"'He's broken to the barrier,' she says then.
"'Who schools him?' I says. 'You tells me nobody's been on him but
you--'
"'I schooled him at the barrier with the other two-year-olds,' she says.
"'Whee!' I says. 'You must be able to ride some.'
"'I'd be ashamed of myself if I couldn't,' she says.
"'Are you sure you won't sell him?' I asks her.
"'Positive,' she says, 'n' I see she means it.
"'What you goin' to do with him?' I says. 'Don't you know it's wicked
not to give that colt a chance to show what he can do?'
"'I know it is,' she says. 'But I have no money for training expenses.'
"I studies a minute, 'n' all of a sudden it comes to me. 'You were
just achin' to help this little dame a while ago,' I says to myself.
'Here's a chance . . . be a sport!' The colt _might_ make good, 'n'
she could use a thousand or so awful easy.
"'Miss Goodloe,' I says out loud, 'I might as well tell you I'm in love
with that colt.' She gives me a real sweet smile.
"'Isn't he a darling?' she says, her face lightin' up.
"'That isn't the way I'd put it,' I says, 'but I guess we mean the
same. Now, I'm a race-hoss trainer. You read these letters from
people I'm workin' fur, 'n' then I'll tell you what I want to do.' I
fishes out a bunch of letters from my pocket 'n' she sets down on the
steps 'n' begins to read 'em solemn as owls.
"'Why do they call you Blister?' she asks, lookin' up from a letter.
"'That's a nickname,' I says.
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