West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1895-11-07
now he LOST THE RACE

N'N"'NS u"o o"NhN NV's 1hN 10
following close behind, third from
the pole. The wire is terribly near.
Whoever wins will win by short
head,
Suddenly something happens. A
nurse girl with her escort down
close by the fence has become too
deeply interested, and her little
charge has toddled out upon the
track and stands p,teously helpless
rig h in the path of the flying
racers. Billy sees 1t all in an in.
itant--the Mortified expression on
the nurse girls face, and the
dazed look OF the little toddler oa
the track ahead. uo can guide
Seltzor around her, he thinks, but
nothing can save the baby from tho
rushing "field,' behind.
What oan he do? A single false
move, and tho race is lost. 1t
won't be his fault IL tho child Is
crushed, anyway, and to win the
race means SO much. But, some.
how, something IN tho appealing
face Of the baby makes him think
of the little sister asleep Ii, the tiny
English church yard SD far away
over the waters, aud~he can't help
it, he must do something. But
whatp
Like fash he remembers q
picture he once saw of brave hus
sar who snatched little child from
in front OF flying regiment of
horse. After the Wild West show
was on tho other side. all the lads
about the stables had practiced for
weeks picking up articles from the
ground by dropping over the horses
side, and he had been the best OF
them all; but this was so vastly
different. lie knew he would fall;
but he must try. With one hard
pull on the riens he drops them,
and with CRY to Seltzer lie slips
his left foot through the stirrup
and draws the slender iron up to
his knee, kicks his other foot clear.
and throws himself wild TO the
right, straight down over the
horses side. There he hangs by
one knee, head down, his AIMS out.
stretched and his little body swing
ing wildly against the racers side
at every bound.
Seltaer falters IN her pace and
drops back. With wild sweep OF
his arms Billy clasps the little form
close and lifts the baby clear OF
the ground rs the flying horses burl
madly by. The strain ID a terrible
one. and he can only drag himself
up little way. His leg is almost
broken by the sharp stirrup. He
can only bend himself up as far
as possible, close his eyes aud hold
tight. He hears the wild shouts
from the crowds as David sweeps
by, a winner. On they 90. for it
seems u mile, but IN reality only u
dozen rods. SelIzer slackens and
stops. A dozen stable boys are
spinglpg at her head. Some one
snatchcs the baby from his arms,
and Billy drops down aud steals
hurritdly away to II quiet corner of
the stables. Seltzer has lost. His
dreams Of making name for him
self are gone entirely. Mr.. Burnett
will never allow him to ride again.
His head is whirling yet. He
feels deathly sick. Everything
looks black and he wishes he were
dead.
Sinking down on the straw, ho
buries his face and sobs as though
his faithful little heart would
break.
"Well. young man ?"
1t is Mr.. Burnett.
Billy does not look up. I'm
sorry lost the race, SIR" ne sobs.
al couldn't 'elp it,, you know, sir.
She'd "a been killed, slr--the
baby"
"WeIl | should say she would.
And how in heavens name it hap.
pened that you weren't beats ME. :"
"Tm sorry, sir, ] didn't win."
"Eh2 w ha t?-4-didn't win ?
Why boy, I'D rather have my boy
to do that thing than have my
horses win a dozen races--yes, u
hundred" adds young Mr.. Bur-
nett, aftor computing the matter
more carefully.
"But the money, sir, wOt's been
lost ?"
mot cent. except tho purse.
All bets on Selfzer declared of.
Come along UP in the stand, now;
they are all bowling for you"
Aud Billy went.