Evening star., 1922-10-29
The little man considered.

"Oniy a few hundred dollars al
most" was his opinion. And that's
only if have to overbid very much
Well get most of it back. anyway
when we get 'em to New York"
The three were laughing heartily
when finally they rose 10 go =
Ephraim found Anne at the break
fast table. cool and sweet in fresh
crisp frock of mist-gray linen.
Late again." she reproved him
with smile.
Not a bit of it, said her father.
I've been out walking. girl. Guess
I'll try whack at the old golf this
morning" he volunteered. What
are you going to do. daughter"
Ride. dad. oh, 1t was just Won
derful of you to buy me that little
mare"
II didn't, Anne. l bought it for
myself
But now Ephraim felt suddenly
criminal. for Anne had winked at
him and squeezed his hand. Natu-
rally she thought he was joking.
Well lie wasn't: she'd have to find
that out. And If he knew her
which he did-she would be a dead
game sport about it: shed see the
joke of the thing and nobody's laugh
would be louder than hers.
Ephraim played twelve holes Of
thoughtful golf that morning. He
would have played more. for he felt
as the saying goes. like a king. But
he could wait no longer. He in
tended to be on hand when the re-
turns began to come in.
He did not have to wait long. He
had been summing himself on the
hotel veranda for perh ps ten min-
utes when Anne. with that tall. slim
drink of water gesticulating beside
her. came hurrying up the path. Il
ray. old man." called the tall drink
OF water as he loped up the steps
have you heard the silly news?"
Cant say as 1 have" said
Ephraim, playing poker with his
face. ut must be very important
to excite you. though. What is it?'
Mr.. Harold T. Smith leaned closer
speaking confidentially. There's a
sucker in town. A philanthropist.'
Mr.. Smith continued. "A horse buy.
ing boob. Actually, my dear fellow
! the man has no regard for money
acts as if he were mounting an
army"
Ephraim looked thoughtful.
"He paid Ed Oppdyke four hun.
dred for that crazy little pony OF
his-a pony I wouldn't give ter
cents for" the young man ratified
on. II never saw a man buy horse
flesh that way In my life. Picked
up almost every private mount ir
sight inside Of three hours this
morning. Made me an offer or
Peachboy that I'd be a fool not to
take" He bent close to Ephratm
ear again. "1f I were you I'd stick
him properly for that little mare
He was looking at her half dozen
times"
"The hotel people won't sell out
any Of their horses. I suppose?" sug.
sested Ephraim McAndrus.
"Of course not, my dear chap
They can't-not without untying g
! lot of red tape up in New York-and
they naturally wouldn't anyway"
THAT'S so." said Ephraim.
Come down to the stables this
afternoon" counseled the young
man. whether you sell or not, the
chaps a circus"
A FTER luncheon Ephrain con.
"A sented to visit the stables, being
| escorted thither by Anne and the tai
Mr.. Smith, and there presently he rpe,
a small individual in a black-and'
| white checked suit who was intro.
duced to him az Mr.. Squibbs.
II think I'd like to talk a little
business with you," said the horse
buyer significantly.
Always ready to talk business
was Ephraim's rejoinder as he took
the smaller mans arm and led him
away from the throng. They strolled
out toward the polo field.
Got the whole works." SQuibbs re-
ported when they were well ava,
from the crowd. AL except ono horse