The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-03
y GOLD DUST. y


been lately caught in a shower OF star
dust and that a thousand Seeks Of sold
yet chung to her coat.
When Major Armstrong decided to
send Tom to Kaskaskla university the
boy fatty rebelled; he had graduated
from the high school and he didn't see
the use OF knowing things, anyhow"
At this time Tom was secretly unde-
termined whether he would be a river
pilot or a gold miner, with a noble
heart and a few manly vices, but he
was wise enough not TO confide his ann
billions to his father, for he knew that
the major leaned toward humdrum
responsibility. II don't want to go to
college" he said plaintiyely. "Dlck
and Tony aren't going and they u laugh
at me II do
wouldn't it?' his father asked sternly.
Nov, see here. went TO college and
80 must you. want you to know some.
thing more OF the world than you'll
learn in this country town and II you'll
20 without grumhling I'll buy you the
best saddle horse can ind. III have
Il in the barn when you come home Tor
the summer
IAN rlght-In go then. II you prom
Use that" Tom replied. knowing that
he would 80 in any case,
Gold Dust was in the stable when he
came home. After dinner his father
took him out TO see her, There's your
horse. Tom" he said. "She's lust three
years old and OF as good stock as ever
stepped"
when Tom had examined her hoofs
and heard her pedigree he laid his hand
on her neck.
well, old glri" he said, u guess you
know more about your ancestors than
do about mine, but l hope you'll put
up with me-"
He could not have said more tact
less thing. for the major knew the name
OF his grandfather and was proud OF II.
81 wish. Tom, you wouldn't always
speak as II your forbears had been
hanged" he said. MY mothers faith
er was Warren and"
Tom had been told so much OF the
Warrens that he sometimes wished that
lie could rid himself OF the Warren cor
puscles that crept through his veins.
He interrupted his father. You're no
SLOUGH" he said delicatcly, land I'm
mighty proud OF the mare and Obliged
10 you. / won't take anybody's dust
now. / wish, though, that ! was as
good Judge OF horse us You are.
The major hemmed complacently.
perhaps you viii be sOme day" he
said. Toms thanks had not been
gracefully expressed, but 10 call man
a good fudge OF horse flesh Is the most
delicious fiattery you can offer him and
Offsets any previous misunderstand-
ings.
Tom had owned many horses and po-
niles. but now he forgot all his past dar-
llngs In his rapture over Gold Dust He
invited all the boys OF the town to come
10 see her and quite forgot TO put on
the airs and clothes he had acquired
at college and with which he had hoped
TO stun his old friends. Every boy
bowed down in admiration OF the sor-
rel save Dick Williams. Dick had big,
awkward strawberry roam which had
long been famous among the boys as
"a goer." SO now he sneered at Toms
sorrel. She's pretty enough, but. my
roam, Gayboy can beat her without
half trying"
THAT'S a lle!" Tom yelled.
am race you" Dick answered cody,
land then we'll see who's lying. Your
little circus horse isn't n match for
.'she;s got pedigree as long as Main
street." Tom retorted-for the first time
clarifying ancestry.
"Huhl Pedigree won't help when
old Gayboy gets In his Knee action,
Dick said. The roam flung his legs about
as II he had a ball and socket Instead
of the ordinary hinge Joints at his knees,
and his owner fondly hoped that this
was the knee action priced by horse
II was a famous race. The boys met
west OF town, where there was lonely
stretch OF road. 1t was near sunset
when the rivals, attended by some for
~ hangers-on. arrived on the spot. II
was late in June and the road was as
shiny and sprlngy as black rubber.
The course was to be from one Sec
tion OF road to the next--one mile'
Tony Lynch was starter. Tom and
Dick made several failures before they
came back neck and neck abreast OF
Tony. Al last he cried: 60 it, The
two Jockeys bent on, set their teeth,
and the horses shot forward.
The roam flung out his legs as now
or swings n scythe, and his neck
stretched like that OF an angry turtle.
HIS eyes seemed to bulge in sympathy
with his heavlng Sides His tremen--
dous efforts aroused the enthusiasm OF
the boys. "Hurrah for Gayboy!" they
Tbose who had seen the start strag.
eled behind the horses. anxious to be in
al the finish. When the horses had
gone the first half mile the roam was n
length behind.
snap. He saw Dick strike his horse
and he laid his lightly on Gold Dusts
flank. hardly knowing what he did. She
leaped forward with so mighty sprlns
that It seemed as II she would slip from
under him. He frightened his knee grip
and the road ahead merged Into dark
blur-he could hear the roam pounding
along behind, but he dared not turn his
bead lest he should lose his advantage.
He never knew when Gold Dust crossed
the line. but he heard n great shouting
and pulled up. Then he had seconds
terror--perhaps Dick had passed him
and they were shouting his victory. The
rand motion had added his brain. but
he felt the rOan's nose against HIS STIFF
run and he could hear Its gurgllng
wheeze-then he knew that Gold Dust
had won.
In IL Guess knee action Isn't all OF n
horse. anyhow" the boys cried In rough
concentration Dick was no baby lie
said: I'm sorry you beat, Tom, but II
was fair race"
From that day Gold Dust held her SUI
premacy undsputed and tho other boys
took Toms dust as II II were Incense
20 their nostrlls
MANY n time Tom rode away from
his troubles on the sorrel mare lilo
loved to ride through the corn zelda,
when the stalks were man hlgh ana
when the dripping leaves made thcm
look like green fountains
Then there was O time when no rode
every moonlight night. when the pros
ealc country road with the grassy strip
between the wheel TRICKS was tho
kings highway and hired men riding
10 town with n jug at the pommol were