(America’s greatest expert judge.)


Alarmed at his situation, Mr. Bates sent his
confidential man Friday disguised in his smock
frock on Sunday, while Mr. Price was in church,
to examine the cattle he had to contend with.
Friday went into the stable under the pretense
that he wanted to hire to Mr. Price as a stock-
man. After looking them through he left, with-
out leaving his name. Soon after Friday re-
turned home Mr. Bates became exceedingly ner-
vous: raised, the most frivolous quibbles and
excuses amongst his neighbors and friends; his


204 HISTORY OF
schemes to enable him to back out made him
querulous. He wrote to the “Mark Lane Hx-
press” that he had a great aversion to gambling ;
advanced this as a plea, notwithstanding he had
been showing for money exactly on the same
principle.
Bates’ friends became alarmed; rode over to
Jurklevington to inquire if that plea of gamb-
ling was the only reason ; others wrote with anx-
ious inquiries. Bates, in his perplexity, seemed
to be wandering about the farm lke a hen by
candle light, in search of his man Friday, to


GRADE HEREFORD STEER, CONQUEROR, AT 27
MONTHS.
the rightful champion of 1879-80.)


(Bred by T. L. Miller;


caution him to be sure and keep his secret; but,
unfortunately, Friday could not keep from say-
ing that Price’s white-faces was a most excel-
lent herd, and that his “master” would have
very hard work to beat him. Friday was asked
many questions by all comers to Kirklevington.
