Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1889-12-21

| me acquaintance or captain be-
gan hocking around. Entering him
about it, They all wand TO bet, and
| freely gave odds Aseach bet was
| made the captain ga1 an inward
groan- But he determiDd to keep up
his reputation for plud- and so all
who offered TO bet odds Fere accom-
mon,ated
At last, when the fipl bet was
made, the captain found bat he had
placed 500 ON the raca The odds
which he had received isthe wagers
were such that lie found Z. 700 would
be won by the horse II twas win
ner of the race These ff,res made
him sigh. but there was ndaelp fer it
He had boosted OF his horss and must
take the consequences OF - over con-
fidence
At last the day for the rae arrived.
Capt Jackson arose early id went to
the stable. The boy who lad come
with the horse was up. af hard al
work rubbing of the old animal
We'll, said the captain Il sup
pose you viii ride the old sksse todayl"
Yes" replied the boy without
stopping in his work
''Of course you'll win" ontinued
the captain with smile, With broad
ened into laugh as the absrdity OF
such suggestion forced itssf upon
him
The boy only grinned in trn, but
made no reply
What do you call the old hllowa"
asked the captain after a pausA
Boss said you'd want to pik out
high-toned name for him fee the
race
"Oh, he did. did her We'll wen
call him the Duke of Flatvil& that
ought to suit your boss
"Better make it King, cap said
the boy pausing for moment
Capt. jackson laughed Thdwhole
thing was assuming the asped of
huge joke. True it was at his EXPENSE,
and he was coming to enjoy it,
The day was bright, and it hought
every one out. Business was PRACTICAL
ly suspended in the town, as everybody
wanted to see this browning fdly Of
the good natured captain Men wo-
men and children We're at thel race
course long before the judges took
their places and rang up the horSs
The bell had hardly sounded vhen
up came the champion runner OF the
county. He was big. well builtbay,
and as he passed the stand with smart
looking boy on his back the spectators
cheered Justify Then, one by one,
ing by the stand, the young Jockeys
dressed In gay colors. All the animals
received ovatlons as they came up to
the stand.
Last of all came the Duke of Flat
vile. He hobbled along with his
nose TO the ground. and appeared tobe
seeking soft spot TO lie down His
appearance sent up a jeering shout
from the crowd.
Better tie a rope around him or he'll
fall to pieces" called a voice
Lean him against the fence till the
word is given, called another.
Captain, are you going to use him
10 split rails with after the race2"
JAILED boy as the captain crossed the
rack near the horse.
Hear the wind blow through his
lbs" shouted another
Are his hoofs tied on tight2' cried
/ fat man on the top row of seats, and
his was followed by more thrusts, all |
If which caused shouts of laughter.
The captain wished himself at home, |
md Mr.. Leicester in dungeon of the |
county jail. But wishing didn't bet |
err matters, and as he had shaken the |
lice, he was bound to throw them.
After time the horses got into posi- |
ion and We're ready for the start. The |
distance had been fixed at one mile |
md a quarter, but the Duke didn't |
ook as If he could run half the dis |
ance.
AS the flag dropped six horses sprang
onward and rushed, well punched, |
own the course. The Duke wasn't |
ne of these. He made a short leap /
S the boy on his back piled the whip |
nd started off in the rear of the |
lunch. lie ran shut up like knife"
S horsemen call that style of short |
jumps which cover but short distances.
When the leader of the six had |
cached the quarter pole the Duke was
-et back of the eight pole, and when
he big bay passed the half mile mark
he quarter mile pole, the boy on his
ack shouting and plying the lash.
Capt. jackson looked away IN dis
.ust. But just then a cry of surprise
rom the crowd caused him to look
gain toward the horse.
The boy on the Dukes back had |
ropped his whip and ceased his yell
ng. He was lying forward on the
eek of the horse, which was stretched
ut straight and firm. A wonderful
hange had come over the animal.
he short jumps were changed into
-reat rapid strides. and like whirl
Tind he was overhauling the lea aers.
Before the leader had reache, the
nile pole the Duke had overhauled
i'm and shot by him like ST eal1. In
twinkling he reached the wire, and
ad won by more than an eighth of a
lille. The judges We're SO surprised
nat they forgot to take the time. and
he crowd went fairly wild. They had
t last seen a horse race.
Capt Jackson jumped up and down, |
nd when the boy drove the Duke back /
e was hauled off by the captain and /
ugges until he gasped for breath. At /
ast he had his revenge.
While the excitement was at its /
eight, voice at the captains elbow |
aid; well, you did them up"
Turning around, the captain grasped
ne hand of Mr. Leicester.
Leicester, I'll never forget you.
nut that horse-what Is hep
''Oh. he belongs to me- No-I don't