e Friendless brings home the bacon, 'n' I make him cough
enough to pay what I owes. The next day a swipe leads Alcyfras out to
the track.

"'What's the name of that dog?' Peewee Simpson yells, as I'm
cross-tyin' the hoss at the stall door.

"'Alcyfras,' I says, as I pulls the blanket off. Peewee comes over 'n'
looks at the hoss a minute.

"'Alcy nothin'!' he says. 'If that ain't Friendless, I never sees him.'

"I digs up the roll Harms give me.

"I'll gamble this pinch of spinach his name is Alcyfras,' I says.

"'You kin name what you like far as I'm concerned, 'n' change it every
mawnin' before breakfast,' says Peewee. 'But if you starts him as
anythin' but Friendless we don't see your freckled face 'round here no
more.'

"By this time a bunch has gathered 'n' soon there's a swell argument
on. One guy'll say it's Friendless 'n' another 'll say it ain't.
Finally somebody says to send fur Duckfoot Johnson, who swiped
Friendless fur two years. They send for him.

"When Duckfoot comes he busts through the crowd like he's the paddock
judge.

"'Lemme look at dis hoss,' he says.

"Everybody draws back 'n' Duckfoot looks the hoss over 'n' then runs
his hand under his barrel close to the front legs.

"'No, sah, dis ain' Frien'less,' he says. 'Frien'less has a white foot
on de off front laig and besides dat he has a rough-feeling scab on de
belly whar he done rip hisself somehow befo' I gits him. Dis dawg am
smooth as a possum.'

"That settles all arguments. You can't fool a swipe 'bout a hoss he's
taken care of. He knows every hair on him.

"One day I'm clockin' this Alcyfras while a exercise-boy sends him
seven-eights. When I looks at my clock I thinks they ought to lay a
thousand-to-one against the mutt, after he starts a couple of times.
Just then somethin' comes 'n' stands in front of me 'n' begins to make
little squeaky noises.

"'Are you Mr. Blister?' it says.

"I bats my eyes 'n' nods.

"'I've got 'em again,' I thinks.

"'Oh, what a relief!' it squeaks. 'I just thought I'd never find you.
I've been looking all over the race course for you!'

"'Gracious! Ferdy, you've had a awful time, ain't you?' I says. 'If
you want to stay out of trouble, read your _Ladies' Home Journal_ more
careful.'

"'My name is Alcibides Tuttle,' says pink toes, drawin' hisself up.
'And I am the owner of the horse called Alcyfras. I purchased this
animal upon the advice of my friend, Mr. Harms, whom I met i