tomobile at the curb, with six guns
stickin' out of her side in front--she looks like a battle-ship. Pretty
soon the young chap comes out 'n' starts to board her 'n' I braces him.

"'I think I know where you can get the hoss you're lookin' fur,' I says.

"He stares at me kind-a puzzled fur a minute.

"'Oh, yes, you are the man who brought the mare up-stairs,' he says.
'What leads you to believe you can find a hunter good enough to beat
Macbeth?'

"'I ain't said nothin' about a hunter,' I says. 'Would you stand fur a
ringer?'

"'I think I get your inference,' he says. 'Be a little more specific,
please.'

"'If I puts you hep to a hoss that ain't no more a hunter than that
automobile,' I says, 'but can run like the buzz-wagon 'n' jump like a
hunter--could you use him in your business?'

"'What sort of a horse would that be?' he says.

"'A thoroughbred,' I says. 'A bang-tail.'

"'Oh--a runner,' he says. 'Do you know anything about the runners?'

"'A few,' I says. 'I'm on the track nine years.'

"'What are you doing here?' he says.

"'Ruled off,' I says.

"'Hm-m!' he says. 'What for?'

"'Ringin',' I says.

"'You seem to run to that sort of thing,' he says. 'What's your name?'
he asks.

"'Blister Jones,' I says.

"'Delightful!' he says. 'I'm glad I met you. Who has this remarkable
horse?'

"'Peewee Simpson,' I says.

"'Equally delightful! I'd like to meet him, too,' he says.

"'He's in Loueyville,' I says.

"'Regrettable,' he says. 'What's the name of his horse?'

"'Rainbow,' I says.

"'And I thought this was to be a dull day,' he says. 'Jump in here and
take a ride. I don't know that I care to go rainbow-chasing assisted by
Blisters, and Peewees--but nefarious undertakings have always appealed to
me, and I desire to cultivate your acquaintance.'

"We goes fur a long ride in the battle-ship. He don't say much--just
asks questions 'n' listens to my guff. At last I opens up on the Rainbow
deal, 'n' I tries all I know to get him goin'--I sure slips him some warm
conversation.

"'You heard what Brown said of Macbeth!' he says. 'Why are you so
certain this Rainbow can beat him in a steeplechase?'

"'Why, listen, man!' I says. 'This Rainbow is the best ever. He can
beat any brush-topper now racin' if the handicapper don't overload him.
_He's_ been coppin' where they race your eyeballs off. _He's_ been
makin' good against the real thing. _He's a thoroughbred_! If _he_
turns