"'They're gettin' him ready on a bull-ring up in Illinois,' says Harms. 'He's in good shape 'n' 'll be dead ripe time we get ready to ship him down here. I figure we'll put this gag across about Christmas.' "'What does the boy wonder get fur swappin' mules with the Association?' I says. 'I'm just dyin' to know what Santa Claus'll bring little Alfred.' "'You get all expenses, twenty-five bucks a week, 'n' a nice slice of the velvet when we cleans up,' says Harms. "'Nix, on that noise!' says I. 'If you or some other benevolent gink don't crowd five hundred iron dollars on G. Percival the day before the bird flies, he won't leave the perch.' "'Don't you trust me?' says Harms. "'Sure,' I says, 'better'n Cassie Chadwick.' "He argues, but it don't get him nothin' so he says he'll come across the day before Friendless brings home the bacon, 'n' I make him cough enough to pay what I owes. The next day a swipe leads Alcyfras out to the track. "'What's the name of that dog?' Peewee Simpson yells, as I'm cross-tyin' the hoss at the stall door. "'Alcyfras,' I says, as I pulls the blanket off. Peewee comes over 'n' looks at the hoss a minute. "'Alcy nothin'!' he says. 'If that ain't Friendless, I never sees him.' "I digs up the roll Harms give me. "I'll gamble this pinch of spinach his name is Alcyfras,' I says. "'You kin name what you like far as I'm concerned, 'n' change it every mawnin' before breakfast,' says Peewee. 'But if you starts him as anythin' but Friendless we don't see your freckled face 'round here no more.' "By this time a bunch has gathered 'n' soon there's a swell argument on. One guy'll say it's Friendless 'n' another 'll say it ain't. Finally somebody says to send fur Duckfoot Johnson, who swiped Friendless fur two years. They send for him. "When Duckfoot comes he busts through the crowd like he's the paddock judge. "'Lemme look at dis hoss,' he says. "Everybody draws back 'n' Duckfoot looks the hoss over 'n' then runs his hand under his barrel close to the front legs. "'No, sah, dis ain' Frien'less,' he says. 'Frien'less has a white foot on de off front laig and besides dat he has a rough-feeling scab on de belly whar he done rip hisself somehow befo' I gits him. Dis dawg am smooth as a possum.' "That settles all arguments. You can't fool a swipe 'bout a hoss he's taken care of. He knows every hair on him. "One day I'm clockin' this Alcyfras while a exercise-boy sends him seven-eights. When I looks at my clock I thinks they ought to lay a thousand-to-one against the mutt, after he starts a couple of times. Just then somethin' comes 'n' stands in front of me 'n' begins to make little squeaky noises. "'Are you Mr. Blister?' it says. "I bats my eyes 'n' nods. "'I've got 'em again,' I thinks. "'Oh, what a relief!' it squeaks. 'I just thought I'd never find you. I've been looking all over the race course for you!'