Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-05-03
GRAY EAGLE AT THE FAIR.
BY F. E. c. ROBBINS.


finding an interested listener, they
spared no details. Before Mr.. Ever
ett had reached the hotel he was in
possession of the complete history of
the gray colt, and was fully informed
in regard to that great annual event
the town fair.
Furthermore, he had promised to
delay his departure to the city for
day or two in order to be present at
Gray Eagles performance.
When he handed the boys the five
dollars which they had hoped for but
hardly expected, their faces glowed
with delight.
"You'll see Gray Eagle trot now"
said Henry. "And he'll come in
ahead, sure as gunsv'
eff he doesn't buck" added Horace.
won't it be rather dangerous busi-
ness for boys like you?" asked Mr..
Everett. (Which Of you is to drive?"
"Oh, Horace, of course" replied
Henry. ''He can drive as we'll as
any man in this town."
''Henry can drive as we'll as can"
explained his brother, "but he sort of
lacks confidence before folks"
''You had better tell your father
what you propose to do" was Mr..
Everett's parting advice.
''Oh," that'll lie all right" was the
cheerful rejoinder.
Agreeably to promise, Mr.. Everett,
on pleasant day early in October,
made one of the throng in attendance
at the town fair grounds. He spent
an hour or two inspecting the sleek
stock OF the farmers, admiring the
handiwork of the farmers wives and
daughters, witnessing blowing
match, listening to the eloqueuce of
the lemonade venders, and especially
noting the odd characters which are
always to be seen on such occasions.
Then, following the movement of
the crowd, he found himself at length
at the great centre of attraction, and
he took his place in the front tier of
seats opposite the judges stand by
the "half-mile track"
Theludges had taken their positions,
and had rung the cracked bel hang
ing over the stand as a signal to the
drivers in the first race to prerare for
action.
Seven more or less fleet footed
steeds were being driven on the track
for the preliminary warming up"
and MS this was the ''three- minute
class" Mr.. Everett looked them over
anxiously to discover if the gray colt
and his driver were among the con-
testants.
Sure enough, there they were! That
loose -jointed. sbambling, rough-coate
animal, looking as if he were just out
OF the pasture, was doubtless Gray
Eagle.
And the little fellow perched on a
rickety gig and clad in uniform con-
sisting Of red flannel SHIRT and visor
less cap, was no other than his young
friend, Horace.
Hardly had Mr.. Everett identified
one of the Raymond twins when the
other appeared at his elbow.
"How d. do, Mr.. Everett?" said the
drawing voice. "Say, we're in luck,
Hod and I are! They've drawn for
positions, and Gray Eagles got the
pole!"
Again the bell rang, and the scoring
began. The usual number of false
starts occurred, and Mr.. Everett no.
ticed, to his surprise, that Gray Eagle,
i'll spite of his nncouth appearance,
trotted in very lively way, and that
the diminutive Horace was at least rs
skillful driver as any OF his competi-
tors.
THAT colt of yours has wicked
looking eye," he remarked to Henry.
eyes, he's ugly" admitted the boy,
:" but Hod knows how to manage
him.
Once more the horses came down to
the wire.
Cor shouted one of the judges,
and away they went-all but Gray
Eagle.
The excitement had proved too much
for him, and instead of trotting. he
seemed to be executing something
like war dance. Up and down, from
right to left, forward and backward he
pranced, to the great delight of the
crowd and to the deep modification of
poor Henry.
Hes bucking, just as was afraid
OF! said he, with tears in his eyes.
But the young driver was not dis
mayed. He had loosened the reins
when the trouble began, and for an
iastant he let the colt take his own
course. Then, with sharp phil and
resounding cut with the whip, he
brought Gray Eagle to his feet and
sent him on his way.
The affair had taken but few sec.
onds, but even the slowest of the
horses now strung along the track was
far ahead of the gray colt. But the
mirth of the spectators was soon
changed to amazement at that colts
performance.
Didn't 1 say he could trot?"
drawled Henry.
There was no doubt about it. When
Gray Eagle had made the first circuit
of the track, it was evident that he was
not to be the last in the race. But
could he possibly overtake the two