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A gypsy horseman Ezekiel Bisbee, hailing from Arizona brought a little gray mare called Fly-the-Coup to Upson Downs one season. Three furlongs was her limit, but her limit at that game was about six feet faster than any "short" horse then racing at the Downs. Sam Louis, just a week or so out of Kansas City in those days, saw her set fire to the homestretch one morning and straightaway marked her name on one of his halters. Two days later Fly-the-Coop was entered in a claiming race at 5. Zeke said hed have put her in for the even fifty, but his boy "couldnt do no lightern 82 pounds" so what was the use? The old gyp told everybody his little gray marc wasnt within a month of a race, so she drifted from 3 to 2 to 20 to 2 and at the latter quotation Zeke eased in several deuce-notes on her. Sam Louis was trailing him and once he saw the checks were down wagered six bones himself enough to win her out. When Col. Roustem yelled "Come on, boys," some o;f them left there Fly-the Coop on top. The others that did not get away soon got their shins bucked trying to keep step with the little gray mare and she strolled by in two. About twenty minutes later Zeke was notified to deliver his mare to Sam Louis shed been claimed. Did Zeke do that? Nothing like it. He grabbed Fly-the-Coops halter-shank in one horny hand and Sam Louis in the other and started in six-foot strides for the judges stand. But Major Blinkiron was not there. A bystander thought he might be found in the buffet natural thought if you knew the Major. So into the buffet strode Zeke, the gray mare and Sam. "Looky here. Judge," opened Zeke. "What you mean deliver my mare to this varmit?" Now be it known that Blinkiron was the topweight among diplomats. With flourishes, suhs and lets-have-another-suhs, he explained to Zeke the inside facts about the claiming rule. Zeke listened attentively, then: "Major Blinkiron," he said, smilingly, "I preciate your friendship in explaining this matter to me, but Major, I just couldnt think o givin this mare up. Why, if I went back to Arizona and told my wife Id sold this mare Id have to get a divorce if I lived." "But those are the rules, Mr. Bisbee," began Blinkiron. But at that moment he noticed that the man from the desert was standing powerful close to him and he suddenly became aware that something hard and sharp was pressing rather forcibly against his stomach. Far be it from the Major to give sign by so much as the flicker of an eyelid that he was "on." With the suave smile he turned to Louis. "Sam," he said, "I just now recall having heard before about the great love Mrs. Bisbee bears for this little gray mare looks upon her as one of her own children. Why dont you be a gallant gentleman, like I know you to be, and tear up that claim." For a moment Sam hesitated. Then his eyes rolled once or twice and he said, "Sure, Judge. Anything to please a lady." All three enjoyed a round of the Majors applejack. Then Zeke and the gray mare went their way. Said Sam to the Major: "Judge, you didnt need to press that gat o yours against me dont you know Id do anything you asked of me?" "I sort o thought you would, Sam. But this was a tight place we was in just now and I didnt want you to start any of your kidding tellin me you couldnt think of it Lets haw another, Sam to the little gray mare that was just like one of the family."
