"'What you goin' to do with him?' I says. 'Don't you know it's wicked not to give that colt a chance to show what he can do?'
"'I know it is,' she says. 'But I have no money for training expenses.'
"I studies a minute, 'n' all of a sudden it comes to me. 'You were just achin' to help this little dame a while ago,' I says to myself. 'Here's a chance … be a sport!' The colt might make good, 'n' she could use a thousand or so awful easy.
"'Miss Goodloe,' I says out loud, 'I might as well tell you I'm in love with that colt.' She gives me a real sweet smile.
"'Isn't he a darling?' she says, her face lightin' up.
"'That isn't the way I'd put it,' I says, 'but I guess we mean the same. Now, I'm a race-hoss trainer. You read these letters from people I'm workin' fur, 'n' then I'll tell you what I want to do.' I fishes out a bunch of letters from my pocket 'n' she sets down on the steps 'n' begins to read 'em solemn as owls.
"'Why do they call you Blister?' she asks, lookin' up from a letter.
"'That's a nickname,' I says.
"'Oh,' she says, 'n' goes on readin'. When she gets through she hands the letters to me. 'They seem to have a lot of confidence in you, Blis—Mr. Jones,' she says.
"'Stick to Blister,' I says, ''n' I'll always come when I'm called.'