up. "The fellow was caught prowling.
Besides, by what right do you question my method of getting rid of a
sneak thief?"

"Oh, I don't stop for rights in a case of this kind," says I. "I just
naturally butts in. I happens to know that Rusty here, ain't any more
of a thief than I am. If you've got a charge to make, though, I'll see
that he's in court when----"

"I don't care to bother with the police," says he. "I merely want the
fellow kicked off the place."

"Sorry to interfere with your plans," says I; "but he's been kicked
enough. I'll lead him off, though, and guarantee he don't come back,
if that'll do?"

We both simmered down after he agrees to that proposition. The beef
eater picks himself up and limps back to the house, while I escorts
Rusty as far as the gates, givin' him some good advice on the way down.
Seems he'd been workin' as stable helper at Windymere for a couple of
weeks, his latest dream bein' that he was cut out for a jockey; but
he'd run out of dope sticks and, knowin' they was scattered around
reckless in the house, he'd just walked in lookin' for some.

"Which shows you've lost what little sense you ever had," says I. "Now
here's two whole dollars, Rusty. Go off somewheres and smoke yourself
to death. Nobody'll miss you."

Rusty, he just grins and moseys down the road, while I goes back to see
the show, feelin' about as much to home, after that run in, as a stray
pup in church.

It was about an hour later, and they'd got through the program as far
as the youngsters' pony cart class, to be followed by an exhibit of
fancy farm teams. Well, the kids was gettin' ready to drive into the
ring. There was a bunch of 'em, mostly young girls all togged out in
pink and white, drivin' dinky Shetlands in wicker carts covered with
daisies and ribbons. In the lead was little Miss Gladys, that the
Twombley-Cranes think more of than they do their whole bank account.
The rigs was crowded into the main driveway, ready to turn into the
track as soon as the way was cleared, and it sure was a sight worth
seein'.

I was standin' up on the coach, takin' it in, when all of a sudden
there comes a rumblin', thunderin' sound from out near the gates, and
folks begins askin' each other what's happened. They didn't have to
wait long for the answer; for before anyone can open a mouth, around
the curve comes a cloud of dust, and out dashes a pair of big greys
with one of them heavy blue and yellow farm wag