Alice?'

"'Yes, you told me about her, Mr. Sanford,' I says. 'That's sure some
clock.'

"'If he does not faltah in the stretch, suh,' says ole man Sanford, 'I
will presently show you the one minute and fohteen seconds you desiah
upon its face.'

"The ole man's a good judge of pace,--Trampfast comes home bang in the
fourteen notch.

"When Pete gets down at the stalls, ole man Sanford walks up to him.

"'Hyah is a dollah foh you, boy,' he says, 'n' hands Pete a buck.
'That was a well-rated trial.'

"Pete looks at the silver buck 'n' then at ole man Sanford 'n' then at
me.

"'What the hell--' he says.

"'You rough neck!' I says to Pete. Don't you know how to act when a
gentleman slips you somethin'?'

"'But look a-here,' says Pete. 'He ain't got--' I gives Pete a poke
in the slats. 'Much obliged, sir,' he says, 'n' puts the bone in his
pocket.

"'You are entirely welcome, mah boy,' says ole man Sanford, wavin' his
hand.

"'Say,' Pete says to me, 'I think this hoss'll cop without shot in the
arm. He's awful good!'

"'Not fur mine,' I says. 'He can run fur Sweeney when he ain't got no
hop in him. Just let some sassy hoss look him in the eye fur two jumps
'n' he'll holler, "Please, mister, don't!" Yea, bo',' I says, 'I know
this pup too well. When he's carryin' my kale he'll be shoutin'
hallelooyah with a big joy pill under his belt.'

"I furgets all about ole man Sanford bein' there. You don't talk about
hoppin' one with strangers listening but he's around so much I never
thinks. All of a sudden he's standin' in front of me lookin' like
there's somethin' hurtin' him.

"'What's the matter, Mr. Sanford?' I says.

"'I gathah from yoh convahsation,' says he, 'that it is yoh practise to
supplement the fine courage that God has given the thoroughbred with
vile stimulants. Am I correct in this supposition, suh?'

"'Why, yes--' I says, kind-a took back. 'When they need it I sure
gives it to 'em.'

"Ole man Sanford draws hisself up 'n' looks at me like I'm a toad.

"'Suh,' he says, 'the man who does that degrades himself and the
helpless creature that Providence has placed in his keeping! Not only
that, suh, but he insults the name of the thoroughbred and all it
stands for, still tendahly cherished by some of us. Ah have heard of
this abhorant practise that has come as a part of this mercenary age,
and, suh, Ah abominate both it and the man who would be guilty of such
an act!'

"'Why, look-