The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1896-12-11

and I leave it to your wOman's wits
to uncover it. Well keep our own coun-
sci, but you fathom the plot while I'm
getting acquainted with Flash.
what a beauty! She's fit to run
for a ,kingdom," were the comments
with which Fielder captivated all the
stable boys, and when they saw the
gallant mare taking hedges, fences and
bitches like u greyhound, never break
ing her pace or checking her terrific
speed, they were dancing, singing and
making quaint speeches in their &C.
stasies.
1--WE solved it, Frank" whispered 10,
excitedly, on the morning of the race.
"Wimple is an English jockey and is to
have $4,000 if he wins for the major.
But that is not the meanest part of
the conspiracy. Sam Gum, who owns
and rides the big gray, has small farm
on which the major holds mortgage.
It is arranged for Sam to make sure
of beating Flash by crossing her at
the fifth fence, no thought being taken
of your precious life in this arrange
ment. They met down at the creek
late last night to make sure that each
man understood his part, and was
listener. All may not be fair in horse
racing, Frank, but it is in love, you
know. Wimple made the major pay
$1,000 on the spot. Sam tried to beg
off, but was threatened and cajoled
into keeping his agreement. When they
separated followed Sam, and before 1
left him he was so ashamed he wanted
to shoot the major. I pitied him so
that I-well, I assumed that mortgage"
Then the majors sole advantage is
in his imported jockey?"
II am sure of it,"
The familiar scenes at the track need
not be described. All the people of the
county were here for a holiday and
many guests from other sections en-
livened the scene. Before the saddling
bell had rung to call On the race for the
cup, nearly everyone had risked some
thing on the outcome, Flash and Witch
carrying the money, for it was accepted
that one of them must win. The
general CHANGED some more on the
strength Of those dreams and the major
plunged because of his "sure thing"
for Sam Gum had mentioned no change
In the programme.
After the preliminary canter it was
not the generals words: "You will
win," or the exaggerated assurances of
the stable boys, but the flaming eyes of
10 that caused Fielder to set his teeth
like man fighting for his life.
They're off," went up the shout, and
then followed the breathless silence of
suspense. For three fields the horses
ran punched, Flash and Witch back.
with their riders watching each other
like hawks, buta they neared the fourth
jump, an ugly ditch and hedge, Sam i'm
perceptibly pulled his gray till hardly
a length ahead of the favorites, the
Witch coming to his left and Flash to
his right. Over went the leaders. but
Sans horse apparently refused, and
swerved to the left. There was no time
for Wimple to stop. Following the
crash, the crowd saw the two horses and
~
gone from his saddle to the other side
of the hedge with the agility of cir
Gus rider. All Fielder now had to do was
to guide Flash over the course, winning
the race, the cup and one of the loveliest
OF all the lovely women of Kentucky.
Ever since the general has been an
implicit believer in dreams, though he
scouts at everything else which has a
flavor Of the supernatural. He did
dream of Flash and Fielder because
they were the chief objects of his
thought, but he never knew that 10
heard him confiding the vision to his old
friend Col. Buckler, that the dreams
she reported were all evolved from he,.
imagination in broad daylight and thu. It
she had been instrumental in having
Tom, the rubber, make the speech to
Flash which was meant solely for the
ears of her owner-Detroit Free Press