The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-09-18

answered Layton. coloring slightly.
| 'Wel}, he hasn't the ghost of a
chance said Johnson, Tightening the
strings in his racing cap, and don, {
want a bit of him in anything lie
! hasn't a thousand-t0-one chance
Layton was dumbfounded.
IF he doesn't win," he said, Il shall
come n crOpper"
johnson looked at him queery for
minute; then he said "Now go and
| square yourself on Simpkin. You can
hedge on him, for he's Il sure winner
'And if he's beaten" said Layton. al
most angrily, Il shall be in n worse hole
than ever | won't do it. III sta nd or
fall by Zigzag and I'll lay you 500 ru-
PEGS to nothing against his winning
I Il won't do it that way" said john
| son. quickly, "f0r that isn't bet. IL L
can't lose | can't win; that's the rule in
betting: but I'll take 800 rupees to TO-
Here. dick" he called sharply, you
witness this bet. Mr.. Layton lays me
800 rupees to 10 against Zigzag. If the
horse wins he pays me 5000 if he doesn't
| / pay him 10. That's Il clear under
standing, isn't it?'
yes" answered Layton, cheerfully.
IFS the only bet I've got on my
mount" adde johnson, "and it's just
| throwing 10 rupees in the sea"
As they rode over to the post, Johnson
said to Dick: "I'll carry them along for
you half a mile. for with your light
weight it will be better for something
to make the running. When I'm done
for you can go to the front and canter
home. / think you'll have an easy job
"I'd rather be on ZigZag. sill" replied
the jockey. Il know what he can do,
and I don't like the feel Of this fellow
under me; he's shifty."
! The race was a mile and Il quarter. AS
/ the horses made their way over to the
starting post across the course from the
stand, Gaiety came up to Layton. and
said: "There a tremendous rush on
Simpkin."
And so there was. The stable money
being all on Harvey had told few of
his friends, and the ring was flooding
the bookmakers with money for Simp-
| kin.
Very few were backing Zigzag and
he was travelling out in the betting.
''Ten to one, Zigzag! the boollmakers
were bowling in vain-there were no
takers.
~ lilC SluII DOuilNpil was l'ittS ihP ~
get away in front to make the running
and keep a nice place for Simpkin to
drop into when his horse was beaten.
At the third attempt they got away,
very much as the captain desired.
"They're off, went up from the
grand-stand in n horse cry, and glasses
were leveled at the bright splashes OF
color twisting in and out, as the eight
| hnrcac ccraD,b 1p1 for pI1cpS
A black jacket, with red and yellow
sleeves shot to the front Immediately.
"Zigzag leadsn' somebody exclaimed
and Layton rubbed his glasses with his
handkerchief, and focused them on the
leader of the rushing troop.
He could see the red and yellow quar-
tered cap leaning far over the withers
of the big bay. Yes. it was Zigzag.
Hes got away we'll" said Layton to
Gaiety. without lowering his glasses
Hes trying anyway. and if it comes
to any brain work at the finish John
son can give all the boys seven pounds
at that game"
When they had Travelled quarter Of
a mile the black jacket was a length
| in front of everything. layton's heart
lay like lead in his breast. That was
not Johnsons tactics when he was out
to win II acknowledgements race. With
| ten stone up, he wouldn't be making
his own running.
Layton knew then that he had lost
! 1t was almost relief to know just
where he stood. He had cast the die
and lost.
Some fool near him was croaking,
"Xigzag'll win all the way" He felt
pity in his heart for the mans utter ig-
norance of racing. Perhaps, though, aft
ter all. it were better that way; he al
most envied him. 1t was the knowledge
of racing that broke so many of them.
| AT the three-quarters Zlgzag was still
| leading.
Hell win! he'll winw the other man
was saving exultantly. Il took 10 to
about him."
Then something crept up on Zigzag-
! crept up until the horses were Tapped
/ head and head. The glasses showed the
white jacket and red cap Of the Jagnats
| stable. =
'Simpkin is coming now" went up a
| cry from many throats-the threats of
the many who had backed him when the
| tip was spread about.
| At the half-mile Simpkn's Arab head
showed in front The two were clear
| length in front of the field.
The stand was wild with delight, for
/ Simpkin had started favorite.
Over on the horses Johnson and Dick
were riding so close together that they
could speak in short, gasping words Is