"'What do you say to a jockey when you desire him to lose?' Elsy asks me.
"'I just say—"Grab this one,"' I says.
"'What do you say when you require him to win?' he squeaks.
"'I don't say nothin'. I hands him a ticket on the hoss 'n' the jock wins if he has to get down 'n' carry the dog home,' I says.
"Not long after this, Friendless gets in from Illinois. I look him over in the car 'n' I see he's not ready. He's not near ready.
"'What kind of shoemakers give this hoss his prep.?' I asks Harms.
"'What's wrong with him?' he says. 'He looks good to me.'
"'He ain't ready,' I says. 'Look at him 'n' feel him! He'll need ten days more work 'n' a race under his belt 'fore he's safe to bet real money on.'
"Harms buys some stuff at a drug store, 'n' gets busy with the white fore-foot.
"'Only God A'mighty can make as good a sorrel as that!' he says when he's through. 'Here's the can of dope. Don't let her fade.'