close competition, those wise old
| eyes, and had glistened at fewer win
| nings than losses. IF Dandys the only
fine specimen there you'll always wish
| you'd taken Kat along. l started in
| once to try for a purse offered for the
| best flock of sheep. At the last minute
1 decided one looked scrubby, and l
wouldn't take them. A straggly lot won
| that money"
| II suspect it's more because he doesn t
want people to see her when she's not
| looking her best" said Chauncey' s
| mother. Chauncey's mother went to the
root of the matter. and Chauncey's ears
| tingled.
| For an hour or more the conflict of
| indecsion tore his breast, but finally he
curried the filly and tied her to the back
| of the family load. He believed fully in
his father, and they all had set their
| hearts upon it. "Herm has so much. -
he groaned. and went to don his Sun
day suit"
white sneaks?" questioned Owen
Turning dude? What's your idea?"
Chauncey gazed at his white-slippered
feet sheepishly, his ideals going up in
the smoke of the scorching derision burn
| ing in his brothers eyes.
"Herms going to wear EN-, and his
suits blue like mine"
But he got his to run in because they
are light. You don't race"
IF Herm runs in them" said Mr.. AL
len, examining the thin rubber soles
hell do the home stretch barefoot
He'll scuff them out before he's hall
through the heat. 1 want a stiff sole
under me when there's anything a
stake"
Lucky you're going to ride" con-
tributed the hired man, "or your feet't
be all stone bruised"
But his mother sympathized, as usual
in her tactful way; "Chauncey has taste
The two leading colts, same age and col
or, with owners same age and color, anC
from same town. At a casual glance
stranger might take boys, as well al
! | COltS LOT lWlnS
Towing Katura from the back of tn,
express wagon, Chauncey caught hi
, breath when Herm drove past, jim
Dandy respondent in ebony and silver
"Oh, that bossy did me a good turn
yelled Herm, swapping his whip at Ka
tura's curtailed appendage. Chaunce.
tried to hullo back good naturedly, blu
the sound died in his throat, and hi
CHEEKY smile faded.
1t was the best fair Aroostook count!
had held in Chaunceys time Chaunce!
led Katura between rows and rows o
equine exhibits, staring at the colts witt
wonder-wide eyes. If Jim Dandy wer
to win! No shame to lose with such a
these! He tied Katura and went to tn
office to register stirling his admiration
for every sweeping tail.
Throughout the day he kept ava.
from Katura's region, interestedly exam
ming every other variety of animal, blu
vigorously turning his gaze from tn
quarter where Jim Dandy lowered lik
: giant, half a hand higher than hi
tallest neighbor. He dreaded to witnes
the humiliation of his rat-tailed pet
When the committee of judges threade,
the mazes of stock, many an owne
crowded close to the committees heels
arguing explaining, endeavoring to in
fiuence the allotment Of premiums. Hern
Lacey was at Jim Dandys nose Whel