endless is a bird that ain't started fur a year. Harms or
some of his gang used to own him, 'n' _believe me_, he can _ramble
some_ if everythin' 's done to suit him. He's a funny hoss, 'n' has
notions. If a jock'll set still 'n' not make a move on him, Friendless
runs a grand race. But if a boy takes holt of him or hits him with the
bat, ole Friendless says, 'Nothin' doin' to-day!' 'n' sulks all the
way. He'd have made a great stake hoss only he's dead wise to how much
weight he's packin'. He'll romp with anythin' up to a hundred 'n' ten,
but not a pound over that can you slip him. Looks like he says to
hisself, 'They must think I'm a movin' van,' 'n' he lays his ole ears
back, 'n' dynamite won't make him finish better'n fourth. This little
habit of his'n spoils him 'cause he's too good, 'n' the best he gets
from a handicapper is a hundred 'n' eighteen--that kind of weight lets
him out.

"Goin' back in the cab Harms tells me why he sends fur me. This dog
he's just showed me 's named Alcyfras. He's been runnin' out on the
coast 'n' he's a mutt--he can't beat a fat man. Harms sees him one day
at Oakland, 'n' has a guy buy him.

"Harms brings this pup back East. He has his papers 'n' description
all regular. The guy that buys him ain't wise--he's just a boob Harms
is stallin' with. What he wants me to do is to take the hoss in my
string, get him identified 'n' start him a couple of times; then when
the odds is real juicy I'm to start Friendless under the dog's name 'n'
Harms 'n' his gang'll bet him to a whisper at the poolrooms in Chicago
'n' New York.

"'Where's Friendless now?' I asks him.

"'They're gettin' him ready on a bull-ring up in Illinois,' says Harms.
'He's in good shape 'n' 'll be dead ripe time we get ready to ship him
down here. I figure we'll put this gag across about Christmas.'

"'What does the boy wonder get fur swappin' mules with the
Association?' I says. 'I'm just dyin' to know what Santa Claus'll
bring little Alfred.'

"'You get all expenses, twenty-five bucks a week, 'n' a nice slice of
the velvet when we cleans up,' says Harms.

"'Nix, on that noise!' says I. 'If you or some other benevolent gink
don't crowd five hundred iron dollars on G. Percival the day before the
bird flies, he won't leave the perch.'

"'Don't you trust me?' says Harms.

"'Sure,' I says, 'better'n Cassie Chadwick.'

"He argues, but it don't get him nothin' so he says he'll come across
the day befor