Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1895-09-13
UN UNEVEN RACE.
The Desperate Run Of a Brave
California Bronco.
He Keeps Ahead OF Thoroughbred Race
horse Until He Falls from Exhaus-
tion - Thrilling Narra-
tive.

An exciting story is told by Crom-
well Galpin, in ST. Nicholas, of race
between bronco and big thorough
bred horse. The former was ridden
by mere boy, Californian, who had
to file certain paper in court before
noon in order to retain possession of q
farm. The writer says:
There was still wanting the one
thing that stirs racer to his utmost
endeavor. Felipe had almost forgot
ten the horse behind him. Two-eyes
had not. He had been on the alert.
horse fashion, with one ear now and
again turned, and increased his speed
as the thoroughbred drew near. Felipe
turned his head with q sick feeling
that in minute more he would not be
obliged to turn his head to see. One
sldelong glance showed him q BAY
horse with his head in the air, his
dainty ears upright and his frothing
mouth wide open. The rider stood in
his stirrups, leaning over his horses
neck with the reins wound around his
hands. White foam had gathered at
the saddle girth, and sweat dropped
from the horses body us he ran.
Felipe shut his teeth, and turned his
face toward Los Angeles. He did not
need to look long nor to know very
much about horses to see that this one
was true race horse, and the man a
steady and a slkillful rider.
And Two-eyes? Two-eyes heard the
quick hoof-beats, and the "huh-huh,
huh-huh" of horse at speed, and felt
hot breath on his tanks us the thor
oughbred drew alongside.
Not the unmusical cry Of Tomas, not
the fierce Shrek of the savage who in
the old days rode him-neither beating
with knotted rope, nor cruel stroke Of
sharpest spur-could have gained from
the bronco horse the response he gave
to the challenge of the thoroughbred.
The big head came down closer to the
ground, the hairy ears were laid back
till the name concealed them, and the
deep lungs labored as, through blazing
nostrils, the horse sucked in the strong
salt breeze.
So far the race had been run over level
ground; but as the riders approached
the city, the country became hilly and
the road rougher.
1t was not for nothing that Two-eyes
had spent five wild years In the Sierra
Madres, where the gray wolf and the
mountain lion are always swift and al
ways hungry; nor was it without ad-
vantage that Felipe's tomboy sister,
lgnacia, had raced the pinto horse over
this road till it was as familiar to him
rs the stableyard at home. To the
bronco horse, used to the mountains
from colthood, the hilly road appeared
to be rather relief. He galloped Ia
boriously up the little hills and rushed
down the opposite sides with q speed
that took away his riders breath; he
jumped from hilloclz to hollow, and
across the little gulches; he lodged the
spots where reedlilse grass showed that
the ground was wet and soft; and
whether running or trotting or pro-
crossing by irregular jumps, he went on
his way with scarcely lessened speed.
The thoroughbred had never been al
lowed to run except on smooth ard
level track. He refused to leap the
first gully which. crossed tie road.
ITS --ts.n 1ass; again, sc.
On MoHceG farther than was nee
ou.l~4y, and stopped stocls-still upon the
opposite side.- Then he bolted side
wise, and ran in the wrong directions;
and Harry felt as if his arms were be-
ing pulled off us he forced his horse to
return to the road.
AS for Two-eyes, he did what be
could. He was old, rs horses years are
counted. He had run many races for
Apache masters who jerked his head
from side to side, and threw him out of
his stride, in their ignorant and fero-
cious efforts to make him go faster. In
all his life there had been but one year
In which his feed was regular and good;
of all the masters he had ever known
this was the only one who had called
upon him for speed, riding with steady
hand and wutchful eye and inspiring
voice, sparing him needless pain.
1t is bronco nature to respond
heartily to these things, and Two-eyes
tried desperately to keep away from
the clattering hoofs behind him. His
breath came in gasps; his mouth was
dry, and his sight was dim; his trcm-
bling legs grew weak us side by side the
horses raced down the street leading to
the courthouse, now hardly mile
away.
AS in nightmare, Felipe saw the
thoroughbred forge ahead, the bony
head outstrctched and down to the
level of the withcrs, the dainty ears
laid fat, the crimson nostrils widely
spread, and the eyes glaring with fierce
eagcrncss.
The bronco ran on, but unsteadily.
Felipe drew his legs out from under the
rope. and as he did SO the bronco's feet
sank in the soft earth where little
stream crossed the street. The horses
courage was greater than his strength.
He plunged forward half dozen
stumbling strides, and fell just at the
| edge of the little stream.
Felipe slid over his horses head into
patch of tules, and lay, half stunned
,, but not hurt, while the Thoroughbred
horse passed out of sight and hearing,
and the dust his flying feet had raised
settled down upon the quiet street.
Singular Case of Blindness.
Mrs. Jonathan Rowe, of South Akin
I T.