med about to
say more, and let the statement stand unqualified.

Grandpa stared at him for a minute, his blue eyes blinking with some
secret excitement. "Young feller," he began abruptly, "lemme tell yuh
something. Yuh never want to do a thing like that agin. If you got a
horse that can outrun the other feller's horse, figure to make him bring
yuh in something--if it ain't no more'n a quarter! Make him BRING yuh a
little something. That's the way to do with everything yuh turn a hand
to; make it bring yuh in something! It ain't what goes out that'll do
yuh any good--it's what comes in. You mind that. If you let a horse run
agin' another feller's horse, bet on him to come in ahead--and then,"
he cried fiercely, pounding one fist into the other palm, "by Christmas,
make 'im come in ahead!" His voice cracked and went flat with emotion.

He stopped suddenly and let his arms fall slack, his shoulders sag
forward. He waggled his head and muttered into his beard, and glanced at
Bud with a crafty look.

"If I'da took that to m'self, I wouldn't be chorin' around here now for
my own son," he lamented. "I'd of saved the quarters, an' I'd of had a
few dollars now of my own. Uh course," he made haste to add, "I git holt
of a little, now and agin. Too old to ride--too old to work--jest manage
to pick up a dollar er two now and agin--on a horse that kin run."

He went over to Smoky again and ran his hand down over the leg muscles
to the hocks, felt for imperfections and straightened painfully, slapped
the horse approvingly between the forelegs and laid a hand on his
shoulder while he turned slowly to Bud.

"Young feller, there ain't a man on the place right now but you an'
me. What say you throw yore saddle on this horse and take 'im up to the
track? I'd like to see him run. Seems to me he'd ought to be a purty
good quarter-horse."

Bud hesitated. "I wouldn't mind running him, grandpa, if I thought I
could make something on him. I've got my stake to make, and I want to
make it before all my teeth fall out so I can't chew anything but the
cud of reflection on my lost opportunities. If Smoky can run a few
dollars into my pocket, I'm with you."

Grandpa teetered forward and put out his hand. "Shake on that, boy!" he
cackled. "Pop Truman ain't too old to have his little joke--and make it
bring him in something, by Christmas! You saddle up and we'll go try him
out on a quarter-mile--mebby a half, if he holds up good."

He poked a