urry,
addressing Engle. "He ain't a race hoss; he's a _trick_ hoss. You
don't want him."

"What about you, Curry?" asked the associate judge.

"Oh, well," said the old man, slowly. "_And_ five."

"Six hundred!"

Old Man Curry seemed annoyed. He combed his beard with his fingers.

"_And_ five," said he.

"Seven hundred!"

Old Man Curry took time for reflection. Then he sighed deeply.

"Maybe you want him worse'n I do, friend," said he. "_And_ five."

"Eight hundred!"

Old Man Curry smothered an impatient ejaculation, threw away his
straw and ransacked his pockets for his packet of fine-cut.

"Might as well make it a good one while we're at it," said he. "_And_
five."

"One thousand!" said the Sharpshooter, his smile broadening. "Pretty
fair price for a trick horse, eh, Curry?"

The old man paused with a generous helping of tobacco halfway to its
destination. He regarded Engle with unblinking gravity.

"'The words of his mouth were smoother than butter,' he quoted, 'but
war was in his heart.' That's from Psalms, young man.... Now, it's
this way with a trick hoss: a lot depends on whether you know the
trick or not.... One thousand!... Shucks! Now I _know_ you want him
worse'n I do!" Old Man Curry hoisted the tails of his coat, thrust
his hands into the hip pockets of his trousers, hunched his shoulders
level with his ears and turned away.

"You ain't quitting, are you?" demanded the Sharpshooter.

"Friend," said Old Man Curry, "I ain't even started yet. It appears
upon the face of the returns that you have bought one big, red
hoss.... A trick hoss. To show you how I feel about it, I'm going to
throw in a bridle with him.... Good-by, Elisha. The Philistines have
got ye ... for a thousand dollars."

It was dusk and Old Man Curry paced up and down under his stable
awning, his hands clasped behind his back and his head bowed at a
meditative angle. The Bald-faced Kid recalled him to earth by his
breezy greeting, and what it lacked in reverence it made up in good
will. Old Man Curry and the hustler were friends, each possessing
trait which the other respected.

"Well, old-timer, you put airing your lace curtains a little?"

"Eh? What? Oh, good evening, Frank, good evening! I been walking up
and down some. You know what it says in Ecclesiastes: 'In the day of
prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider.' I been
considering."

"Uh, huh," said the Bald-faced Kid, falling into step, "and you