m. What do you say?"

Old Robin gave an exclamation.

"A thousand dollars! For dis hoss!"

The gentleman's friend broke in:

"Oh, come, Newby, don't rob the boy. He 'll give you two thousand," he
laughed.

They were examining the horse as he walked along under his blanket.

"Two thousand?" The boy was hesitating. It was a great sum to him.

"No; but I 'll split the difference," said Mr. Newby: "I 'll give you
fifteen hundred for him if he is as good as I think him when I look him
over. What 's his name?"

"Jefferson Davis."

"Oh, the devil! I 'll change his name pretty quickly."

"No, you won't," said the boy.

"Won't I? I 'll show you when I get him," he muttered. "Well, what do
you say?"

"Will you promise not to change his name?"

The other laughed.

"Not much! When I buy him he 's my horse."

"He 'll never be your horse."

"What?"

"He 's not for sale." He turned away.

"Oh, nonsense! Here; wait----"

"I would not sell him to you, sir, at any price. Good-morning." He moved
on.

"You 've lost a good horse," said his friend.

"Oh, I 'll get him yet!"

"I don't think so," said Colonel Ashland, who, with his daughter on his
arm, had come up to congratulate the young rider.

"I wish I might have won for you," said the young man to Miss Ashland.
His cap was in his hand and he made the same quaint bow that he had made
before.

"I think you did win; at least, you ought to have had it. My father says
he is a great horse."

At the words the color mounted to his sunburned cheeks. "Thank you," he
said, and looked suddenly deep into her eyes.

She put out her hand to pet the horse, and he turned and rested his head
against her. She gave an exclamation of delight.

"Oh! father, look."

"We know our friends," said young Johnston.

"Dat we does. She 's de on'ies one as bet on him," asserted old Robin.
"Dat young lady knows a good hoss."

"Who is that boy?" asked Mr. Newby, as the horse was led away.

"A green country boy with a pedigree," said a low voice at his shoulder.

"Where does he come from!"

"Virginia," said Colonel Ashland. "And his name is Theodoric Johnston. It
's bred in the bone."

*****

Next morning as young Johnston rode his horse out of the stable gate,
old Robin walked at his side. Just in front of the pawn-shop Robin
pulled out his watch and examined it carefully.

"I don' mind but one thing," he said. "I did n't have dis yisterday to
hol' de time on him. But ne