The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-09-25

Yes, Skimpsey understood. He knew
too much about the race track and its
darker methods not to do so; but before be
could find q voice in which to reply, the
bookmaker had gone and the trumpet had
sounded to call the horses to the post.
Hinton, the trainer, gave Skimpsey leg
up, and taking Lady Marian by the head
| led her out to the track. Remember,
Skimpsey," he said. ''let her out early and
| ride to win"
Skimpsey knotted the reins and sat as
proudly in the saddle as any knight enter.
ing the lists. His freckled face was glow
ing as red as his hair, and his blue eyes
shone with excitement. Then for an in
slant he remembered the words of the
bookmaker A thousand dollarsl More
than enough to make the coveted five thou
sandl He need not pull the mare, only
! keep her from shooting her bolt at the
right moment. 1t would be set down to a
| misconception of his orders, and that
would be the end of it. Only for a mo-
ment, however, was he tempted, and then
| he scorned the idea. Putting the Maid
Marian into canter, that sinuous, grace
full Iope peculiar to thoroughbreds, he soon
ranged with the other horses at the start
ing post.
After several unsuccessful attempts to
get the horses off, the flag fell to beauti-
full start, Maid Marian running easily at
third place. Down past the grand stand
they came, the favorite, a big bay, still
leading and Maid Marian third as before.
At the third post the Maid had moved up
to second place, and it was almost time for
her to make her coup. Skimpsey knew
this, but for an instant again Grips thou
sand dollars came into his mind For
few seconds, that seemed hours to poor
Skimpsey, the temptation struggled with
his better nature. In that brief period he
thought of his mother the green coat the
silver chain and the beaver hat, and then
suddenly, when he had fought down the
temptation, he found it was too late to
send the Maid ahead according to orders.
For the favorfte and another horse were
already two lengths ahead and contesting
almost neck and neck for the victory.
Then Skimpsey's conscience smote him
with awful force, and he settled down into
the saddle to ride-to ride as he never rode
before, as never jockey rode before. He
felt that all his honor, the honor of his
name, which, humble as it was, he had
worked so hard to recover, was at stake.
And so that little ninety pound hero, who
had conquered his temptation, rode to win
the Seaside stakes of 1S9-. Hoping against
hope he pushed his noble mount on; slow
ly, oh, so very slowly he crept up to the
leaders. They had passed the last furlong
post and were nearing the winning point
and the Maid had only managed to get her
nose abreast of the favorites saddle girth.
One more supreme effort of the noble brute. |
One more endeavor and an unuttered
prayer from the lucky little rider, and they
had passed the judges stand with Maid |
Marian ahead by the barest of noses
A mighty shout went up from the multi |
tude, which died, however, Instantly. For |
Maid Marian had fallen few strides from |
the post. There was a cloud of dust as |
the other horses passed, and when it arose |
Maid Marian had struggled to her feet and |
galloped off, but Skimpsey-Skimpsey with
his little hand tightly clutching his whip,
and his face as white as death, lay still |
and quiet on the dusty track. He had rid
den his last racet
They took him up and bore him to his
cot in the boys quarters. His heart was
still beating, and presently he opened his
blue eyes and looked up at the doctor who
was looking after him
81 won, didn't I?' he said feebly.
ayes. yes, my boyl but'-and the doctor
hestated, dreading to tell him the truth.
"Oh, know" said Skimpsey weakly,
'it's inside of me; Pm dyin." then he
tainted away for a minute from pain.
Opening his eyes again, he breathed the
words:
Tell Mr.. Hinton to send the money to
mother to say was sorry couldn't make
IS, 900, how sorry am to leave her. And
tell them" his voice sinking into a whis-
per, Il didn't pull the mare; came near
it, but Won"
A ghost of smile played about his lips
as he whispered the words. Then the pain
again caused him to faint away.
Now, Maid" he whispered hoarsely,
when he came to again, "Now, Maid, nowl
howl ahT'
From across the track where the grand
stand stood came the sound of a distant
oar. The last race was over, and the peo-
de hurried away from the track in the
rains, in carriages and on foot, all bound
or home. Standing about a humble cot
n the rude wooden quarters stood half
lozen men with heads uncovered, rough
elbows most of them, but subdued in the
Iwful presence of death. For Skimpsey,
90, had left the track and gone Home
Alfred Stoddart in Romance.