The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-06-28
fIEfbALY
SHORT STORY
Al Horse Is a Horse.
n ARCHBT CAMERON NEW.
fCSoTTirht, 1918, By the Mcclure
NfSvtnaaoP gyndicAtO.)


~ ,oIor1. ana OF various states OF ser.
AVitude, Seethed. surged and jostled
Zach other, IN the bed Of Pelham stTeei.
lhoiF faces ell turned towards Marks
0uoflon stables and their eyes impa'
fIrnflV fixed on q large red stane 70
~ len OF The open concourse. TheTe
were those bent on grim bargenins'
~ manV OF these we're now turning
30 lie street from tho large con.
course, % swell the larger 'hrong OIL
fhooe gathered from more curiosity, 10
oso and not 10 buy.
And now tho Dtener attraction a
OtnlWaFt athlete. whose muscles OF
iran were almost visible through the
Nee suit that he wore. emerged from
~ stable office, accompanied By a
Vnrplish rot,md individual, whom
lnonV recognized AZ Marks. But every
Ono Dre8ent, doctors. lawyers. mer'
chants ana chiefs, soldiers in uniform,
nnh buns without them. knew the
ofheF and proclaimed the fact as they
eurred again towards the red stand.
Jack Bedford" yea you Jack
cob, you big by" and the like ranI
ant. a. the former Well.known light
weight champion OF the fistic ring
h1Woh his smiling acknowledgment
% the crowd. But Marks knew what
he was there for and stepped promptly
70 the front OF the stand, while BED.
fora lightly vauited over the side and
was Immediately swallowed Up in 4
circle OF admirlng fans.
Scents v knOw what yer ere ior'
he announced. graphically. Jack Bed
ford, former champoen lightweight,
aud late Of BothrOn'S circus has
brought his entire string Of horses
here & be sold. Not { be given away.
y'undorstand! LcoEen m yer purse
strings. gents. Tear tn string off yer
rolls, an let yer biddin' be faS' and
furious. Jed, ping out No l." Marks
gave the command over his LEFT shoul-
De-, and soon hostler paraded before
the stand, ieading the first OF Bod
fOFd'S magnificent stock OF horses.
eOao hundrc1,' SANG out short fat
man, with a whip in his hand. as the
kg bay maze ag3,n passed in front
az the ctald. aid Marks Slarel at the
bidder seonfuliy.
"WCFe not sellin' tn hOofs," he
hafzed out. "Th!s ere animal goes IN
one piece. Gents. do ERE cly more?
firnnerd'n twenty-five? Thsnlco sir.
Nov fifty! Fifty. ataboy! Now seven.
ty.five! E'mcmbe", these are prime
ffocli. not D.atcrs"
Bedford. at the SIDE o. the stand.
disea3aSed hlm1c'f Tor a moment from
the recital OF a vrinl.led old fan,
"Who'd seen every lick between Sal
Ivan and Snar.;cy. yes. sir aEd
stepped up to large, rcd.faced man
c,0se b..
"Do bid EN- Up ! on. jim" Bedford
whispered hastily in the others ear.
a1r.. watch your stoD' Gct cut from
Under Il you see the bidders wcakcnin'
You KNOW the rest"
Tho man nodded C-imly and went 10
he fgcnt OF tne stand, where he was
Eoon engaged in boosting the bid
dino"
Meanwhile, one o. the hostlers,
standing at the entrance 10 the sta
b.oo, felt a tlmid touch on his sleeve,
lur7cd with a gTuif exclamation, which
fiod on his ll1S a. his mouth opened
g.oWly. FOR facing him was a dainty
little miss, whose brown curls dOngled
hecomilgly under a smart little hat,
and whose SGucy, bright eyes shone on
him appealingiy.
"Bog pardon, miss" he said, dof;ing
hls cap. "What'd y say:"
"1fey / 60 m there?' she asked. in a
low tone. at marked variencs with the
shouts IN the street. She pointed TO
The stables, packed with Bcd!ord's
hbfse5.
sorry, miss" was the apO!ogetic an.
tReF. TITS 'gainst tn rules. Buyers
wa allowed In before the sale, but not
hoW. You'd set hurt. tn boss won't
low f."
"oh, no." she spoke up, brightly. 81
wouldn't get hart. I'm used to horses.
Besides, ] know 'em all--every last
tie IN there"
Then, as he wavered, she pressed a
.clinch0r" into his palm.
'f1l bet you / won't get hurt" she
l0lfd him, VITA a twinkle in her eyes.
And I'm paying my bet IN advance"
can't 80 in there. June" said a
slightly older Girl at her side. I'm
liFald."
'Nevor mind" June replied, prompt.
y. "YOu wait here" And then hold.
ng her smiling spell" over the host.
-. she entered the stable.
She went among the horses, patting
hem as she moved among them. and
lon, apparently finding the object Of
er search, she flew TO the side Of q
70 white horse, with q black splotch
lght over his eye.
'Fteeklesl" she exclaimed. delight.
nly. You dear old fellow"
Tue animal addressed looked toward
leH and then, with q loud ''noigh. :"
taried toward her.
Look out, miss" cried the hostler.
Fatningly. He'll"
And then IS Freeklos stopped IN his
racks, ana rubbed his head against
ler shoulder. the Aostler looked on in
ma1emont.
WY, miss, be knows yau!"
Certainly &c dooS!" came her han.
answer. I'VE we're chuma for a
9 year. weren't We, Freckles -
she turned 10 the hostler. "Are
3 going to-sell-him-too?''
a horse q . horse" was the grim
usWof. sure be gets sold. II you