e's a fierce crowd at the sale 'n' some grand stuff goes under the
hammer. Pappy kids the crowd along 'n' sells 'em so fast it makes you
dizzy. They don't more'n lead a hoss out till he's gone.

"All of a sudden Pappy climbs clear up on the desk in front of him 'n'
stands there a minute, pushin' back his long white hair.

"'Na-ow, boys!' he says. 'I'm goin' to sell you a three-legged hoss!
An'--listen to the ole man--he's wuth more'n any four-legged hoss,
livin' or dead!'

"I rubbers hard to get a look at a hoss Pappy boosts like that, 'n' I
nearly croaks when they lead Hamilton into the ring. The colt's a
dink, right. He's stiff as a poker behind, but he's still got that
game-cock look to his eye.

"'Na-ow, boys!' sings out Pappy, 'there's the biggest little hoss ever
you saw! Don't look at him--any of you fellahs that wants a yellah
dawg to win a cheap race with! _He_ ain't in _that_ class. Step
forwahd, you breeders, an' grasp a golden opportunity! Send the best
brood mares you've got to this little hoss . . . he's a giant! _You
hear me--a giant_! Ed Tumble, I'm talkin' to you! I'm talkin' to you,
Bill Masters--an' Harry Scott there . . . an' Judge Dillon . . . an'
all you big breeders! You've _read_ what this little hoss done in the
newspapers. You can _see_ his breedin' in your catalogues. You can
_look him over_ as he stands there! But best of all--_listen to the
old man_! when he tells you he never held a hammer over a better one in
fifty years. Na-ow, boys! I'm goin' to sell him for the high dollah,
an' the man who gets him at any price . . . _you hear me--at any
price_! . . . is goin' to have the laugh on the rest of you fellahs!
Aw-l-l right--_what do I hear_?'

"'Five hundred!' says some guy.

"'Why, Frank, five hundred won't buy a hair out of his tail . . . _what
do I hear_?' says Pappy.

"'Two thousand!' yells somebody.

"'Na-ow listen, Tom, if you want the little hoss, cut out this triflin'
an' bid for him,' says Pappy. '_What do I hear_?'

"'Five thousand!' some guy hollers.

"'That's just a nice little start . . . _what do I hear_?' says Pappy,
'n' I goes into a trance.

"I don't come to till I hears Pappy sing out:

"'So-o-ld to you for sixteen thousand dollahs, Mr. Humphrey, _an' you
never bought a cheaper one_!'

"It's a wonder I ain't run over gettin' to the depot. I don't know
where I'm at. I just keeps sayin' 'sixteen thousand--sixteen
thousand--' over 'n' ove