'n' I'm twelve hundred to the clear.
"When I gets to 'em, Micky's standin' in the track leanin' against
Hamilton. The colt's shakin' all over 'n' his hind feet's in a big
pool of blood. I gives a' look 'n' the left rear tendon is tore off
from hock to fetlock.
"'Good God, look at that!' I says to Micky.
"Micky turns 'n' looks.
"'Aw, pony . . .' he says, 'n' busts out cryin'. He leans up against
the colt again 'n' he's shakin' as bad as Hamilton.
"Just then the boy gets down from the Elephant.
"'I'd a beat that dog in another jump,' he says to Micky.
"'You?' says Micky. 'I'm goin' to _kill you_!' He starts fur the boy,
but he turns kind-a greeny white 'n' does a flop on the track.
"When I goes to pick him up I see a bone comin' through the flesh just
above the wrist on his right hook.
"We puts him in a blanket 'n' the swipes start to carry him off.
"'What's the matter with the kid?' says Ike comin' up.
"'Arm broke, I guess,' I says."
"Ike sees the blood 'n' walks behind Hamilton.
"'I wish it was his neck,' he says, pointin' at the tendon. 'That's
what you get fur puttin' a pin-headed apprentice on a good hoss! Get
him so he can hobble, 'n' sell him to a livery if you can. If not,
have him shot.'
"Hamilton's standin' there a-shakin'. His eyes has the look you always
sees in a hoss just after he's ruined.
"'What'll you take fur him?' I says to Ike.
"'Take fur him?' he says. 'Whatever he'll bring. I ain't out nothin'
on him. I splits three thousand with you to the race.'
"'You owe me a hundred 'n' thirty fur trainin',' I says. 'I calls it
off 'n' keeps the hoss.'
"'You've bought him,' says Ike, 'n' goes back to the bettin' shed.
"They take Micky to the hospital. The doc says his arm's broke 'n'
he's hurt inside. He comes to before they puts him in the ambulance.
"'Why didn't you let another boy ride?' says the assistant starter,
who's helpin' the doc.
"'Ride hell!' says Micky. 'He runs off with them other boobs.'
"Me 'n' Peewee Simpson gets Hamilton to the stall. It takes him just
one hour to do that hundred yards, but I've got a tight bandage above
the hock 'n' he don't bleed so bad.
"'Can you get him so he can walk?' I says to the vet. when he's looked
at the colt.
"'Yes,' he says; 'but that'll be about all for him. I advise you to
have him destroyed. What hoss _is_ this?'
"'Hamilton,' I says. 'He just wins the colt race.'
"'So?' he says. 'I d
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