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40 Mr. Capp looked again at the horse, very critically, Martha urging him to buy it. Meanwhile Serena was eyeing her with a dark-green look. She was very envious of Martha for her chance of the possession of the beautiful animal.

"I didn't tell you he was part Arabian, did I?" said Alexis's owner. "Well, you saw how he could go. He's good in a buggy, too, and he will stand anywhere. You can try him if you want to. He's dirt cheap at that figure."

"I dunno but he is," mused Mr. Capp, still looking at Alexis, "and I like a pinto."

"Don't let them buy him—don't," pleaded Serena, pulling at her father's coat. "I want him so bad—so bad. Tell the man you'll take him, won't you, Pa?"

"Oh, we got hosses 'nough. Of course, we might sell or trade and keep this feller. I like a pinto. They ain't common, and he's sound as a dollar."

Standing on the side of the horse opposite to Mr. Capp, Serena's father looked closely at the animal and did not turn away until his neighbor said with a sigh:

"Wal, I'd like to own him, but money's pooty tight—pooty tight; and I got plenty ways to spend it."

"That's jest my fix, too," said Mr. Hazlitt.

"If either of you gents wants him, send me word," called the trainer as the two men walked away toward the store. The girls remained until the horse trainer rode off. They heard him say that he was going to Red Cafion. Martha walked sadly home.

"And I wanted him so bad—but he cost so much," she said to her mother. "He's worth ten such slow pokes as old Kit."

Later in the afternoon Mr. Capp returned home. Then began a teasing and cajoling that would have softened the heart of a graven image. Mr. Capp was well-to-do and he was really sorry now that he had not purchased the horse.

"I should 'a-liked to seen Marthy ridin' on him," he said to his wife.

"Well, we could sell Kittie," suggested Mrs. Capp.

Martha overheard their talk and broke in:

"Yes, she's an old poke and she's balky. She balked with me the other evening on the hill."