The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-08-16
TIME, 2:13 1-2.

New ork sun.
COP
1t was a free-for-all race, and there
wasn't driver behind one of the five
horses what didn't mean to take the
first money. Not a shout, not a touch
OF the whip, not whisper from one
of the drivers as the trotters wen
round in bunch. The crowd at tn.
grand stand were breathless as they
watched them down to the half-mils
flag. Not horse fell behind, not 9
horse left his feet. Down around the
back-stretch, into the home-stretch, land
an old veteran shaded his ewes anG
whispered:
'Great heavens! but 1 never saw
any thing like it before!'
Down they thundered, mot break Tor
skip, ,and the driver with the orange col.
ored cap drove under the wire only a
neck ahead. 1t wa s halfa minute before
there was W ord from the thundt
struck crowd, but then such a shout
went up as was heard over the mead
ows for long mile. The timer chalk
ed his figures upon the board and
hung it up, g :l6,11as" and the crowd
shouted again.
When the horses scored again there
was q new driver under the orange
colored cap. Honest Jack had been
hurled from his suiky in pulling up
beyond the wire. Some said he was
only shaken up, and others looked
grave as they saw his white face and
the bloody froth on his lips. They
took him to the track-keepers' house
and the doctor examined him and said
'He won't drive again this summer,
and fear he has met his death-biow.'
what was the time 2 whispered the
driver, opening his eyes for the first
time.
a brother driver answered him,
despite the surgeons warning gesture
and Jacks white face showed disap.
pcintment as he said:
Il thought we were flying, but we
were only jogging. I'll yet see Little
Nell beat that by three seconds
Fever came, and his wild rawlings
were about weights, over-checks, hand
holders, and trainers and rubbers. The
public forgot him in a day. but the
trainers and others around the track
inquired about him every hour in the
day, and took turns sitting up with
him nights. II was plain that death
was coming nearer every hour, but
thev could neither break his fever nor
lead his wild thoughts into other chan
nels,
'There goes the bell! Get ready |!
All right! Out % the way there! l
take the pole! he kept calling out,
and they saw that he would die With
his thoughts on the stables and track.
One night when the air braced up,
and the suiiry haat was driven away,
the patien; rested better than usual.
He ceased his raving aud fell into a
sweet sleep, and by aud by his tired
watchers also slept. When they open
ed their eyes again they heard the
ding! ding! ding! OF tie bell on the
Judges stand. Honest Jacks bed was
empty, and for moment they could
not comprehend the situation. Ding
ding! ding! went the bell again, aud
the watchers ran over TO the track.
Two of the stable boys Joined them
having been aroused by the bell, an d
in another minute the trackmau was
there. Through the gloom of the
midnight they made out human fig
ure beside the bell. 1t was not Hon
est Jack. A cold chill crept over each
one as they realized that it was not.
Ding! ding! ding rang the bell, and
they heard the bca; of hoofs OH the
soft track. One glance showed them
Little Nell before her sulky, and be-
hind her was = half-clad figure, with
face so white that II seemed almost
like star in the gloom Long, white
fingers clutche / the lines, and a pair
of eyes almost on fire, shown down on
the little crowd as Honest Jack walked
his horse down to The stand, as if to
confer with the Judge.
'The boy has left his bed, harnessed
his horse, and is going to trot against
time! whispered the trackman, but
thev dared not set foot upon the track
to stop him. In the judges stand was