The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-05-01

The sergeant raised his pistol The
| report rang out.
| At the same instant horse and man
| shot out together from the mark AT
| first the runner, practiced in flying from
the start and having less momentum
than the horse, drew out IN front. In a
few seconds ne was some twenty yards
ahead. Then the gap between them
ceased to widen, then it was seen to be
decreasing; the horse was gaining
slowly at first, but gaining surely stride
by stride. When half the course was
covered the horse had drawn up level.
and then came such race as had never
yet been seen. For hundred yards and
more the two ran locked together, side
by side, the runner almost flying over
the crisp turf, the horse stretched out in
a fierce gallop, with the rider standing
in the stirrups. And now the goal was
only fifty yards away, but the gazers
drew deep breath as they saw that
now the horse was gaining-was draw
ing out in front.
For an instant it seemed that all was
over; the next. to their anlazement, they
were conscious that the horse was fall
ing. Then they saw a gallant sight;
they saw the runner nerve himself to the
last effort and, close upon the goal, dash
past the horse and PASS the judges and
fall headlong on the turf.
At that scene, IN spite Of discipline, \
frantic cheer broke forth along the lire
Even Feversham himself smiled grirnly
as one who, though he had just lost a
bet, had gained its full equivalent in
pleasurable excitement.
The winner, who had fallen painting
and exhausted, was raised into sitting
posture by two troopers, one of whom
poured draft of brandy down his
throat. The spirits almost instantly re-
viyed him, and in few seconds he was
able, though still weak and dizzy, to
stand upon his feet and look about him,
A few PAGES off his beaten rival stood
beside his horse. Dare looked at him
and their eyes met Quixarvyn's face
bore an almost imperceptible smile; but
it was not this, but something in his
look which the other could not have
defined, which struck him backward
like a shock. He staggered back pace
or two, bewildered by the light which
broke upon his mind. Then he stepped
up to his rivals side, and the guards.
who saw no cause TO interfere, falling
back little. he put his mouth close to
Quixaryyn's ear:
you pulled that horsel" he said.
Quixarvyn looked at him, but an
swered not word.
You let me win," the other went on,
his voice breaking. For her sake you
did"
Quixarvyn drove his nails into bis
palms; be had acted, be was acting. not
without bitter cost.
Make her happy" he said briefly.
As he spoke he turned away and strobe
swiftly to his old position at the head Of
the line Of prisoners, before which tbs
firing party was again drawn up.
Dare turned his back upon the scene
and thrust his fingers in his ears New
ertheless he could still hear with ho--
rble dlstinctreSs the sergeant's loud,
clear voice, with al interval between
the words:
Ready"
Present"
Fire."
Almost as the word was given cane
the crash Of the report. Moyed By a.
impulse which he could not conquer, hs
turned around with q shu3cer. The
soldiers were lowering their smoking
mUskets. and a thick white cloud hung
above the ire OF prisoners stretched
upon the ground. At the extremity CT
the line Quixarvya lay upon MS face,
with his right band clenched upon
portrait winch be Rad taken from his
breast, and with a bullet through his
hearth GreenhoagA Smith n Strand
Magazine.