Whatever Abe Moss¹'s opinion of Barry Tuxford might be, that astute² gentleman had his own way, and purchased Black Boy for four hundred and fifty pounds. Jack³ Redland was satisfied, so was Joel Kenley, who remarked that it was quite evident Barry Tuxford was fully⁴ equal to half a dozen men like Abe Moss.  
"I'm not so sure of that," said Barry. "He's sharp enough, and I fancy he thinks he has got a good price for the horse. He asked me if I had any objections to letting him know when the horse was going out to win, and I said none at all, for the first time he started he would do his best."
 
"And what did Moss say?" asked the trainer.
 
"He smiled and looked cunning, as much as to say—
 
"'You need not tell that fairy tale to me, you are not the man to run a horse out when the money is not on.'"
 
"I think that is probably correct," laughed Joel; then seeing Barry's countenance⁵ change, he added quickly—
 
"I mean what Moss thought, not that his opinion was correct."
 
Black Boy was handed over to Barry Tuxford, and consigned⁶ to the care of Bricky Smiles, at Kenley's stables. Bricky commenced to feel important again, he had two horses to look after, and this was a move in the right direction.
 
Joel Kenley was amused at him, and satisfied with his work in every way, in fact he acknowledged to Jack that a better man could not have been found for the job.
 
"It has given him a new lease of life," said the trainer, "and he'll be quite a different man in a few weeks."
 
Joel Kenley was not long in ascertaining⁷ whether his surmise⁸ as to Black Boy having been "bottled up" was correct. He tried him well, and was surprised at the result. He kept his knowledge to himself until he had given the horse a "dust up" with Lucky Boy. Again the result was a surprise, for the Western horse won rather easily at level weights.
 
Joel was a trifle puzzled. He had discovered that Black Boy would probably be weighted at a stone below his proper form in the next big handicap, and he was quite sure Lucky Boy would be leniently⁹ treated, as handicappers usually, and sometimes foolishly, regarded these "outsiders" with a contempt that was not deserved.
 
The trainer chuckled¹⁰ quietly to himself as he contemplated¹¹ the bringing off of one or two good coups¹². He dearly loved the excitement attending such proceedings¹³, and although he would have scorned to order a horse to be "pulled," he had no objections to benefit by the hoodwinking of a handicapper.
 
Somehow Joel regarded handicappers as his natural enemies, and had frequently fallen foul¹⁵ of them, and asked for an explanation of the weights placed upon his horses. On several instances it was acknowledged that he had good grounds for his grievance¹⁶, and this did not improve the temper of the handicappers.
 
Although his horses ran in and out, as most horses will, there was no suspicion against him, and his reputation for honesty stood high. It was different with Abe Moss, who was regarded as a very smart customer indeed, and when it became known that a new patron of Joel's stable had purchased Black Boy there was a general winking¹⁴ of eyes, and nodding of heads, amongst the "knowing ones."
 
The opinion of these would-be clever men was that Abe Moss would not have parted with Black Boy had the horse been any good. They were a little disappointed, because they had been carefully watching Black Boy's running, and had come to the conclusion some of his performances were "very hot" indeed, and they meant to reap the benefit of their observations when "the money was on." Their time had been wasted, their opinions must have been utterly¹⁷ wrong, for had Abe Moss been "keeping" Black Boy for a particular race he would not have sold him.
 
In this they were wrong. Abe Moss was by no means inclined to play shady games for the benefit of others. He had of late received several hints that if Black Boy suddenly showed greatly improved form he might be called upon to have an unpleasant interview with the stewards¹⁸ of the Jockey Club. Abe had a pious¹⁹ horror of stewards, he considered them superfluities, and said they were appointed to prevent honest men earning a decent living. As racing²⁰ meant income to Abe Moss, he had no desire to be "warned off," and this was probably what would happen if Black Boy suddenly developed into a good handicap horse.
 
When Barry Tuxford came along with the avowed²¹ intention of purchasing a couple of horses, Abe Moss fancied he saw a way out of the difficulty. He argued that if he sold Black Boy to a new comer, and the horse won a big race he, knowing the true form, could back him, and yet not be called upon to explain. This was the reason he parted with Black Boy, and asked to be given the information as to when the horse "was going."
 
It was a surprise to Abe when he knew Black Boy had gone into Joel Kenley's stable. He had a great respect for Joel as a trainer, none for him as a man. He knew it would not take him long to find out that Black Boy was a great deal better horse than his form made out. Judging others by himself, he came to the conclusion that when Joel made this discovery he would keep it dark and profit by it, in which case he, Abe Moss, stood a very good chance of being left "out in the cold" when Black Boy won. He was half inclined to give a hint to Barry Tuxford as to the true state of affairs, but he did not know him sufficiently²² well, and it was not safe to run risks.
 
Joel Kenley had some inkling as to the truth of all this when he tried Black Boy. He surmised²³ that Abe Moss had sold the horse, with a full knowledge of what he was capable of, in order to avoid serious consequences when he won. He told Barry Tuxford and Jack everything, and also what he suspe............