The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-07-22
gently, ''the race is not always to the

"But 1t is to the fellow who has had
most training, and whose wind holds
out best" answered the boy. 81 say
with an abrupt change of subject
"why can't the kid say grace this
morning? He is the youngest mem
ber of the party"
All heads were bowed as Bob's ROUND
and curly pate bent low over the tray
in front Of him, and then the childish
treble broke the silence
"Bwess, o Lord, we pway thee, this
| food to our use, and us to Thy service,
and let Uncle Ted win the wace to-day.
Amen"
Grandma frowned down the fathers
and grandfather's smiles ofamusement
at this unique petition, and stern Uncle
Ted said, with queer little choke in
his voice:
al say, kid, you're nice little chap,
and you deserve to go TO the races this
morning. Mayn't he go Anna?''
Mrs. Newman refrained from re-
minding her impulsive brother that it
was he, not she, who had objected to
Bob's joining the party, and readily
promised that he should go.
The runners breakfast was a slight
affair and soon over. g.
Just before the race began, Bob
caught his fathers hand eonvulsively.
Papa" he whispered, couldn't you
lift me up on top of that fence, so l
could see the end of the wace ?''
4 shout from the crowd told that the
start had been made. Down the road
they came, four abreast for few yards,
heads bent, elbows at sides, and feet
beating the track as if in unison. Then
Smythe fell behind, and in a moment
Gordon twisted his ankle and subsided
into limping dog-trot. Smythe still
struggled pluckily onward, although
many yards behind the others.
So the race was really between Bal
lard and Thorndyke. For an eighth
of a mile they were side by side, and
then easily, as if without effort Thorn
dyke gained yard on his opponent.
A shout of mingled disappointment and
delight went up from the spectators.
The air rang with cries of, Ballard =
brace up, Ballard ~ and ''Thorndyke |,
Thorndyke ~
Nearer and nearer they drew to the
finish. To Theodore it seemed as if he
could never make up the difference be-
tween himself and the senior athlete.
At his side, just that little distance in
front, the fellow stayed, and Theodore
felt that there he would remain, as he
was sure that his own muscles were
strained TO the utmost. The blood
surged to his ea.s, the many voices
seemed all blended in one subdued roar,
The people on each side of him were a
confused mass.
Suddenly from out Of the tumult he
heard one clear, shrill voice. He
glanced quickly up, and in that second
saw Bob, held on the top rail of the
fence by his fathers restraining arm,
his whole little body quivering with
excitement, the curly head glistening
in the sun as he waved his cap wildly.
His eyes were fastened with an express
sion of desperate eagerness on the man
who was being beaten, and it was little
Bob whose yoice Theodore heard.
''Uncle Ted , Uncle Ted y rang out
the clear voice. ''Go it Oh, go il ~
The young mans head was suddenly
thrown back with a defiant fling, his
broad shoulders seem to leap forward,
the muscles in his legs and arms tight
ened like whip-cord, and, before the as
tOnished crowd could catch their breath
Ballard had come in ahead of Thorn
dyke by two yards, winning the great
race
II never thought the fellow could
spurt like that" painted the vanquish-
ed collegian. "He never did it beforer'
Friends pressed about Ballard all
eagerly congratulating him upon his
remarkable victory, and exclaiming.
Il say, old fellow ~ queried an ad-
miring chum, ''how under the sun did
you make that gorgeous spurt ?'
With shaky laugh Theodore forced
his way to where Tom Newman stood
with Bob in his arms. Selling the
child, the victor set him on his should
er, exclaiming with grateful voice ::
This is the little fellow who won the
race. Bob was my Mascot ~