The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-04
SHREIW HORSE
i TRADER BOWS
| To GIRL
David Hannum, Prototype Of
David Harum, Fooled BY
Youthful Friend.
- Internatlonal Now eervice.

CORTLAND, N. r, April A.
How David Hannum, Cortland
horse trader, who was the proto-
fyue of the shrewd and eccentric
"Dayid Harum," depicted In the
novel of Edward Moves Westcott,
once was beaten at his own game
by q girl, il recalled by ike" Finn,
the original OF another character in
the novel. who still lives at South
Cortland
Ike. now advanced In years but
hale and active, Is the dick Lar.
rabee' OF Westcott's Yankee-fla-
vored tale and the quaint charac-
teristics which endeared him to
readers of q generation ago are
still outstanding.
The incident recalled by Ike 10
not embodied in the book. and Its
like occurred but once in all his
lifetime to David Hannum. who
prided himself on getting the best
OF every bargain he drove In his
long horse-swapping career.
Outguessed BY Girl.
To make his humiliation the
deeper, David's downfall was &C.
complished by q. schoolgirl. the
daughter of neighbor. who had
learned the game from David HIM
self She was Miss Maybelie
Adams. OF Homer, since become
widely known as q vtolinist on the
Keith vaudeville circuit and as an
overseas entertainer. She Is liv-
Ing in New York and returns to
visit her parents in Cortland ire
Quently.
MaybeIIe was a favorite with
David, and almost daily she visited
him on his farm. adjoining that Of
her father in Homer. Under
David's tuition her bright eyes were
opened to the good and bad points
Of horseflesh In q. way that was to
prove extremely useful to her in
her trade later.
On Maybelle's sixteenth birthday
her father gave her q colt OF excel
lent pedigree, which, when broken,
became one Of the finest trotters
in Cortland county.
David's discerning eye had been
taken with the colt for q long time.
and for David Hannum to single
out a horse for his own meant,
eventually. that the animal must
fall into his hands It was q law
OF attraction which within the mem.
Org Of Cortland County had never
failed.
Girl Willy Trader.
David offered to trade riding
horse for his little neighbor's trot-
ter. Maybelle. listening demurely
and respectfully as David outlined
the proposition. gave no hint. even
to the sharpeyed trader. Of the
true state of affairs. She didn't
care to trade. she said. ana David
meyer guessed that her fancy for
the saddle horse was quite as keen
as Hannum's fancy for the trotter.
Maybelle waited for David to re-
new his offer. as she knew quite
well he would. With each refusal
Davjd's determination increased un-
I'll at last the horseman made an
offer that suited her. She agreed
TO take So and the saddle horse in
exchange for the trotter.
The shrewdest horse trader in
New York State drove the trotter
home in triumph. Three days later
the animal died in his stall.
The wrathful Hannum demanded
restitution from MaybelIe's father.
Adam declined to accept responsi.
bility. contending that the trade had
been made in good faith and that
neither Maybelle nor he was to
blame for the unexpected turn OF
affairs.
Hannum went to law. He lost
his case-failed to regain his saddle
horse and walked out Of the court
room beaten in q horse trade for
the first time in his life.
MaybeIle and David continued
friends, but the enmity aroused be-
tween Adams and Hannum by the
bitterly fought lawsuit never died,
and although they continued neigh
bors neither ever spoke to the
other again.