When I looks at my clock I thinks they ought to lay a
thousand-to-one against the mutt, after he starts a couple of times.
Just then somethin' comes 'n' stands in front of me 'n' begins to make
little squeaky noises.
"'Are you Mr. Blister?' it says.
"I bats my eyes 'n' nods.
"'I've got 'em again,' I thinks.
"'Oh, what a relief!' it squeaks. 'I just thought I'd never find you.
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. Harms, whom I met in San
Francisco.'
"Say! I've worked fur some nutty owners, but this yap's the limit.
"'Well, Alci, here comes Alcy now,' I says, as the boy comes up with
the dog, 'n' my new boss stretches his number three neck out of his
number nine collar 'n' blinks at the hoss.
"Alcibides comes back to the stall with me 'n' from then on he sticks
to me tighter 'n a woodtick. He's out to the track every mawnin' by
nine 'n' he don't leave till after the races. He asks me eighty-seven
squeaky questions a minute all the time we're together. I calls him
'n' his hoss both Alcy fur a while, but I changes him to Elsy--that was
less confusin' 'n' it suits him better.
"The next week I starts Alcyfras among a bunch of crabs in a seven
furlong sellin' race, 'n' the judges hold up his entrance till I can
identify him.
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