The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-12

NiNCANNAIl, ".
riotous tremors, until Bascom stopped and
touched him on the shoulder. stand up."
he said imperatively. Watch them go
byI We must get out of this everything
that is in il. 1t is something-to hear
how the crowd will cheer for The Brave"
He spoke very low, and ended with
faint chuckle. 'Driese rose, staggering a
little, clutched the lawn fence and hung
little over it. Ripping huzzas heralded
the advancing racers. Up and down for a
full quarter of mile the course was
thronged either side. You might have
walked the distance upon human heads
and every head was set hard toward the
dun earthen river Eleven horses came
along 1t. Suleiman and The Brave ought
to have made the field smaller, but there
was the glorious uncertainty of the sport
to save owners and trainers from being
frightened out. So black and bay and
gray and chestnut, .sorrels in a variety,
and even a dappled gray, came mincing
and prancing on. necks arched, coats shin
ing gliddery-smooth, with Jockeys all in
fire-new colors as gorgeous as a tulip bed
in April bloom.
The cheering rose and fell irregularly I'M
til Sueliman swept in view-then ii rose
shrill, and ear-piercing, with an under
note of defiance Suleiman had gone back
in the books to threes. AT that there were
big bets on him-bets made by track COM
missioners for mysterious patrons out of
town. 1t was the fancy who picked him
winner said the popular voice. The talent
to a man pinned it's hopes and risked it's
Searchlght money on The Brave.
And how they cheered him when he
camel Last of all, looking finer than
silk, filter than ever he had ever looked
sweet-tempered as lamb, not even
snatching on the bit, but caracoling along
as though keeping time to the wildly
ringing shouts! Bascom even drew a
hard breath as he listened. 'Driese shut
his eyes tight second, and let his head
droop So Bascom touched his hanging
hand and said in a fierce whisper: On
you! Brace up! Don't you, won't you see
it's for you 1 am doing this? l want to
quito make an end, and good end,
to this wretched masquerade of ours"
'Driese stood up a flicker of lambant
red in either cheek. II have not com
planned he said. ''No!-that's the worst
OF it," Bascom retorted, still in a whis-
per: You forget, thought was a gen"
tleman-once. 1t hasn't been pleasant for
| me-sending my wife about. to crush with
the ring
Hush! For heavens sake, hushw
'Driese said gasping family. Bascom
glued his eye to his glass, watching the
start. He saw Mark Harris at The
Braves head-saw Nixon lean down. and
mentally heard Harris last orders: Keep
in front the first mile, wait through the
half then come home, leading all you
can"
There were three breakaways. In each
| The Brave led. Bascom smiled as he
| saw il: 'The games working beautifully"
| ne said in Dresses ear. 'Driese had
glass. too, and made believe to look It
is a question though. if the deep-set.
dark-frirged eyes took any Intelligent
note of what they saw.
AT last!' Bascom said, dropping his
glass with long. deep breath. 1t was
a ragged start, but fair enough. with
Suleiman lying a little back. The Brave
| in front, and the others well punched
| toward abe middle of the course. Fresh
shouts went up as The Brave shot ahead,
| opening a gap between himself and all
contenders, running strong and free, and
closer than ever to his mother earth.
HE is the Antaeus of racing" pc
| dant said to his elbow neighbor watch
ing the golden head flash further and
further forward. The neighbor grunted
| He was not used to mix mythology with
his sport. He had come out for a good
| tiSle-which meant he was there for the
delicious thrill born of seeing horse
come first and knowing that it meant
| money in the pocket. But Bascom, who
overheard the pedant, smiled comprehen-
sion, and said over his shoulder: You
ought not 20 say that, If you have bet on
The Brave. Remember Antaeus had his
Herculesw
A cry made him look at 'Driese, whose
eyes now did not leave the racers. The
first mile was run, and still The Brave
was in front, going like a whirlwind, and
two lengths to the good. Nixon held him
hard, but still he ran, his matchless steal
ing strides defying vision Bascom's
heart gave a great bound at the sight
God! Suppose after all. he is not a COW
ard! he whispered HOLLOWAY in 'Drese's
ear.
He looked again. Stin The Brave ran
He was half through the outstretch upon
this, the excess distance. He had bu;
TO run on for five furlongs more, and
Bascom would be ruined beyond all hope
Could Nixon be playing false? Could the
Kentuckian?-bu no! No man in his
senses would have parted with such
beast except for indubitabe cause. The
man thought he spoke truth. If Bascom
had believed him to his own undoing the
fault lay wholly with himself.
Only half a mile now, and still The
Brave led calamity. He had never strid-
den so Nstrohgly, so swiftly with such
easy might and grace The hushed throng
WdtGHtu Win DdNeQ DiGdlU dS ne swept
the half-mile post. swung. and squared for
the last quarter before the run home.
Sulieman lay well back. There were
three horses betwixt him and The Brave.
Al the pole his jockey stood up, shook his
reins, drew his whip, and drove home the
spurs. Then began horse race TO stir
the blood. Like lance well hurled Sulei-
man went forward. collared his horses
and leaped after The Brave little
quaverlng cry the rattle of suspended
breath told that the course noted. II
swclled TO a roar. hoarse and wild as the
rush of icy seas, in the next half minute.
For as he caught the thunder of Sulei-
mans hoofs behind The Brave slackened,
shortened stride, shut up like a jackknife
Suleiman locked him, passed. him, ran
clear by two lengths Nixon piled steel
and catgut. but all in vain. The Brave
belied name and fame. There upon what
had promised TO be his field of triumph he
showed himself a gutter of the worst.
Nobody believed even their own eyes
until eulieman dashed over the line with
the best of the ruck in second place ana
The Brave absolutely last. Then, indeed,
pandemonium reigned. Yells, cries.
curses, Kisses rent the air. Sharp, ten
yards away from Bascom. was dazed, his
face white and drawn and aged II have
no excuses 10 offer" he said TO those about
him. THE horse was fit to run for a
mans life. II is only that he viii not
stay"