The Washington times., 1895-07-01
SaXiHraq6.

He was tho IDOL OF the track. the phe-
nomcaon Of his year 4 golden chestnut
perfect in line and limb, with the speed Of
3 whluwind. the mettIe OF a hero. Bat it
was not SO much his speed which gave
hun first place in all hearts as the stay. the
bulldog grit iy which he wore down aud
cluquerd q his rivals while giving them
lamps weight. He had won at least has
weight Iu SILVER for his hackers purely on
his courage Naturally they plunged on
him when He was named To start at an
even inIpost, with the only two colts any.
where near bis class, ina match for So 900
3 corner over distance Of ground.
PLAY sazilrage straight. You'll have
money TO barn. Same as if you found il"
the Taceguers said one 20 another what
time they were not lamenung that the
proves OF their champion forced them to
give odds in place OF taking them. That
was not surprising though The wonder
was that even the ncrviest boOky did not
bar SaEIfrIge OF turn his slate in face Of
the TGs.l 10 back him. Many OF them did
do il, bur not Hawkins. He was a short,
slight fellow, with a lisp and blue eyes
set in pink cherbic count euance. When
he won out on each race, . shade OF sad
ness was visible. Bat when the ring was
hit till good half OF it went broke then
was Haw idns a pattern of tranquil infan-
tine gayety. Ii was his idios yncrasy to do
astonishing things. SO his writing as
good as 20 8 against Saxifrage passed as
merely the whim Of q man who felt ne had
a character for eUcentricity to maintain
Nobody remembered that a Tonth before
stranger at The track watching the ex-
erCIse galoDs had said looking after the
golden chestnut. so iEai's Saxifrage. A
good locker, too. but IL takes more than
looks To win Why, last week in Kentucky
saw dead match 10 him-height, color,
the turn OF a lair, by the same sire. out Of
a sister 10 his Gam-and he cont earn his
oats Ee can run of COuTse-nust with
th0sele-s uHlcrhin-butiS iSa Cur-the rankest
coward. Hell start al right enough. but
let him hearhoots behindhiln, andhestopsto
walk You might cut him 10 pieces, and
be wouldn't do more than trot "
Hawkins was loungiug past, his hands
In his pockets. He said not word to the
stranger and WAS ostematiouSly in evi-
denCe for t;Ie next week. But a tall. spare,
nervous, DldCkeyed lad, who had q habit
OF biusaing when spoken to and was Haw-
Eins dbow shadow, disappeared for that
length OF time Then Hawkins got a tele-
gram. II was signed Sue and read:
Your twin brother Eas been found and
will meet you al the old place. Run up il
you can spare day"
HIWklHs crushed il in his hand and looked
SO Gowuaast that the man next to him said
O0mpassionatiy.
NO bad news, I hope?"
"it may mean trouble" Hawkins said.
his head dropping more than ever. After
ward lie walEed away, whistiing softly
the air Of old Hundred
weather and track We're perfect when the
match came of. 1t drew together a holi-
day ihrong OF shouting. laughing, pushing
thusands, aud SaXilIage was on every lip.
His Trainer was in ecstasy. has owner proudly
confident The good beast had answered
yes 10 the question OF his final preparation,
and IN such hollow style nobody who saw
IL could think the race in doubt. Yet with
his accustomed cranklneSs Hawkins even
lowered odds a point When jenkins, the
head groom, who had not left Saxifrage's
stall tor thirty-siX hours before the horse
was led out for his preliminary, came up
and said: Gimme 90 o. that Muster
Hawkins. / may as well be robbin' We as
any o the rest the booknaker smiled
languidly as he replied: "Jenk. YOU don't
understand. It's matter OF professional
pride. shall live in turf history as the men
who dared 10 lay 8 TO against your colt,
and that VIII be worth what lose"
Nobody in the suTging crowd had caught
the telcgraphing from the eye OF the groom
90 that Of tie bookmaker. jenkins saun-
tered away, clutching his ticket Hawkins
sprang down from his box
Come" he said, touching the tau lads
arm. Gomez / want to watch this race
from end TO end"
The tan lad got white. I'VE had better
co. he whispered. Go clean away Re
member. il anything came out"
Don't be fool. Susan" Hawkins re-
turned in the same key. Gomez i wouldn't
miss it-not for half we stand to win"
o
The colts broke even the second time
they were sent away. As the roar of the