Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-30

is not important to relate. The
moralist might find in the narra-
tive painful instance of moral disintegration
and decay the cynic might smile and regard
the whole episode as indicating nothing more
Oulpable than childish credulity and vanity.
For this reason the story will never be told.
am satisfied that those who have shared with
me an interest in horses, those in whose veins
has flowed the deadest virus known to man,
will understand. They know that this interest
is fraught with many dramatic possibilities and
that it may lead the most virtuous of men, on
occasion, perilously near the rocks of moral
turpitude.
From the moment that horse lover takes
his first tentative steps into this, half-gypsy
land of paddock and race track, auction room
and hunting field, when he first feels within
him the STRINGS of strange desire and learns
to know that it is the call of the horse, from
that moment he treads the paths of new and
wonderful country.
1t is not alone the noble beast that allures:
it is far more the followers in his train-men
and women, rich and poor, wise and foolish,
virtuous and vicious, all actuated by motives
ranging from the nobleSt and pureSt to the
most Soroid and unworthy.
It was into this unknown world that ven
tured many years ago, and in it I have seen
strange things and stranger people. 1t was in
this land that / first encountered Tobias, and
for many months dwelt there with him. It
had been written in the book of fate that we
should meet. was the one person in the
world suited to Tobias and his needs, and he
was for me as the shadow of great rock In q
weary land. The most trivial circumstance
brought about this epochal meeting. desired
horse. Not any horse, for had long since
passed that early stage. desired one particu-
lar and special horse.
I desired a horse, and with cold deliberation
and callous indifference to the consequences
conspired to secure him. At this point Tobias
had come. Tobias and were to meet. It was
moment Of tremendous significance to US
both, though we did not fully realize it at the
time. Tobias came to me with credentials as
the one intermediary who could secure the de-
sired horse for me. Blinded as I was at the
moment by the fervor Of my longing, did not
regard Tobias as anything more than an in
strument to this end.
THE negotiations proved long and diffcult
was still inexperienced enough to find 1t
almost impossible to diSsemble my desires, and
! marveled at the coldly Indifferent manner in
which Tobias approached the owner. I have
since grown to regard as one of his most en-
gaging qualities the horseman's ability to stifie
all his longings and to conduct long and deli
cate transactions In a manner of utter boredom.
At last however, secured the horse. Even
this triumphant conclusion Of our labors did
not excite TOBIAS. He Drought me the news
with the same air Of orld-weary indifference
that had characterized him from the first It
is true that my exultation was somewhat tenn
pered by the fact that the price paid for the
beast was considerably higher than that had
authorized Tobias to pay, but this did not seem
to be a matter of interest to him. Nor did the
horse prove to be the jewel had hoped, but
Tobias assured me that they rarely were; and
after all, he pointed out, it was I who wanted
the animal, not he.
After few months of troubled and disillu-
SIGNING ownership I again sought Tobias, this
time to dispose of the horse for me. The previ-
GUS owner had assured me that he had parted
with the horse only under the pressure of tenn
porary embarrassment, and that at any time
he would be glad to buy him back at the price
I paid for him.
impaired this information to Tobias, but be
did not seem to be impressed by it. The proc
ess of selling was much more rapid than that
of purchasing, despite the fact that the previ-
Gus owner was still in difficulties and could not
buy the horse as he most ardently desired. In
fact as Tobias explained to me, the horse mar
ket was in a very unsettled condition, and If I
desired to sell (Which most certainly did he
advised me to take any offer / could get.
Things we're very bad. Again Tobias triumphed.
I sold at a figure considerably below the lowest
had fixed, but any sale just then was mira
Gle so Tobias said.
BY this time Tobias was firmly woven into
the warp and wool of my horse life. On the
whole, profited by it, But sordid motives were
the smallest factor in my regard for Tobias.
His appearance alone was enough to reward me.