The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-08-31
A Horse Is a
Horse
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By Archie Cameron New

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Copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure Eewspa.
Per Syndicate.)
A mighty crowd of men, all ages
colors. and Of various states Of servi
tude, seethed, surged and iostled each
other, in the bed of Pelham street
their faces all turned towards Marks
auction stables, and their eyes impa
tiently fixed on a large red stand tC
the left of the open concourse. There
were those bent on grim bargaining
and many of these were now turning
into the street from the large con.
course, to swell the larger thrOng OF
those gathered from mere curiosity, to
see and not to buy.
And now the stellar attraction, q
stalwart athlete, whose muscles of iron
were almost visible through the blue
suit that he wore, emerged from the
stable offices, accompanied by pur.
plish rotund individual, whom many
recognized as Marks. But every one
present, doctors. lawyers, merchants
anu CIllCISP III anu
buns without them, knew the other
and proclaimed the fact as they surged
again towards the red stand.
"Jack Bedford" yea, you jack
''oh, you big boy" and the like rang
out, as the former well-known light
weight champion Of the fistic ring
bowed his smiling acknowledgment to
the crowd. But Marks knew what he
was there for, and stepped promptly
to the front Of the stand, while Bed
ford lightly vaulted over the side and
was Immediately swallowed up in a
circle of admiring fans.
Scents, y know what yer ere for"
he announced. graphically. "Jack Bed
ford, former champion lightweight and
late Of Boethron's circus, has brought
his entire string Of horses here t. be
sold. Not t be given away; y'under-
staRd! Loosen up yer purse-strings,
gents. Tear tn string off yer rolls. an
let yer biddin' be fas' and furious.
Jed, bring out No. l." Marks gave the
command over his left shoulder, and
soon hostler paraded before the
stand, leading the first of Bedfords
magnificent stock of horses.
Zone hundred" sang out short, fat
man, with a whip In his hand, as the
big bay mare again passed in front Of
the stand, and Marks giared at the bid
der scornfully.
"We're not sellin' tn hoofs," he
barked out. This ere animal goes in
one piece. Gents, do I ere any more?
Hunnerd'n twenty-five? Thankee, sir.
Now fifty! Fifty, ataboy! Now sew
enty-fve! Remember, these are prime
stock, not platers."
Bedford, at the side of the stand,
disengaged himself for moment from
the recital of a wrinkled old fan,
who'd seen every lick between Sulli-
van and Sharkey, yes, sir" and STEP
ped up to large, red-faced man close
by.
do bid 'em up now, jim" Bedford
whispered hastily in the others ear.
But watch your step! Get out from
under if you see the bidders weaken
in. You know the rest"
The man nodded grmily and went to
the front of the stand. where he was
soon engaged in boosting the bid
ding"
Meanwhile, one Of the hostlers,
at the entrance to the stables,
felt timid touch on his sleeve, turned ,
with a gruff exclamation, which died
on his lips as his mouth opened slowly.
For facing him was a dainty little
miss, whose brown curls dangled be-
under smart little hat, and
whose saucy, bright eyes shone on him
BEG pardon, Miss" he said, doffing
his cap. "What'd y say?"
MAY go in there?" she asked, in
low tone, at marked variance with the
shouts in the street. She pointed to
the stables, packed with Bedford's
horses.
Sorry, Miss" was the apologize
answer. "It's 'gainst tn rules. Buyers
wuz allowed in before the sale, but not
now. You'd get hurt. TIL boss won't
low it,"
"Oh, no." she spoke up, brightly. 81
get hurt. I'm used to horses. !.
Besides, I know 'enf all-every last I
)ne in there"
Then, as he wavered, she pressed
'clincher" into his palm.
"I'll bet you / won't get hurt" she |
old him, with twinkle in her eyes. |
And I'm paying my bet In advance"
II can't go in there, June" said a
slightly older girl at her side. "fm
afraid"
"Never mind" June replied, prompt
,. "You wait here" And then, hold
ng her smiling spell" over the host
err, she entered the stable.
She went among the horses, patting
hem as she moved among them, and
hen, apparently finding the object of,
Ter search, she few to the side Of a
zig white horse, with black splotch
light over his right eye.
"Freckles" she exclaimed, delight
dly. "You dear old fellow!"
The animal addressed looked toward
Ter. and then, with a loud "neigh,"
tarted toward her.
Look ont. Missn cried tho hoStler