The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-17


nerinP. made Jewett open his eyes quick
Iy. He saw long brown, moving blur,
with a faint red dot on top OF 1t, stream
ont collar the leaders and shape itself
into a racer against the Whitley brown OF
the course Sassy was running at last,
running so swiftly the eye unaided could
not mark stretch or gather. She ran low,
with a long stealing stride, stomach al
most to earth neck extended, eyes aflame.
After the first cry, stunned silence held
the crowd. 1t had known always JeWett S
crazy mare could run-the question was,
could she stay?
Sassy answered it in her own way. Like
the wind but swifter, she swept the out
stretch, heeling on the turn so as not to
lose way. She might have taken the ran
there. but Extry disdained it. Straight
down the middle he came, his lips work
ing. tears rolling down his ashy face.
"Oon--ee. De ole CONAN done walked
up!" he cried but nobody heard him;
the course had broken suddenly into
babel Of cries. They were in the back
stretch now-but half a mile away from
the gold cup. In less than minute
but what was that Tenderfoot was out
of it for good but Lustral had come again.
Like an arrow he shot beside the brown
mare, huggng the rail, and running well
in hand.
His TANKS were red and rockingham
flew from the bit as he ran. Extry had
flung away his whip. He wore spurs,
hut Sassy had never felt their pricking
1t lay wholly with her to lose or win
the race You see dat dar Mister Lus-
ter?" he shouted in her ear. "Ole CONAN,
YOU tell him not ter come bodderin' you
Stride for stride the horse and mare
went through the back stretch, side by
side they swung for home and the cup
Lustral's jockey, Penny, sat down to
ride with all his might. EXtry half sighed
as he caught the swish of catgut ana
saw the gallant black forge half length
ahead Sassy saw it, too She laid her
ears fatter than ever, poked her nose
forward gathered herself and sprang
even in two bounds. At the furlong pole
she was a length to the good and running
strong and free. EXtry gulped great
sigh of triumph. He had followed Marse
Jewett's lead and by the hand ct his
mother risked $40 On his pet, He remem-
bered that only dmly as one faint ingre-
dent in his cup of bliss. He dared not
look over his shoulder. but shouts and
cries told him Tenderfoot was creeping
up.
II don't keer eff us does run fus and
second-des SO us two is fus," he shout
ed to Sassy Then for a breath, he grew
blind and sick. Right in front of him
little child, a laughing toddler, years
old. had while it's mother. trainers
wife. was absorbed in watching, crept
through the rail and stood crying uncer-
tainly in the middle of the course. 1t was
in no danger from Lustral-the other
horses might pass it unscathed. Sassy
must swerve or check or run over it.
The alternative was murder or defeat.
Extry drew a long breath, then clear
across the babel he heard Jewett shout:
pull up Pull up! Save the child! No
matter about the race!"
Extry pulled to the outside, those be-
hind him TO the rail. The whirlwind
heofs went past the toddler and Sassy
had lost her lead. She was a length be-
hind Lustral. even with Tenderfoot-and
clearly disguised with the way she
had been used. The wire was just hun
dred yards thead. Extry groaned aloud,
Must be de Lawd; he's agin us, ole
CONAN" he said "But-but do try, des
er little bit mo-"
The wind was blowing down the stretch.
1t brought to him fine and familiar
fragrance-the scent of full ripe mellow
apples. AS he shifted it he shouted;
GLORY! Glory Go on, ole 'ooman!" Sassy
answered him by such burst Of speed
as the West Side park had never seen.
Like the whirlwind, the devouring flame,
she tore along. passed Lustral, let in day
light between herself and him, and went
under the wire at rate that smashed
alike the track record and the racers
sex tradition
And as she caught the judges eye
three men who had crowded to the rail
just beyond the winning post flung their
hats up wildly, thereby scattering red
apples from bullying pockets and sent
them volleying all over the shouting
crowd. When the volleyng was finished
they Joined hands and executed a new
pattern of war dance, in course of which
they Rugged themselves impartially and
shook hands with each other at least
a dozen times.
How did it all happen" one of them
said to impatient inquirers. "Oh. we've
had our eyes open all along. We watch
ed Sassy at work--we knew she'd go her
death for appes-and that il she'd run
her best, there was just her one in the
cup race. We didn't do a thing to the
bookies! Oh, dear, no! They didn't
know we were loaded-with apples. But
We'll let 'em down pretty easy"
Until Extry had weighed in and Sassy
was paradng with the big horseshoe of
flowers about her neck. Jewett was as
white as a dead man.
He had accepted defeat which meant
ruin-and here was victory snatched
from the very jaws of it. He had pulled
off the bride before he led up Sassy 10
receive her floral price. III keep my
word. old woman-you shall never put
on another" he said, as he tossed the
bride far away. The crowd parted be-
fore him as he came back, and closed
behind him like a refuent wave. Ev
erbody was anxious to look at the Won
der-Jewett walked bareheaded. as though
in presence of a sovereign princess. He
knew Constance was looking at him with
her heart in her eyes. He had passed
her more than once that day, but had
not dared to approach her.
At the paddock gate Maj. Eyre met
him. The major was almost apoplectic
of countenance. 81 have come to apollo
1 q