Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

THE “SANTY CLAUS” TO MY YWILL. 173 a bay horse in the stable that was auctioned off by the government? He answers to the name of Santy, and has a nick in his off ear.” The auction man roared. “ Say, have you got that habit, too? There’s been a young fellow in here every day for two months about that horse. I just got the animal again this morning in a batch that’s been sent here to be sold at auction, and I was going to send this fellow Knowlton word that I had him.” Jackson grasped the man by his arm. “Don’t you do it. I'll give you fifty dollars now for the horse.” “I'd like to accommodate you, Tom, but this is a dead straight auction, and the horse’ll have to go under the hammer.” Jackson scowled like the villain he was. “ Confound you,” he exclaimed in an ugly tone, “ I’ll give you seventy five, eighty, one hundred.” The proprietor laughed. “Say, Tom, don’t bid against yourself. Wait until four this afternoon, and you can get him forasong. But tell me, what’s the great attraction about the beast, eh? ”’ Tom Jackson only shrugged his shoulders and started for the office. I slunk back into a corner near the window, and he went to the telephone. I jumped visibly when he called up the number of my office. No, I wasn’t there. Then he called up the Davises. No, I wasn’t there, either. At last he asked for the number of the Staffords’ telephone, and he smiled when he received an answer. . “Is that you, Miss Stafford. Yes, this is Jackson. I wanted to ask you if Mr. Knowlton is there? No? Well, I’ve some good news for you. The horse is at last found.” I melted. I had been thinking that Jackson was a rogue, and here he was coming out and showing himself a true man. He was telling all about the horse, and trying to find out where I was, that I might come up here and bid the beast in during the auction that afternoon. But wait, what’s that he’s saying? I listen again. . ‘ Well, if you find him before three tell him that the horse is to be sold at auction over in Long Island City at a sales stable on the corner of High and Gleason Streets, this afternoon at four o’clock.” Ha! I saw the utter villainy of the wretch. He wanted to get me over in Long Island, in some out of the way hole, while he was buying Santy and kill- ing Harry Davis, and putting himself in his ald position in the graces of Alice Stafford. But I happened to be a little too smart for the crafty rogue. IT would appear at that auction, and I would buy Santy 1f it cost a million, and I would save my chum’‘s life. Jackson put up the receiver of the telephone and rang off. I tried my best to get out of the office without his seeing me. I went through the door which led into the ring, and was sneaking behind an incoming team when the proprietor spied me. “ Hello, there, Knowlton. I was just talking about you. Sav, what's your hurrv? I’ve got vour horse for you.’ GORGE OOO A) ZX oY) ceo