Wichita eagle., 1890-01-21

riders Ladies had their favorites, with
ready pin money to back them Neighborly
wapers of money or what not were freely Of
fered and freely taken. Even the little ur
chins that fough each other for places around
the rails hazarded their nickels and dimes on
the red cap or the buff jacket.
! About the bookmakers' offices the excite
ment was at fever heat. Men crowded and
pushed and elbowed their way to get a
glimpse of the latest offerings, and here and
there the enterprising sharper would button
hole his prey and allure him with the offer Of
a straight tip Old FOUNDERS eyed their
tickets as narrowly and with as much delight
as child new toy. Young men that had
never before wagered a cent eagerly asked
for takers Of bets against the favorite, and
money flowed as freely as water.
Suddenly there was moment of silent ex-
pectation then waving of hats and futter-
ing of handkerchiefs, followed shout that
echoed again and again through the neigh
boring fields and woods.
The horses had appeared upon the track;
down the stretch they came toward the stand
to receive their places from the judges with
jockeys sitting as gracefully and firmly as
though a part of the animals themselves.
/
ments were made Thirteen horses to start,
and every one of them as swift as the winds,
the perfection of breed and training, their
long, sinewy bodies fairly quivering with ex-
element No wonder that the vast throng
held its breath when the start was made.
Randall was on every tongue. Thousands
of dollars were behind him, and as he pranced
and quivered under me I thought again and
| l.1 l. -
| to it!" tried TO be cool and. collected, but
who could at such a moment and in such a
place, astride OF such a noble animal, and
with thousands Of eyes and minds bent upon
him-who, with all these, could remain in
sensible TO the thrill that pervaded animals
| and men.
| My hand shook a little and my voice trem-
bled some, as | stroked the horses neck and
endeavored to soothe him till the drum tapped
/ knew well that all his efforts would be re-
quired There were other horses every whit
as swift, but / relied on his devotion and the
thought that the others might know that he
was not to win.
Directly the judges voice is heard. In an
instant we are off, Randall and | at the very
outer side. Lady Rose led off with the speed
of the wind, just keeping her white nose in
front of the others that came laundering on
by her side. For few seconds | was almost
dizzy with excitement not knowing exactly
where | was nor what the chance. As we
sped under the wire had caught glance
from Wharton's eye. 1t was glance that
burned into my very brain, and never for a
moment faded till the race had been won and
lost. 1t plainly told me of the frightful con-
sequences that would follow any disobedience
of orders. He was shade or two paler than
usual, and his agitation was plain from the
way in which he nervously walked to and
fro close to the rail. Maybe he mistrusted
mel never knew.
On we flew, the very earth trembling and
resounding beneath the mighty strides of the
now thoroughly aroused horses Gradually
became less confused, though my excitement
grew more and more intense. | was still
little behind as we rushed down the back
stretch, then inch by inch Randall advanced
to the fanks of the gray mare on his left
around the hext pole with no change every
horse painting and steaIning with the effort
No whip or spur had touched my beauty's
sides; he was but little used TO either, and
from me he had never received any urging
but stroke on the neck with my open hand
or few words of encouragement.
STEADY, boy; steady, now" as we neared
the home stretch on the first half. Ihad been
watching my opportunity, and now, as we
rushed down to the front of the stand, l dex-
terously dropped behind few PAGES, and
wheeling Randall across the fleeing TANKS of
the five or six that had kept the leading pace,
placed him at the pole length behind the
superb sorrel, Lady Rose, who had kept her
lead all the way round.
The race had but fairly begun; the last half
was to tell the tale; we crossed the wire
not a shout came from the thousands of
threats that belonged to the thousands of
eyes that were riveted upon the flying horses.
Fortunes and honOrs hung on the result and
probably hves-who knew?
Again we were nearing the back stretch,
and still Randall was behind Would he fall
No; it could not be. Bending low in the sad
die, gently patted his vein covered neck
Now, Randall, nowi"
Instantly the intelligent animal responded
to my voice. With leap after leap-leaps
that seemed to say Il will not faili'-he
gained the side of the sorrel Another and
another, and he was at her neck Now the
breath Of his red nostrils Missed and struggled
with the breath from hers. Another leap
and his head was in the light. Then again
spoke:
Faster, Randall, faster!"
As if understanding the very thoughts
that burned my brain, he redoubled his eff
forts Never spur, never cut from the
whip, but only few earnest words and
few light taps on the streaming neck / turned
In my saddle, and saw the flaming nostrils of
the grey and the sorrel.
Faster, Randall, fasterl"
Now we are clearly in the lead RandaIls
tail is futtering in the face of his pursuer
The wire is only a few yards off. VIII he
fail; no, for the race is ours
But what viii John Wharton say-yes.
what will he say? What viii the people sayi
Ali l know what they viii say. | hear it
already, as burst of enthusiasm that wakes
the echoes of heaven comes TO me rs we rush
on by. Yes, what viii John Wharton saw
What will the people say-and what will lit
tie Willie say as he looks down from hi:
snowy perch abovei Another outburst. then
stiffness as if of death | saw no more,
heard no more felt no more All is blank.
What had happenedl Had we lost, or was il
the sympathy Of the happy for the unfor-
tunste that made the siiencel | did not
know; L could not understand
w hen reSaineu CONSEQUENCES L was II |
bed, with long row of others on either side |
There was a painful numhness in my arm /
and leg, or the place where those limbs should |
have been.
1t was hospital. The doctors told me
how l came there. John Wharton was stand /
ing close 70 the railing when We passed under /
the wire-RandslI and lon that great day |
We had won; he had lost With a bound !
and an oath he sprang at Randalrs head |
That frightened him and caused him 10 fall. /
In an instant the other horses were upon US
fraruDIinC lis beneath rbai- i-cr, foot