Oxford Democrat., 1916-02-22


Tell you what I'll do, Rufe,' ! says
I'll give you $40 for that pig
"T reckon wouldn't sell this shoat,'
says he. If 1t was any other one /
might
"'Why not this one?' asked, fear
full that he might know something.
"'Why, because says he, 1t was
the grandest achievement Of my life.
There amt airy other man that could
have done It II ever have fireside
and children I'll sit beside 1t and tell
'sm how their daddy toted of a shoat
from a whole circus full Of people.
And maybe my grandchildren too
They'll certainly be proud a whole
passel. Why says he, there was two
tents, one openin' into the other. This
shote was on a platform tied with a
little chain. seen a giant and lady
with a fine chance Of bushy white
hair in the other tent I got the shoat
and crawled out from under the can.
vas again without him squeakin as
loud as a mouse. put him under my
coat, and must have passed a hun.
dred folks before I got out where the
streets was dark. reckon / wouldn't
sell that shote, JEFF. I'd want ma to
keep It, 80 there'd be witness to what
I done
"The pig won't live long enough I
saws, to use as an exhibit IN your
senile flreside mendacity. Your grand.
children will have to take your word
for It. I'll give you 500 for the AMI
NAL
"Rufe looked at me astonished.
""The shoat can't be worth anything
Ike that to you,' he says. What do
you want him forr
.'viewing me casuistically,' says /,
with rare smile. you wouldn't think
that I've got an artistic side to my
temper. But I have. I'm a collector.
of pigs. I've secured the world for
unusual pigs. Over in the Wabash val
Icy I've got hog ranch with most
every specimen on 1t, from a Merino
to a Poland China. This looks like
blooded pig to me. Rufe,' says l. I
believe it's a genuine Berkshire. That's
why I'd like to have It.
"T'd shore like to accommodate you,'
says he, but I've got the artistic tene-
msnt too. I don't see why It amt art
when you can steal shoat better than
anybody else can. Shoats- is kind OF
inspiration and genius with me. Spe.
cially this one. / wouldn't take two
hundred and fifty for that animal
"'Now listen, says /, wiping on my
forehead. It's not SO much matter
Of business with me as it Is art, and
not 80 much art as it is philanthropy.
Being q connoisse,Sr and disseminator
of pigs, I wouldn't feel like I'd done
my duty to the world unless / added
that Berkshire to my collection. Not
intrinsically, but according to the eth
les Of pigs as friends and coadjutors Of
mankind. I offer you $500 for the AMI
NAL ~.
".Jeft,' says this pork esthete. It
amt money; It's sentiment with me-
"'seven hundred saysI.
"'Make 1t eight hundred says Rufe,
and I'll crush the sentiment out Of
my heart
IT went under my clothes for my
money belt and counted him out forty
| twenty dollar gold certificates.
"TTl Just take him into my own
room.' says l. and lock him up till aft
or breakfast
"I took the pig by the hind leg. BE
turned on squeal like the steam cal
liope at the circus.
"Let me tote him In for you,' says
Rufe, and he picks up the beast under
one arm. holding his snout with the
other hand. and packs him into my
room like sleeping baby.
AFTER breakfast Rufe, who had q
chronic case of haberdashery ever
since I got his trousseau, says he be.
lieves he will amble dokn to Misftz.
ky's and look over some royal purple
socks. And then ], got a. busy a.
nn>s >vvnaA man nth TIA nnfflA rash