“Oleo,” I yelled, “don’t be riding Boneyard like that --- you’ll strip his gears or give him a sunstroke.”

Just as I finished, Old Sol came beaming out in all his splendor as if to prove the truth of my statement, and Boneyard, my beloved hoss, neighed so loud that I bet a Chinaman in Shangai heard him.

“Oleo,” I yelled again, “get off that hoss---it’s too hot to be racing him today!”

“It’s today or never, dear Lehte. Ain’t you heard that I’m entering the races next week? Shucks, we can do anything, me an’ Boneyard! There’s nothing we can’t do!”

“Yes,” I retorted, “you may win-a cracked rib, but you’ll never win a prize!”

“Say, Lehte, remember my Grandpa Green. Surely you ain’t forgot---“

I forget nothing! How do you expect me to forget your Grandpa Greene when you remind me of him every time you enter a race. Just because he won a race one time is no proof that you will! Grandpa wouldn’t have won either had the other contestants not showed up! But I’ll remember, Oleo, I’ll always remember your dear Grandpa Green-green as the grass that grows in the meadow, green as the knowledge you often reveal!”

“Thanks, Lehte Nildem! We’ll show them what we can do, won’t we, Boneyard? We’ll raise the standard that Grandpa set! We’ll practice and win the sweet race yet!”

I watched Oleo fox-trot Boneyard for four days and when they were not riding, they were holding long consultations. I heard many of the things that Oleo told the horse bt I was never able to comprehend the language of Boneyard.

“That, dear Lehte, is because you know nothing about a hoss,” and to keep sweet peace, I agreed with him.

The day before the final reckoning, Oleo came running to me as I patched a fence, and seeing the look of agony on his face, I asked what the trouble might be.

“Lehte! Lehte! Come out to the stables Quick! Something wrong with the hoss. I remember my grandpa---“

“Yeh! Remember your grandpa, Oleo, but I know what’s wrong with Boneyard --- you have been riding him too hard! What he needs is a complete rest, so he must have absolute solitude for two days!”

“But, Lehte,” he cried, “I gotta have him tomorrow. The race comes off  I gotta have him regardless!”

“All right, use him---but you shall be left so far behind that even a buzzard will not be able to find you!”

Oleo remained with Boneyard the rest of the day, soothing, feeding and doctoring him. And just as Old Sol was disappearing behind the tree tops, I heard a clatter of racing hoofs and got to the door just in time to see Oleo and Boneyard galloping down our beaten trail.

The largest crowd that I ever have seen was at the ranch for the races, men, women, children and even some grandpas! I must admit that Oleo did shine in his riding garb, and Boneyard, covered by a flaming red saddle blanket, had the bearing of n elegant king. Spurs jingled, whips clashed, horses neighed. Indeed, it was the joy of every member of the Ranch of Bow-wow to be present, and watch pard Oleo try for the golden saddle.

A gun barked, and the riders were off, leaving Boneyard in a cloud of dust. It seemed that our favorite did not have a chance. Once he stumbled, and I felt as if his fall would be greater than that of Lucifer. But with a shake of his massive body, he plunged ahead, on and on, until he came abreast of the other horses.

“On Boneyard. On and on---with Bow-wow’s champion rider,” Oleo yelled and Boneyard, sensing victory and an extra feed of oats, passed his opponents; and they saw him reach the goal full two minutes ahead of them!

As the judges placed the golden saddle on the massive back of Boneyard, Oleo Margarine Green witnessed the ceremony with a beaming and triumphant face. I ankled over to him and apologized.

“Oleo, I’m sorry for my jeers and taunts. I should have known that you would win the race! Am I forgiven?”

“Forget it, Lehte,” was all that he’d trust himself to say.

“But Oleo, If I do forget---what will you remember?”

He took his place in the saddle and was his old self again. With his familiar good-natured grin he answered:

“I’ll remember my grandpa, Lehte! Now and forever!”