Page:Frank Owen - Rare Earth, 1931.djvu/115

 fool 'bout 'orses. Never could some'ow sell arter I once bought 'em."

Jethro slapped Samuel Gage on the back, a thing he did but seldom. "You're all right," he said, "glad you're my neighbor. And let me tell you one thing I've learned from observation. A man who is a fool about a horse is seldom a fool about anything else. Any time you need help in feeding that gourmand let me know. Come to think of it, I'll send you over a few bags of oats tomorrow. I'll never miss them."

"'Ow can I ever thank yer?" cried Samuel Gage.

"Don't," said Jethro curtly. Then he smiled.

"Anyway I'm not sending them to you, I'm sending them to the horse."

"'Ope 'e 'predates 'em," chuckled Samuel Gage. He winked his eye mysteriously. "'E was christened this mornin'. Know what I named 'im?"

"How should I?"

"'Eaps," explained Mr. Gage blandly. "Purty good name, I think."