CHAPTER IX
EXPOSING A FRAUD
It would be hard to tell what Abner Holden's precise occupation was. Hehad thirty or forty acres of land, but only cultivated enough to producesupplies of vegetables for his own table, and grain for his horses.He kept four cows, and he had, at this time, three horses. He had theYankee propensity for "swapping," and from time to time traded horses,generally managing to get the best of the bargain, for he was tolerablysharp and not much troubled by conscientious scruples about misstatingthe merits of his horses.
But, about two months before Herbert came into his employ, he hadhimself been overreached, and found himself the possessor of a horseof excellent outward appearance, but blind of one eye, and with avery vicious temper. He accepted the situation with a bad grace, anddetermined, as soon as possible, to "trade" the horse to another party.
One day, about a fortnight after Herbert's arrival, agentlemanly-looking stranger knocked at Abner Holden's door.
The call was answered by the housekeeper.
"Is Mr. Holden at home?" he inquired.
"Yes, sir," was the reply.
"I should like to see him."
Abner Holden soon made his appearance.
"Mr. Holden." said the stranger "I am in search of a good family horse.I am told that you have some animals for sale, and called on you,thinking I might get suited through you."
"You've come to the right place," said Abner, glibly. "I've got just theanimal that will suit you."
"I should like to see it."
"He's in the pasture now. If you don't object to walking a shortdistance, I will show him to you. I feel sure he will suit you."
"Very well, I will go with you."
"This way, then."
The two walked down a green lane at the back of the house to theentrance of the pasture, where the three horses, at present comprisingAbner Holden's entire stock, were grazing leisurely.
Now, it happened that, of the three, the blind and vicious horse wasmuch the best looking. He held his head erect, had a graceful form, andwas likely to attract favorable notice at first sight.
Abner Holden paused at a little distance, and pointed him out.
"What do you think of that horse, Mr. Richmond?" he said.
"A very good-looking animal," said the stranger, with an approvingglance; "but I must explain that I want such an animal as my wife candrive. It is absolutely necessary that he should be good-temperedand gentle. If, with this, he is handsome, and of good speed, all thebetter. Now you know what I am in search of. Can you recommend thishorse of yours?"
"Yes," said Abner, confidently, "he will just suit you. I did calculateto keep him for my own use, but I'm rather short of money, and I shallhave to let him go."
"You say he is gentle?"
"Oh, yes, as gentle as need be."
"Could a woman drive him?"
"Oh, no trouble about that," said Abner.
"And he has no serious defect?"
"No."
"Well, that seems satisfactory. I like his appearance. He would lookwell in harness. What is your price?"
"Two hundred and fifty dollars, cash down," said Abner. "That's toocheap. He's worth a cool hundred more, but I got him cheap, and canafford to sell him cheap."
The horse had cost Mr. Holden just a hundred and ten dollars, and atthis price he considered himself decidedly taken in; but this he did notparticularly care to mention.
"Two hundred and fifty dollars!" mused the stranger. "It is a littlemore than I intended to pay. Still, if the animal is what you describe,I don't know that I shall object on that score."
"You had better take him," said Abner. "It'll be the best bargain youever made, I'll warrant. You'll pay cash down, I suppose?"
"Of course."
"Then shall we say it's a bargain?"
"Not quite yet. I'll take till the afternoon to think about it."
"Better decide now. The fact is, Mr. Richmond, I ought not to let thehorse go at that figure, and I may change my mind."
"I think I shall take your horse, but I have agreed to look at another,and must see that first."
"Whose?"
"It belongs to a man named Nichols."
"Sam Nichols?"
"I believe so."
"I wouldn't advise you to have anything to do with him."
"Why not?"
"He's a regular sharper. You can't depend on anything he says."
"Thank you for the caution. I will be on my guard. But I promised totake a look at his horse before deciding. If I don't come to termswith him, and I don't think I shall, I will come round some time thisafternoon and make a bargain with you."
Mr. Holden thought it was hardly politic to urge him farther. With arenewed caution as to dealing with Sam Nichols, he let him go.
"Well," thought Abner, after he was gone, "it will be a pretty goodthing if I get rid of Spitfire"--he had named him thus--"for twohundred and fifty dollars. He's a bad-tempered brute, and blind into thebargain. But I'm not bound to tell Mr. Richmond that, and so spoil mytrade. I've put a flea in his ear about Nichols, and I guess he will beback again."
The prospect of making a good bargain caused Abner to be unusuallypleasant and good-humored, so much so that Mrs. Bickford regarded himwith surprise. He voluntarily asked her if she did not wish something atthe store, volunteering to bring home whatever was needed.
"What's come over the man?" thought the housekeeper. "It's too good tolast."
She was quite correct there. Mr. Holden was naturally crabbed, and fairweather with him was the exception rather than the rule. On the presentoccasion it did not last many hours.
Abner Holden went to the store, but made other calls on the way, so thathe was three hours absent, and did not return till twelve o'clock, theusual dinner hour in his household.
Meanwhile, Mr. Richmond, his caller of the morning, had been to see SamNichols, and inspected the horse he had for sale. He did not altogetherlike its appearance, and, moreover, he was prejudiced against him bywhat he had heard from Abner Holden, and came away without effecting apurchase.
"I don't think I can do better," he reflected, "than to take that horseof Holden's. Let me see, it is only half-past ten. I shall have time togo up there this morning. I suppose I might as well settle matters atonce."
Accordingly, eleven o'clock found him again in Abner Holden's yard.
Herbert was out in the yard, engaged in splitting wood.
"Is Mr. Holden at home?" inquired the stranger, pausing.
"No, sir."
"Will he be at home soon?"
"Yes, sir, I think so. He only went out to the store. He ought to behome now."
"Then I think I will wait. I was here once before this morning. I wastalking with him about buying one of his horses. If you can spare thetime, I would like to have you go with me to the pasture, and I willtake another look at the one I saw this morning."
"Certainly, sir," said Herbert, driving the ax into the block uponwhich he had been splitting, prepared to accompany Mr. Richmond to thepasture.
They reached the bars dividing the pasture from the next field. Spitfirewas cropping the grass just on the other side.
"There," said the stranger, pointing him out, "that is the horse I waslooking at."
"THAT ONE!" repeated Herbert, in a tone of surprise.
"Yes, he is a fine-looking animal."
"Ye-es," said Herbert, hesitatingly.
"However, I don't so much care about that, as for his being gentle. Iwant him for a family horse, such as my wife may drive, without fear,while I am away."
"Did Mr. Holden say he's gentle?" asked Herbert.
"Yes. He recommended him highly for that, and told me he had no seriousdefect."
"Are you sure this is the horse?" asked Herbert.
"Certainly. I am not likely to be mistaken in it. I suppose it is all ashe says?"
Herbert was in a perplexing position. He knew that if he told the truthhe should incur Abner Holden's
anger, but his conscience revolted atsuffering the stranger to be taken in, and thus, perhaps, exposing hiswife to serious danger.
"I am afraid I cannot confirm what Mr. Holden says," he answered,reluctantly. "The horse is very ill-tempered, and is blind of one eye."
"Is it possible? Then I have had a narrow escape. You have done me agood service, my boy, in telling me the truth, for I am, myself,unused to horses, and should have taken the animal on your employer'srecommendation. Accept this acknowledgment of my indebtedness."
He would have placed a five-dollar bill in Herbert's hand, but our herofirmly refused to receive it.
"I have only done my duty, sir. I cannot accept money for doing that.Thank you all the same."
"Perhaps you are right, my lad. If I ever have a chance to serve you,don't hesitate to let me know it."
"There'll be a storm if Mr. Holden hears of this," thought Herbert. "ButI could not do otherwise."
Try and Trust; Or, Abner Holden's Bound Boy Page 9