f I think I can make a
piece of money fur you. The game ain't like it was once, 'n' if you
try to pull the stuff that got by thirty years ago, they'll trim you
right down to the suspenders. They ain't nothin' crooked about
slippin' the hop into a hoss that needs it.'

"'As neahly as I can follow yoh fohm of speech,' says ole man Sanford,
'you intend to convey the impression that the practise of stimulating a
hawss has become entirely propah. Am I correct, suh?'

"'That's it,' I says. ''N' you can gamble I'm right.'

"'Is the practise allowed under present day racing rules?' says ole man
Sanford, 'n' I think I've got him goin'.

"'Why, sure not,' I says. 'But how long would a guy last if he never
broke a racin' rule?'

"'Out of yoh own mouth is yoh augument condemned, suh,' says ole man
Sanford. 'Even in this day and generation the rules fohbid it--and let
me say, suh, that should a trainah, a jockey, or any one connected with
a stable of mine, be guilty of wilfully violating a racing rule, Ah
would discharge him at once, suh!'

"'_You goin' to race on the level all the time_?' I says.

"'If by that expression you mean hono'ably and as a gentleman--yes,
suh!'

"'_Good night, nurse_!' I says. 'You'll go broke quick at that game!'

"'Allow me to remind you that that is ma own affaih, suh,' says ole man
Sanford, 'n' the argument's over. His ideas date back so far they're
mildewed, but I see I can't change 'em. He don't belong around a race
track no more'n your grandmother!

"'All right, Mr. Sanford!' I says. 'You're the doctor! We'll handle
him just like you say.'

"Peewee Simpson has come over to chew the rag with me, 'n' he hears
most of this talk.

"'Wait till I call the boys,' he says, when ole man Sanford goes in to
look at the hoss.

"'What fur?' I says.

"'Family prayers,' says Peewee.

"I throws a scraper at him, 'n' he goes on down the line singin',
_Onward, Christian Soldiers_.

"Ole man Sanford orders a set of silks. He's got to send away fur the
kind he wants 'n' he won't let me start his hoss till they come.
Nobody but big stables pays attention to colors, so I tries to talk him
out of the notion,--nothin' doin'!

"'Ma colors were known and respected in days gone by, suh,' he says.
'Ah owe it to the public who reposed confidence in the puhple and
white, to fly ma old flag when Ah once moh take the field. Yes, suh.'

"'Purple 'n' white!' I says. 'Them's the colors of the McV