"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.
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.
"'Is that all?' says the paddock judge. 'Go get him, Billy!' he says
to his assistant. 'You'll likely find him cashin' tickets.'
"When we gets to the paddock, there's Colonel King and the rest of the
judges.
"'Take his blanket off,' says the colonel, when we leads in the hoss.
"'He's red-hot, Colonel,' I says.
"'So am I,' says the colonel. 'Who was caretaker for the horse
Friendless when he was racing?' he asks some of the ginnies.
"'Duckfoot Johnson,' says the whole bunch at once.
"'Send for him,' says the colonel.
"'I's hyar, boss,' says Duckfoot, from the back of the crowd.
"'Come and look this horse over,' says the colonel.
"'I done looked him over befo', boss,' says Duckfoot, when he gets to
the colonel.
"'When?' says the colonel. 'When did you see him?'
"''Bout a month ago,' says Duckfoot.
"'Did you recognize him?' says the colonel.
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