Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 177: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

I} am going to find 2 horse that has been sold a week ago at peblic arction m a great city hke this? In the first place I don’t even know where the beast was sold.” “ But you can find out.” I went down stairs with Alice Stafford. She always had ideas when one was ina tight fix, and I wanted to consult her. “I know what I'll do,” she replied to my exposition of the whole case. “ T’ll ask Tom Jackson about the horse. He’s in the business, in a way, you know. He has a stock farm up in the Berkslmres, and when he comes to town he'll be just the one to consu't.” For once I was disappointed in Alice. Her ready answer to a problem did not please me a bit on this occasion. I didn’t want to bring Tom Jack- son into this game at all. I knew that he used to be “ soft ” on Alice, and his appearance upon the scene might hurt Harry’s chances with her in some way. : I told part of this to Miss Stafford, but she only langhed and answered: ‘Why, Tom and I are the best of friends, and he’d do anything for me. Now, don’t be foolish, Carter. You know | want to get that horse for Harry, ever if I dig up old scores to doit. There'll be no damage done, believe me.” I had to give in, she looked so sweet and fetching, but I wish I hadn’t now, for the entrance of that man Jackson upon our little stage of events easily put fifty extra gray hatrs in both of my side locks, to say nothing—but then, that’s part of my story. I didn't sit down and wait, however, while this man Jackson was commg post haste down from the Berkshires in answer to Alice Stafford’s letter. That very day I set about looking for that horse. I called up a newspaper man |] knew on the telephone, and asked_him if he could tell me where the horses of the officers of the volunteer infantry regiments had been sold at auction. He gave me the names of a couple of sales and exchange stables, and I visited both of them. Yes, both had sold government horses. One of them had sold all the officers’ horses of Harry’s regiment. But at the same time this firm had auctioned off five hundred others, and how could I tell who had bought my chum’s horse, with only this data at hand with which to rdentily him: “ A bay with a nick in his off ear?” The proprietor of the horse exchange was perfectly willing to give me the names of the persons to whom he had sold the batch of horses, but when I saw the list of two or three hundred names, the enormity of the task seemed too much forme. However, the welfare of my dear friend depended upon the finding of his horse; so I took up my heavy burden and started out to visit every stable in New York, it seemed to me. Then I went out on Long [sland and inquired of every German truck gardener who had bought government horses if they possessed a “ bay with his off ear nicked.” All this traveling around was taking a terrible amount of time. My office was coming to have only a nodding acquaintance with me, and my clients’ cases were being shockingly neglected. Yet I couldn’t give up the search. It was really pitiful to go and see Harry and lie to him as I was forced to do. GONG OOO UN ceo