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Elsy, practisin' the owner act, has gummed the game Alcyfras is over in the other end of town. "Ole Friendless bustin' the track record is the final blow. I don't hardly get to the stall 'fore here comes the paddock judge 'n' his assistant. "'We want this hoss and you, too, over at the paddock, he says. 'What's the owner's name? "'Alcibides Tuttle, I says.
In ten days the hoss is right on edge 'n' one race'll put the finish on him, so I enter him, in a bunch of skates, as Alcyfras. I gives the mount to Lou Smith he ain't much of a jock, but he'll ride to orders. Just before the race I has a heart to heart talk with Lou. "'Fur this hoss to win you don't make a move on him, I says.
'Frien'less has a white foot on de off front laig and besides dat he has a rough-feeling scab on de belly whar he done rip hisself somehow befo' I gits him. Dis dawg am smooth as a possum. "That settles all arguments. You can't fool a swipe 'bout a hoss he's taken care of. He knows every hair on him. "One day I'm clockin' this Alcyfras while a exercise-boy sends him seven-eights.
He must be in quite a wad on this bum hoss of his'n. "'Who's Elsy? says Harms. "I tells him, 'n' he laughs. "'Is that what you call him? he says. 'What's bitin' you ain't Friendless goin' to win a nice purse for him? "About ten o'clock that night Alcyfras goes out one gate 'n' Friendless comes in another. I keeps the foot stained good, 'n' shuts the stall door whenever Duckfoot shows up.
This dog he's just showed me 's named Alcyfras. He's been runnin' out on the coast 'n' he's a mutt he can't beat a fat man. Harms sees him one day at Oakland, 'n' has a guy buy him. "Harms brings this pup back East. He has his papers 'n' description all regular. The guy that buys him ain't wise he's just a boob Harms is stallin' with.
"'As owner, I insist that you allow Alcyfras to win this race, he says, 'n' goes away in a pet when I tells him nix. "The day of the race I don't see Elsy at all. "'You ain't got a ticket to-day, 'n' you know the answer, I says to Lou Smith as the parade starts. He don't say nothin' but nods, so I think he's fixed. "When I come through the bettin' ring I can't believe my eyes.
That ole hound comes down the stretch a-rompin', his ears flick-flackin' 'n' a smile on his face. He wins by five len'ths 'n' busts the track record fur the distance a quarter of a second. "Then it begins to get brisk around there. I figger to have Alcyfras all warmed up outside the fence the day Friendless wins. After the race I'd put him in the stall 'n' send Friendless out the gate.
The rest of the judges turn 'round 'n' look at somethin' over across the center-field. "I tells Elsy his hoss is all to the merry, but we don't want him to win till the odds get right. He's standin' beside me at the race, 'n' Alcyfras runs next to last.
I've been looking all over the race course for you! "'Gracious! Ferdy, you've had a awful time, ain't you? I says. 'If you want to stay out of trouble, read your Ladies' Home Journal more careful. "'My name is Alcibides Tuttle, says pink toes, drawin' hisself up. 'And I am the owner of the horse called Alcyfras. I purchased this animal upon the advice of my friend, Mr.
Peewee comes over 'n' looks at the hoss a minute. "'Alcy nothin'! he says. 'If that ain't Friendless, I never sees him. "I digs up the roll Harms give me. "I'll gamble this pinch of spinach his name is Alcyfras, I says. "'You kin name what you like far as I'm concerned, 'n' change it every mawnin' before breakfast, says Peewee.
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