Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 472 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

. Si ’ AS i sor o = " art | “» a) ‘ ™ OTe ; _~ A » th, “——- +e he, sd tA a s. be! ~" vv 7c no such stripling would even dare to approach Black Jack, his wild young horse. ‘Young man,” he replied, ‘‘you ought not ter poke fun at yer elders.” ‘ifiwas in earnest, Mr. Perkins.” ‘*Do you mean to say you would dare to lay hand on that savage critter over in the pasture?” ‘**Tay hand on him!’ Why,-.sir, I agree to ‘tame him so you can safely drive him, if you give me a chance.” ‘* Black Jack would knock your head off.” ‘* | beg your pardon, sir, but Black Jack would find his master in me.” ‘* And who be you, anyhow? Land o’ Goshen! I thought boys nowadays didn’t care ter ride anything but bicycles, an’ spent the balance o’ their time in smokin’—what is it ye call ’em?— cigarettes, I b’lieve. You ride Black Jack! al, I’ll be blowed ef you ain’t got grit.. Who be ye, anyhow, ef I may be so bold?” armer Perkins was still inclined to think that the slender boy was joking, but the reply came seriously, and in a_ straightforward way: ‘*My name is Joseph Baldwin, and I am a horse-tamer by profession. Sometimes I am familiarly referred to as ‘ Horse-King Joe,’ ‘ Jaunty Joe,’ and the like.” ‘et speaker passed a card to the farmer as he spoke. Job Perkins was one of the richest men in the small Long Island town where he was born and reared, and where he had ever since lived, His farm was a large, handsome, and fertile one, and he made money and enjoyed it, being no miser. His wife and two daughters were amon the best dressed of the town’speople, and thoug Job did not care for fine clothes, he did like to have hK table supplied bountifully, and did it. He would have been a model citizen in all ways, and an example for young men to copy from, had it not been for one weakness on his part. For many years he had driven Old Betsey, his brown mare, to and from the village, and every year she added a fine colt to his worldly ossessions. If Mr. Perkins could get the price e asked for the colt, he sold it in the fall. If he could not, he kept it, but not one of the young animals thus retained was ever broken to carriage or saddle. This was his one weakness; the flaw in his reputation as a business man; and certainly a drag on his means in respect to money. At the time of our story he had three young horses, ranging in point of age from two to five years, which were almost as wild as the troops of genuine ‘‘ wild horses” which once roamed over the Texas prairies. It was generally said that no one had lain hands on one of them since it was six months old, and, certainly, no one dared even bridle them, All summer they wandered in the pas- ture at will, happy because they did not have to earn their daily food by means of hard labor; in the winter they were stabled and fed, but never handled. If Mr. Perkins had been younger, or less good- natured and easy, this state of affairs would not have existed, and the young horses would have ee properly broken, but that it did exist isa act. Of late, however, it had become clear to every one that Black J ack, the oldest of the wild trio, was by far too good a horse to runidle, Good judges declared that he had remarkable speed, and Mr. Perkins saw that if he could have him broken he would sell for a good, round sum. He decided to have him broken. It was one thing to arrive at this decision, and quite another to carry it out. Several local horsemen had tried their hand at it. Only one had gotten within reach of Black Jack, and that one had been in the hospital ever since. Black Jack had broken three of his would-be tamer’s ribs, just to show that he was not cold or unsociable, And this was the horse at which Mr. Perkins and his neighbor, Ezra Randall, had been gaz- ing, as the horse was playing in the pasture, > when Jaunty Joe Baldwin appeared on the acene. The card which he handed to Mr. Perkins read all right—‘‘ Joseph Baldwin, Professional Horse- breaker and Trainer,” but the farmer still looked at him doubtfully. **Do you ree’ly break hosses?” he asked. ** Certainly I do—break them and train them.” ‘* Why, you’re as slender as a’skeeter! Break a horse indeed!” cried the owner of Black Jack in some contempt. ‘¢ Please feel of my arm, sir.” Perkins obeyed. 0 DS OO a eet sy) ow a ’ le a ’ . » * i ag tod # x >t be 9 : ~ ah aa’ a te 4) rv . * Ps ne os re tte 7 + - 2 é We “ “ ‘~~ my a | Aired ie A eft > : , Si WON Mg Pen a a ‘¢ Land o’ Goshen!” he exclaimed, “‘ ain’t your muscle an’ shoulder somehow i places? You’ve got an arm like a young blacksmith!” ‘* Which shows that it is not always safe to judge by appearances, Mr. Perkins. 1am slight- y-built, but J am stronger than the average of boysof my age. Again, I am older than I look. Probably you take me to be about sixteen. I am two years older. Now, as to your horse. I meant business when f said I would break him.” ‘My boy, I see you did, but you don’t know Black Jack. He’s speerited, strona wild and vicious. Only three weeks ago he broke three of Sam Anson’s ribs.” ‘So I’ve heard, and it was because Black Jack has such a bad reputation that I came here.” ‘*To break him?” ‘‘-Yes, break him to ride and drive.” ‘¢ And you ree’ly think you can do it?” ‘Certainly [ can!” ““T dassen’t have you try. My boy—it’s too dangerous.” Mr. Perkins shook his head gravely, anxious to save the boy breaker from harm, and sincers in the belief that only trouble could come from the attempt; but Jaunty Joe went on’ in confi- dent tones to demonstrate that he could do just what he said. He had letters from various parties to show that he had done all he claimed. Some of the letters intimated that the boy tamer ‘ mag- netized” his horses, but Joe himself gave no ex- lanation of his methods. It was enough that 2 did it. Besides this, he had often ridden horses in races at regular courses, and was well known as a jockey. In fact it was his riding that had me for him his sobriquet of ‘“ Jaunty oe” —for jaunty he was in dress and de- meanor. What he did not know about racing matters connected with Long Island was not generally known. The ins and outs of race-courses; the men who run them; horses, their records, pecu- liaritiesand pedigree—all these things the bo knew well; and yet he mentioned them quietly and modestly. He was a modest i yaaa jockey or not, and seemed to have had the rearing of a gentle- man, while his keen eyes and intelligent ways surprised and delighted Mr. Perkins. **l’m a fool ef I don’t b’lieve you can beat all them overgrown tamers,” he finally said, ‘‘ an’ ou shall have a try at Black Jack, Saw w- ’ve been expecting a chap down from Brook- lyn; areg’lar sportin’ man, who said he would bring a tamer, but he ain’t come. First come, first sarved. You can hev the job ef you really want it.” ‘*T certainly do,” Joe replied. **Tt’s a bargain, then.” ** Well, I'll go down to the village and—” ‘‘No, you won't. I like ter hev young people about me, an’ as them letters an’ your looks sat- isfy me you are an honest lad, you shall go right ter the house with me.” And the farmer then took Jaunty Joe to his house and introduced him to his wife and daugh- ters—the latter being twin girls of seventeen ears, Half an hour later Mr. Perkins and Joe Bald- win went out of the house, and as they reached the door up drove a carriage which contained two men besides the driver. “Land o’ Goshen!” exclaimel the farmer, *bere’s that Brooklyn chap I tole ye about, with his hoss-tamer. I guess he'll be right put out when he knows he’s late.” The men had sprung from the carriage, J asper Banker, to whom Perkins had referred as a “regular sporting-~nan,” was about thirty years of age, and in a certain way good-looking. He had a fine form and stood nearly six feet in his boots, and had a broad, round face of full color. His hair was a very light brown, with a ten- dency to a pale red color, and a smali red mus- tache covered his lip. His dress was flashy and a huge ‘‘charm” dangled from his massive gold watch-chain. He looked the sporting man to life, and it would have taken no great effort of one’s cre- dulity to believe him a gambler and sharper in general, His companion was a little, dark-faced man, who had the appearance of being a foreigner. Banker swooped down upon the farmer, and _— his hand in the most friendly way pos- sible. ‘* How are you, Mr. Perkins? But I need not ask; you look as rugged as an oak. Nothing like country air, is there? And if one’s heart don’t e d and his soul grow oigger on sacna farm as yours, it would be a wonder. You see I’ve turned up aguin, as I said I would, and I’ve r+. - ? a ": © oft 9 : - : y D t - Joe, the Young Horse King 4 wi ne”) ’ 4 , ae ‘y WN ERET: aS Dees brought a man with me that can make thai horse of yours bend the humble on in or Yr. der, without severe measures. ernment Equine Training and Equestrian Acad- emy, of Paris; instructor to the French presi- dent and his friends, and formerly attached to the retinue of Napoleon III. He’s the boy that can subdue Black Jack, and we'll have the horse om the track in August, sure as shooting.” The ating man rattled on at race-horse speed, while meek Mr. Perkins stood vainly try- ing to edge ina word. Time and again he open- ed bis lips, but Banker went on like perpetual motion, : The farmer was for the time eclipsed, but his hard common sense by him; he was not the man to be easily put down. When Banker gave him a chance, he spoke. : Ni o’ Goshen! be you run by steam?” he asked. ‘* No, but that’s what'll be the matter with Black Jack when he goes on the track. He’ll beat them all. Just let Lacour break him, and lll buy the brute at a fair figure.” ‘* Your chances would ’a’ be’n a good bit bet- ter if you had happened ‘long yisterday.” ** How so?” ‘Because I engaged another hoss-tamer ter- day, an’ ef he succeeds in calmin’ Black Jack down, mebbe I'll keep the critter myself.” Engaged another man! Whom?” * This young man.” ; The farmer pointed to Jaunty voe, but Ban- my disappoin expression vanished some- what. ‘You're joking, Mr. Perkins.” ** No, I ain't.” the ‘*Do you mean that this youngster is going to try to break Black Jack?” ‘ That’s it, exactly.” 7 ** Why, the kid will get his neck broken.” ‘* Pardon me, Mr, Banker,” said Joe, quietly, ** but if your memory was as good as mine, you might not bave so poor an opinion of me. Have you forgotten who rode Ebony Prince for the utchess Cup?” Banker started back. ‘* Jaunty Joe, by the fiends!” he exclaimed. “* Exactly.” . : ‘“‘ And you’re the chap who is going to tackle Black Jack, are you?” ‘* I’m the ‘ cbap’.” A half-subdued oath fell from the sporting: man’s lips, and he looked at the boy horse-tamer with an evil light in his eyes. CHAPTER II. THE MAN ON THE LADDER. JAUNTY JOE knew that Jasper Banker had suddenly become his enemy. He knew the man of old. Possessing a knowledge of horses only medium, but aspiring to be considered great in such matters, he was a constant fre- quenter of race-courses and an invariable bet- or. He made some money out of it, but though he could talk all day about the good and bad points of various horses, he never bet heavily on his own judgment. If there was a “ ring” he ‘‘stood in” with the ring, and, when a ‘‘ crooked” race was run, or trotted, bet all he could raise on the horse which his fellow- gamblers had arranged should win. It was a_ contemptible life to lead, but it just suited Banker, and among a certain class e cut ae a figure. The boy jockey plainly saw that the gam- that the he was very angry because there was a prospect of losing him—and all through a boy! ‘Hadn't you to your legitimate business?” he growled. “My regular business is horse-breaking; lied, ‘‘ And you propose to break Black Jack?” “Ven.” Banker wheeled upon the farmer. said eect: ‘Land o’ Goshen! I didn’t think that any- body had a claim,” ‘and quietly and decidedly. man to break the horse?” ‘‘No. You said you could bring a man as a kitten, an’ I said that ef there was a Man up your way who wanted his head knocked off, there was lots 0’ room in our cemetery, That’s allthe ba : Banker knew this was true. ain there was to it.” pee. Eomicboo A bler had determined to possess Black Jack, and > Mr. Perkins spoke ‘Didn't we agree that I should furnish a down who could make Black Jack as peaceable — erkins,/ Nig rofessor Jean Lacour, late of the Royal Gov~ ‘ ey riding races is a side-issue,” Joe coolly re 4 ta) ' . 4 Sy e ae \ i (" °. a \ : ain 4 \ / | ‘J ; ’ =. ‘ *. ¥ - 3 > > ie *. a tter confine your operations = ; ‘Perkins, I have the first claim here,” he = al, He believed that the horse, if tamed and pro- | om ae