er gets my
lamps on--she's all to the peaches 'n' cream.

"It don't take me long to see that Mr. Van is nutty, right, about this
one, but it looks like Ferguson has the bulge on him, 'cause her 'n'
Ferguson is always out in front when they chase the hounds, 'n' they ride
together a lot. We're at Mr. Van's brother's place, 'n' when we first
get there Mr. Van puts me wise.

"'Blister,' he says, 'you must now assume the disguise of a groom. While
you and I know we are partners in crime, custom requires an outward
change in our heretofore delightful relationship--keep your eyes open and
act accordingly.'

"I'm dead hep to what he means, 'n' when I'm rigged up like all the rest
of the swipes around there, I touches my hat to him whenever he tells me
anythin'.

"Everybody joshes Mr. Van about his ridin', but they get over that
sudden--the first time he chases hounds with 'em ole Rainbow 'n' him
stays right at the head of the procession. I'm waitin' at the club to
take the hoss home after the run. When Mr. Van is turnin' him over to me
Miss Livingston comes up.

"'I'm so _proud_ of you!' she says to him. 'It was splendid . . . I told
you you could do anything you tried!'

"'Rainbow's the chap who deserves your approval,' says Mr. Van, pointin'
to the hoss.

"'Indeed, he does--the old precious!' she says, 'n' rubs her face against
Rainbow's nose. Just then Ferguson rides up with a English gink who's a
friend of Mr. Van's, 'n' the dame beats it into the club-house. This
Englishman is a lord or a duke or somethin', 'n' he's visitin' Mr. Van's
brother. Ferguson ain't on Macbeth. He's rode a bay mare that day, 'n'
Rainbow has outrun 'n' out-jumped her.

"'That's quite a horse you have there, Van,' Ferguson says. 'A bit
leggy--isn't he?'

"'Perhaps he is,' says Mr. Van. 'But I like something that can get over
the country.'

"'Going to enter him for the cup?' says Ferguson.

"'I don't know yet,' says Mr. Van, careless. 'I must see the committee,
and tell them his antecedents--this horse rather outclasses most hunters.'

"'He doesn't outclass mine, over the cup course, for five thousand!' says
Ferguson, gettin' red.

"'Done!' says Mr. Van, quiet-like. 'If the committee says I'm eligible
we'll settle it in the cup race. If not, we can run a match.'

"'Entirely satisfactory,' says Ferguson, 'n' starts to go. But he comes
back, 'n' looks at Mr. Van wicked. 'By the way,' he says, 'money doesn't
interest