The midland journal., 1945-09-21

depressed her. She didn't mind the
ancient brood mares and the scrubs,
but Sultanl And the three sorrel
mares! And the two bluesl
'Skippy might help" said Nell,
"and you could squeeze her in
she's SO small they wouldn't know
she was there"
'Ken, come herei" yelled his ia
ther.
He put Ken on Skippy, placed her
IN advance Of all the others and told
the boy to ride her through the
chute and up the ramp. As Ken
did so, Rob and Howard forced the
others horses after them.
Skippy led the procession trium-
phantly but laid her ears back when
she found herself penned into cor
ner of the truck with no room to
kick and no oats.
"Just promise not to bring Skippy
back, even If you have to give her
away" called Nell as they closed
the truck.
She walked up onto the hill to see
the last of them. Kim and Chaps
sat down beside her and watched
too. She thought she saw hand
waving just before the truck went
around the curve. Then it was gone
and she hurried indoors.
The old brood mares sold imme-
diately for forty dollars apiece after
it was ascertained that each one
carried a foal.
"Better that than the coyotes"
muttered Rob.
There was more bidding for the
scrubs. They were ridden around
and around the ring by the ring
boys, while whips cracked and
the raucous voice of the auctioneer
ratified as fast as the tobacco SELL
ers on the radio.
The scrubs were auctioned off for
an average of forty-five dollars
each.
Sultan was led in.
my Gosh! Look at that horsel"
exclaimed the auctioneer. The ham,
mer crashed. who'll bid a hum
dred for him? A hundred! A hum
dredl Who'll bid hundred?"
AS he poured out his line, the
ring boy made leap for Sultan's
back. Sultan reared and plunged
away, tore loose from the rope, and
went galloping around the ring.
Three boys pursued him, cornered
him, got his rope; he still fought
them, the whips cracked, he lashed
with his heels, and the auctioneer,
not looking at him, was crying,
who'll bid a hundred? Am I bid
hundred?"
"Seventy-ive," bid a heavy-set
| farmer.
"Seventy-six!" bid the man in the
bowler hat.
The farmer bid eighty" The
man in the bowler hat bid eighty
one."
Sultan was sold to the farmer
for ninety dollars.
The farmer was at Sultan's side as
Ken slid off him. He was pleased
with his buy.
"That's what I call a real horse.
He'll do me as well as Farmall
would, and without gasoline too." He
chuckled and ran his hand over the
horses withers.
"Are you going to use him to
| plow?"
The farmer looked at him in as
tonishment. 81 sure am. What do
you s'pose I'm payin' ninety dollars
for?"
"He's hunter" exclaimed Ken
desperately. "a heavy hunter"
Hunter" repeated the farmer.
"Hunt what?"
Foxes"
"Foxes! You mean coyotes?
hunt plenty of coyotes-but I hunt
them with a Ford and a couple of
greyhounds. I won't need a plug
for that. What do you call him?"
| Sultan"
The ring boy led the horse away
and the farmer followed. Ken stood,
looking after them miserably.
"That's good horse, Sonny"
Ken looked up. The tall man with
the bowler hat stood beside him. He
had red face and sharp nose.
| "Any more where he came
from?" he asked.
EYES," said Ken sullenly. "A lot
more"
"Whose horses are they?"
"My fathers. Captain McLaugh-
lin." Ken walked back to Howard.
When the auction was over the
man in the bowler hat had bought
Smoky, Blue, Taffy, A-Honey and
Russet for prices ranging from six
ty-five to ninety-five dollars.
Rob stood with his boys out in
the road, while the jam Of cars,
trailers and trucks edged out Of the
parking places and started on their
way home. The man in the bowler
hat was with him.
Rob said. "This is Mr.. Gilroy.
My two boys, Mr.. Gilroy, Howard
and Ken" The boys shook hands.
II want you to 60 home in the