The Van Buren press., 1897-02-06


a long confab he told the trainer TO ar
range for Radix 10 be retired again
early the next morning. The captain
was well pleased with the spin, and,
when the horses had gone home. came
up Ia me and said he wished to have a
talk with me at his lodgings, 50 as sson
as had changed ny things hurried
over 70 hear what vas IN the wind.
NO sooner had stepped inside the
door than he carefully closed and locked
It and drew a heavy curtain across It;
/ then he broke the ice with.
s'Wen. Q0ilter, suppose you know
BY this time I'm a ruined man, or shall
be in a few hours from now for yen
know that though Radix has won an
other trial. he did It no eaeier than an
the first occasion. and that's hardly
good enough. I've more than confirmed
all Bridden told you, SO, bar accidents,
the race is Gferanum's. Al the same, /
have not abandoned all hope Of our fall
ing on onr feet-that Is, II you will do
what I wish.
Now. look here. he continued, with
the boastful air Of a half drunken
swashbueller. I'm not going to stand
still and be reduced to beguarY, so just
pay attention to what / am about to
say. I've matured plan that if prop
eriy carried out, must succeed in say
ing your money and mine. Haris, now,
and let me get through without inter
ruption.'
and for the next hour or more he
was fully employed, laying before me
a truly desperate scheme, whereby
Radix should win the race and save his
hackers their mene5"
=
eThe evil day arrived at last. Ny first
anxiety was to learn If anything had
happened to Geranium during the last
10 honrss but, no, the betting told me
that: il was fast and furious, the
bookies refusing TO lay more than five
to four. and old racing hands shook
their heads and declared it was an I'M
heard-of price with a field expected 70
reach two dozen starters, and most Of
them a bit above ordinary handicap
class.
1--WE turned out of the paddock sharp
to time. Radix being voted the gentle
man of the party Notwithstanding the
fqrore over Geranium. While the cap
tain was whispering NE Anal instrue=
tions I happened 10 glance across the
paddock, and there, right before me
I saw Sir Giles watching. as dog would
A rat hole, the captain in way that
seemed to say. Go on, sir you may
give your orders, but hold the whip
hand at last, and, by the powers above,
you may expect as much mercy from
me as the falcon gives her quarry
"The mocking look on that mans
face brought me up sharp. and before
we were half way to the post was as
keen on the job as the captain.
'I won't repeat In detail a deserip-
ton of the race; suffice it to say we
came away at a rare bat, kadix and
Geranium well placed; but I saw from
the first that the flly's Jockey had re-
eeived orders to simply watch me, and
so chose did he stick to them that he
aggravated me almost beyond the point
of endurance. keeping as he did with
Geranium's mazzle just on level with
Radix's flank on my whip-hand. And
80 we went, Geranium's hoof-stroke
beating time to Radix's. II 4 increased
the pace the fills likewise improved
hers, and 80 we progressed in this ding
dong fashion until a quarter OF mile
from home, when let Radix out for all
he was worth. as ! was not in the least
afraid Of his staying home, and I de-
termined 10 make a bold bid for an
honest victory.
"The excitement of the spectators
was terrific, as Radix, pushing his head
well into his bride, went to the front
as fast as he could lay foot to the
ground. For some distance ] was re-
ioiced TO see that Radix more than held
his own, and that Geranium's pilot was
hard at work with his whip, in hot pur-
suit; but the small advantage I had
gained was of only momentary dura-
ton, as the pace began to tell, and the
FLY came up hand over hand. my blood
running cold the while as I saw her
nose come up level with my boot, and
then forge on until we were dead level,
bead to head, knee 10 knee, in desperate
career
"Thus we ran on locked together,
Badix, game MS pebble, answering my
repeated calls on him In the most I'M
fiinching manner, until some 30 yards
from the man in the box when / saw
for certain we should be beaten, as
Gerauium's light weight must tell in
such bard-foueht-out finish. Could
have made o dead heat OF it should
still have held my hand and remained
an honest man, but fate was against me,
and saw Gernnium steadily but surely
drawing TO the front, amid the fran
ficnlly delirious cheering Of her sup
porters.
"The time for action had arrived. /
raised my whip for the first time dur
ing the race, and, with n scarcely pei
ceptible hesitation as brought my arm
up, I made my last call on Radix for nm
extra effort, and. noble beast that he
was, right grandly did he respond to it,
for in the next few strides we were
once more level. neck and ~~ck, and the
enthusiasm OF the crowd ran higher
than ever; but the dastardly deed was
done. and as Radix got his neck in front
some six yards from the judges box
Gerhnium stopped dead, shivered from
head to heel rs with q cold, lurched for
ward then dropped like a stone, dash
ing her Jockeys brains out on the rails
as she came down.
~ N nLnnn nl n. Tic rnnNn If a III 1 l.in