r; inquired
her name, and called her by it in a voice of music--Betty. Presently
she asked for the halter, and the freight agent, somewhat doubtful,
but too full of admiration for the near presence of beauty to refuse,
gave it to her. Then, indeed, did Miss Farnsworth prove the truth of
her assertion that she was accustomed to horses. In five minutes she
had made love to the mare so effectively that the shy and hitherto
somewhat disdainful creature was following her with a slack halter and
an entreating nose. Incidentally Betty had allowed the slender fingers
to open her mouth.

"Of course you are not selling her," remarked Miss Farnsworth,
carelessly, as she walked away to examine her freight.

"Well--had an offer of two hundred and fifty for her last week."

She looked around with an astonished face. "And wouldn't take it?"

"Why--no. She's wu'th three hundred if she's wu'th a cent."

"You won't get three hundred for her," said the girl.

"She's as sound as a nut," declared the freight agent, with
indignation. Miss Farnsworth laughed.

"She's a pretty creature," said she, "but I have eyes. How did she
hurt her left hind ankle?"

The freight agent stared. "Her left hind ankle! Why--there ain't a
sign of a limp in it. And her knee action's perfect."

"She was lame two weeks ago," said the girl, and looked at him. Jarvis
had brought his colts to a temporary stand-still, and was observing
the little scene with amusement.

"Why--she got a stone in that left hind foot," admitted the freight
agent, walking the mare toward the corner of the building. "Any
horse'll do that. She ain't lame now--wa'n't then to amount to
anything. But I'd like to know how you guessed it."

She was still laughing. "I suppose you would let her go for two
hundred and twenty-five, now, wouldn't you?"

The freight agent led his mare away without deigning to reply, except
by a shake of the head. He came back and loaded the freight into the
wagon, leaving the trunks till the last. As he was shouldering the
first of these, Agnes stopped him.

"Will you take two hundred and fifty for Betty?" she asked, with
perfect coolness, except for a certain gleam in her eyes.

"You ain't buyin' horses yourself?"

"I asked you a question."

"She ain't no lady's horse."

"I asked you if you would sell her for two hundred and fifty dollars,"
repeated the girl, and prepared to step up into the wagon. Jarvis was
not getting down to assist her. The bl