Kennebunk High School - Rambler Yearbook (Kennebunk, ME)

turned proudly toward the other three well dressed men. "Gentlemen," he smiled, "you have seen the son of two of the mosft valuable horses in the west. West? In the world." "Stone," one of the men volunteered, "I'll give you two thousand dollars for that colt as he stands." "Two thousand ?" Stone drew deeply on his pipe. "That colt is worth four thousand if he's worth a cen-t. H-is mare, Golden Gift, is worth thirty-five hundredg his sire, Sunburst, is worth thirty-two hundredg and you, Mr. Carr, you oder me two thousand." A -second man, taller than the first, 'spoke up, "Stone, I will make one offer, one only. It is yours to take or to leave. I bid twenty-five hun- dred for your prize colt-twenty-five hundred as he runs in that field, unbroken, untrained to work or touch." The rancher gazed straight before him. His ranch grounds were perfect in every way. His fences were picturesque, useful, his workers were happyg his horses were flawless-his horses were flawless and worth thousands to every rancher, every raceway operator, every wealthy sports- man in the country. He turned away from the pastures, his back toward the men. Aloud, to himself, he commented, "They offer me a few hundred for a horse that I'm in no hurry to sell for a few thousand." "Stone," the remaining man snapped impatiently, "two men have offered you immense prices for a colt which, to be sure, has good blood lines but no definite promise. I'll make you an offer,too. I'll make you just one offer. You take the glory. You train him, race him. You make him famousg you take the glory, Stone. He'll -be your horse publicly, but I'll get the cash he 'brings in. The offer stands, Stone-I'll give you two thousand doll'ars, but the colt will still 'be yours." Stone. the Rancher, paced a few feet away. His eyes clouded. The fields suddenly became a track to him. He was sitting a sulky, in the traces a magnificent gold horse. Other beautiful animals flanked the gold one-beautiful, but not nearly so beautiful as the great gold horse. Sud- denly a bell clanged. Impatient hoofs struck the turf solidly. Every horse was swiftg the race was excitement personified. There were horses ahead of the great gold one but not for lon-g. Easily he gained on his opponents until there was just one in the way. The one remaining op- ponent was a black, sleek-coated animal, which could match him pace for pace. They were neck and neck near the rail with the gold one to the inside advantage. Stone glanced toward -his adversary, toward the oppos- ing horsels nose. He was a few inches ahead. T-he finish line was only a short distance off. Stone bit hard on his lips. His face, could any spectator have seen it, was probably the most grimly contorted face that had ever travelled the track. The Gold one was straining: he too felt the mystic sensation of the track. The turn in the track marked the lmt stretch: and the driver's intuition inside the wiry sulky driver said, "Give him his head-he can do it alone". Stone saw it all before him. lt would be a photo-finish, and the winner- The rancher smiled again at the thought. He turned back to the man with the check book, his smile 'broadening in-to a grin. The buyer misunderstood the horseman's expression. "All right, Stone. I said just one offer, but I'll make another. I'm a fool, but I fancy the gold of that colt. I'll pay you twenty-five hundred dollars-with the same terms. Do you accept my offer?" 25