Year: 1874




Tom can DO for us. What do you say old fel-
low; have YOU any stock on hand 2"


- Very little said Reynolds, yet fear
have too much. II is very slually indeed
around about here, just now, and do not
want 70 draw attention by having too many
on my hands Everything have now is Oh
the square; except one horse that got from
Bevins. fortnight ago, and which he stole in
the back country. ! came very near getting
into trouble with him too, and the danger ia
not al over yet. AS soon as Bevins left the
animal with me, took him IN hand, and COM
menced to shear and dock him so as TO alter
his appearance. But before could get him in
trim, Bevins fell sick, and went down 30 rapidly
that the doctors told him he couldn't i've, then
1 began 10 get uneasy. for had heard be was
not consipered very staunch, and the best of
EN- you know are likely to make clean breast
when they are about "soipg in"-I was afraid
he would get frightened and confess every
thing and what made me more uneasy still.
there was an uncommon close search for tho
horse. So finished him as quick as possible.
put him under ground, and trusted to luck.
Everything turned out WELL however, he died
good grit, without blowing on anybody. SO
intend to watch my opportunity and send him
down the river and get him off my hands as
soon as possible"


"Wel, you'll have no such trouble ia our al
fair" said Long, our horses are got sway
from Adair county, none Of us are likely to Fan
/ N W. do 1o.,it
to confess What are tp-top wagon horses
worth ?"


It is hard to say what any kind OF a horse
Is worth now, as times goes" said reynolds,
but should like to see the race mare.


' That's the old kind of talk with you horse
men, said Birch "a horse is worth nothing
to buy, but everything TO sell, The best way,
to cut the story short, is t. send one OF your
men with me, and II go and show hin where
the beasts are hid, and then he can bring them
here while return by myself"


les, Tom you must take them ia charge
for us; said Long, whether you help US in
the sale or not for we have had long rlde
with them, and they are worth round hundred
and fifty each, of any mans money, to say
nothing Of the race mare who ough; to pe good



for thousand


81 have heard OF these thousand dollar
horses before to-day" said Reynolds, ''but
never mind boys never was found backward
IN doing turn for my friends, so III send for
EN- at once. Nobody need 90 along, for can
send straight to the spot without any guide"


Reynolds then went out and gave direction
to one OF his confidential men. and returned to
his guests to share with them the cheer which
he bad set out for their resreshment. In the
course OF the night the horses were BROUGHT IN
to St Louis. and after they had been carefully
examined by the experienced Jockey, with the
aid OF tin lantern which he held up to every
one OF their points. were duly parcelled out to
stalls and like their nefarious masters reln-
pushed themselves to repose.


/ On the following day Reynolds informed the
three comrades that he could take charge of
but two Of the animals, and that even these he
must send out to pasture for while, IN order
to Keep on the safe side of the business. while
matters were gong so awkwardly in It. LOUIS
as they were. As for the race mare be would
keep her under ground for the present, and
the fourth horse he thought he had GUS
toner TO whom he could dispose him. The
mare, added he after slight pause, " is likely
to be looked after rather sharply, so / will
trim her, If you Ike it, to prevent danger as
much as possible"


:" will not suffer hair OF her Lide TO be
touched" said Fox promptly "5be rs lust
right as che is, and as we lave notion OF go
ing east far as New York. we want to keep up
her condition to put her in for trotting parses
IN that quarter"


After two days stay in -. Louis, and while
the party were reposing quite at their ease one
morning after breakfast at the tavern which
! they had selected for their residence, REYNOLDS
entered their quarters with a countenance
which foreto!d, IN Its serious expression. any,
thing but good tidings. Motioning them to-
gether with mysterious expression, be pulled
from his pocket copy Of the - Chicago Demo-
crat, and read an article containing the opinion
that John Long, Fox and Birch were the muir
derers OF Davenport, and that the rumor was,
they were striking for the South. This piece
OF intelligence struck the party with consterna-
ton at once, and without any hesitation they
separated on the spot to cross to limos town
at once, and reion each other there


In the evening Fox returned to Reynolds for
the race mare, and Birch who scc, mpaned
him, took the other horse that was left in the
stable, and bade the jockey good bye, with the
word that they we're bound for the East as fast
as they could go.


In the meantime Bonney, their interchangeable
pursuer, was fast hurrying on their trail, down
the Mississippi River in the direction OF st.
Louis.


mo, sir l never got drunk. sir-all lie,
sir!" exclaimed Susan Wilt, as she was walked
out


/ "Genty, Susan dear. replied his Honor;
"the foul breath Of aspersion is aiioat on the