Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-15

the Lord Valor strain all right. his
big heart and Er mothers small
bones. That's the trouble: she'd carry
a house and drop in her tracks before
she'd quit"
His fingers probed the injured ten
dons and the. swollen ankles. One
after another he raised the hoofs and
studied them. Finally he Strengthened
up and spat reflec.iveIy.
Breed her" he advised. she's
through" f
Sandy McKee's lower jaw dropped
and then set stubborn!y with g. click.
81 say she runs again"
"A!l right" rumbled the other. ION
the day she does lay you a thou
sand TO one" and he waddled indig-
nantly away.
Not by the slightest expression of
his face or voice did Sandy Mckee
betray TO Lady Courageous the fear
that was in his heart He knew too
much about horses for that.
"Old Doc Kelly's got funny way
about him." he confided to the mare
that night. but he means all right.
Next week he'll be hanging over the
door just waiting for a chance to
help out; you see II he don't"
The next day he set about cuttin
down the contracted hoofs and recti-
flying the horny pad in the sole Of the
right forefoot mo more shoes for q
while. old girl" he chirruped; "goins
fax no
spread them hoofs. Just going to
make you a mud-pack for that bad
frog--funniest little old boot you ever
saw--just you wait and see!"
Lady Courageous nickered and bent
warm nostrils to his coat pocket He
produced the customary lump OF
sugar and stroked her neck and tanks
with long. firm pressure of his
wrinkled hands.
In the evening he returned bearing
q leather arrangement half full Of
soft blue mud. The marc bent an
inQuisitive muzzle over the strange
object, and then wrinkled her nose
and upper lip.
Now, now" he scolded, I'm not
going to ask you to eat It. Here. give
me the foot" The hoof yielded to
his touch and over 1t he fitted the
improviscd boot.
There" he grunted. that's the
best little old mud in the country
right out Of the well OF Verona.
Mind you, don't knock it loose"
That night Lady Courageous leaned
one khoulder against the side OF the
staff and eased herself to the straw
bed, holding her right foreleg gin
gerly from the floor. Mckee grinned
approximately.
For several days he concentrated
on the task Of reducing the. swelling
over the tendons, applying cool, dry
bandages the last thing at night and
wet cloths for the day treatment.
He looked up one day to find the
light from the doorway blocked by
the figure OF old Doc Kelly.
WHY don't you use the firing
iron?" demanded the veterinarian.
"Cross-fire both legs and then blis-
ter them. Bring her down to my
place"
out Of my light"
"A thousand to one, you old foolr'
Doc Kelly yelled, "a thousand says
you haven't even 60: selling platter.
I'd operate on your head II II
wasn't made o. front" He casomed
away. snorting the vengeance OF
heaven on all scotchmen.
Nevertheless, old Doc KeIly's 1ug-
gestion conceded exactly with m
impression that had been gathering
strength in McKee's own MIND.
Lady" he whispered to the mare
I'm afraid we're going to have to do
something cruel to you. but 1t amt
half so cruel. after all. rs keeping
you from the barriey when you've
been raised for nothing else. Un-
derstand. old girl? We're going to
have to hurt you; going to burn the
skin so that II, folds right close 70
the bone and holds thess tsndoas n
place. Then wen pat on your III
OIL red stockings. and by apd by