"No, no; I'm too old for that kind of game," he said.
Owen drew from his pocket a roll of yellowbacks—the biggest roll
Eddie Kaboff had seen since the days of "easy money."
"This much to try it," said Owen, "and as much again if you make good."
Kaboff's glance wavered a moment between the penetrating eyes of Owen and the money in his hand.
"Take it; it's yours."
The flabby hand closed almost caressingly around the roll. "We'll go in and have a look at the brute," he said.
They followed him through a line of stalls to a large padded box at the far end of the barn. A beautiful bay saddle horse occupied the box. Kaboff entered and called the animal, which answered by flying into a seeming fury, plunging about the box, kicking, rearing and snapping.
"Same old devil," muttered Hicks. "He'll do."
The sight of an apple in Kaboff's hand calmed the animal. It came to him and ate docilely while he slipped a bridle over its head. Once outside the stall, however, it began another rampage.
Hicks held a last whispered conversation with Kaboff, giving him minute instructions.