"The man who owned the horse did not want to sell him at any price," explained Frank. "I induced him
to set a price that he thought would settle me, and then I snapped him up so quickly it took away his breath."
"I should think your guardian would have kicked at throwing up a thousand for such a purpose."
"He did," laughed Frank, looking at Diamond, who showed a little confusion. "You remember that Jack, Rattleton and myself went on to Springfield to meet him a few days ago?"
"And got arrested for kidnaping a baby!" chuckled Griswold. "That was a corker. We didn't do a thing to you fellows when you got back here!"
"That's right," admitted Jack, dolefully. "Not a thing! You simply marched us through the streets and onto the campus with a band and banners and made a stunning show of us!"
"Well," said Frank, "Professor Scotch, my guardian, was so glad to get out of the scrape when the judge discharged us that he gave up the thousand without a flutter. That's how I got the money."
"Well," yawned Browning, "now you have the horse, you'll find him an expensive piece of furniture. It takes money to take care of 'em and feed 'em."
Diamond had been inspecting the gelding from all
sides, surveying him with the air of one who knows something about horses, and he now asked: