Upton there's a
gentleman in here wants to see him about buying a horse."
"Don't disturb him if he's visiting," remonstrated Red.
"He won't call that disturbing him," replied the post-mistress,
with a shrill laugh. "He'll be here in no time."
She was a true prophet. It seemed as if the boy had barely left
the store when he returned with a stoop-shouldered, solemn-faced
man, who had a brush-heap of chin-whisker decorating the lower part
of his face. After greetings and the explanation of the errand,
Mr. Upton stroked his chin-whisker regretfully. "Young man," said
he, "I'm in a pecooliar and onpleasant position; there's mighty
feyew things I wouldn't do in a hawse trade, but I draw the line on
murder. That there hawse'll kill you, just's sure as you're fool
enough to put yerself on his back. I'll sell you a real hawse
mighty reasonable--"
"I'll risk him," cut in Red. "Could you lead him down here in the
morning?"
"Yes, indeedy--he's a perfect lady of a horse to lead---you can
pick up airy foot--climb all over him in fac', s'long's you don't
try to ride him or hitch him up. If you do that--well, young man,
you'll get a pretty fair idee of what is meant by one of the demons
of hell."
"What kind of saddle have you got?"
"One of them outlandish Western affairs that the scamp threw in
with the animal--you see, I thought I'd take up horse-back riding
for my health; I was in bed three weeks after my fust try.
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