“What’s that?” asked Evarts.
“Nothing. No, I wouldn’t consider trading back,” said Mr. Meadows stoutly. “I was a bit mad at the time, but Jim sure knew what he was doing. Now I wouldn’t swap that mustang for your whole string. I’d like to buy the watch though.”
“How about forty-five dollars?”
“Fair enough. I’ll buy it.”
“Made money on that horse after all,” said the old man, grinning as he pocketed his money.
“I’m glad you did, because that mustang is just about the most valuable horse in the country. Also the most famous in the state.”
“What’s he done?”
“Well, for one thing he’s just recovered from a broken leg. Had the cannon bone broken and you’d never know it now.”
“Well, I’ll be hanged,” said Evarts in amazement, as he walked toward the orchard fence. “How’d he break it?”
“The barn caught on fire one night and he broke out. He jumped the fence and broke his leg when he landed. That’s what woke us. Must have saved me a thousand dollars worth of stock. I had the barn insured against fire but not the stock. That’s just one of the reasons why we wouldn’t part with him.”