Gulf Coast breeze. [volume] (Crawfordville, Fla.) 1897-19??, 1900-05-25
GRAY EAGLE AT THE FAIR.
BY r. z. G. ROBBINS.



about it yet" answered Henry, with
some embarrassment.
"But he won't care" said Horace,
earnestly. eve want to kind Of sur.
prise him. He's deacon, pa is, but
he says that the trots at our fair are
we'll enough"
"Ain't no pool-seling or anything,
you know" observed Henry.
Hes one OF the trustees of the fair
himself, added Horace, "but all he
cares for is cattle and sheep aud butter
and such things"
The boys had evidently reserved
their favorite theme until the last, and
finding al interested listener, they
spared no details. Before Mr.. Ever
EFT had reached the hotel he was in
possession Of the complete history of
the gray colt, and was fully informed
III regard to that great annual event
the town fair.
Furthermore, he had promised TO
delay his departure to the city for a
day or two in order TO he present at
Why i@ubic pciioi HidHCt.
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 nowv
said Henry. "And he'll come in
ahead. sure as guns"
"If he doesn't buck" added Horace.
won't it be rather dangerous bust
ness for boys like you?" asked Mr..
Everett (Which OF you is to driver"
"Oh, Horace, Of course" replied
Henry. "He can drive as we'll as
any man in this town."
Henry can drive as well rs 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..
Everetts parting advice.
oh" that'll lie all right" was the
cheerful reioinder. Z
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 eloquence OF
the lemonade vendors aud 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, aud
he took his place in the front tier OF
seats opposite the judges stand by
the "half.mile track"
The judges had taken their positions,
aud had rung tho cracked bell hang
ing over the stand as signal to the
drivers in the first race to prepare for
action.
Seven more or less 6eet-footed
steeds wore being driven on the track
for tho preliminary warming up"
and as this was the ''three- minute
Glass;" Mr.. Everett looked them over
anyiously to discover il the gray colt
and his driver were among the con-
testants.
Sure enough, there they were! That
loose iointed, stumbling, rough.coated
animal, looking as il he were just out
Of the pasture, was doubtless Gray
Eagle.
Aud the little fellow perched OH a
rickety gig and clad in n 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,
Hold aud l 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,
in spite Of his uncouth 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 q wicked
looking eye," he remarked to Henry.
"Yes, he's ugly" admitted the boy,
"but Hold knows how to manage
him."
Once more the horses came down to
the wire.
GO" shouted one Of the judges,
and away they went-all but Gray
Eagle.
The excitement had proved too much
for him, aud instead of trotting, he
seemed to be executing something
like n war dance. Up and down, from
right to left, forward and backward he