Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-10-10

This appeared on the bulletin board
as the jockeys who had ridden the first
heat OF the running race wheeled their
horses, and riding before the judges
stand, waved their hands In signal
The blatant country band Der to
blare. The race track was a mass OF
jostling. swearing sweating. betting
men. Gold clinked against silver, bills
were waved in the air, everywhere rose
cries Of '2 60 T. or 80 to 10 on Roam
oke."
Buckskin Jones, a saloonkeeper,
seemed to DO the only taker for the los
ing side. He had staked small for
tune on Coteau Queen, and bet against
Roanoke freely.
The jockeys were leading their
mounts to and fro, wetting the animals
mouths and rubbing their limbs Many
hands were stretched forth to pat the
winning Roanoke, a black Kentucky
bred mare, whose slender, refined
beauty In some subtle way suggested
the Gibson pictures of American wom-
en-. She seemed proudly conscious of
her triumph; her nostrils diatcd and
the pupils OF her eyes widened.
Beside Roanoke stood her Jockey
Bud. and her owner, Jim Harcourt, a
clean cut. 1.-THE young ranchman. Men
pressed about them, paying the homage
the American is so eager to render to
his god-success.
A grim faced, thin Tipped man stood
quietly beside Roanoke, passing his
hand admirably over her glistening
TANKS and slender limbs
'What'll you take for herr" he asked
in an undertone.
Not for sale" replied Harcourt.
IN give you $4,000 if she wins"
murmured the grim man without NOV
ing muscle OF his face.
Two thousand dollars," Jim thought
rapidly OF = neat cottage on the ranch
whore he could take Jessie in spite of
the disapproval Of her stern old father.
Judge Osborne, but the caution of the
natural horseman was strong He
pulled his cigar a moment in silence
while the grim man watched him
closely. and murmured carelessly: '1ll
gee you after the race"
The Dakota sun beat down mercilessly
on the grand stand where gathered the
shoddy aristocracy OF boom town: up
on the fringe OF farm wagons outside
the enclosure whose occupants craned
their necks to see the race without
money and without price and upon a
single Indian tepee standing near the
course. The last was occupied by
Shunka Ii, who had set up his house
hold gods. including squsw, pappoose.
dogs. cats and ponies, within the in
closure. thinking to while away the
tedium OF his abundant leisure by the
excitement OF the races.
The last strain OF Just One Girl"
dies away, there is a burr-r of drum,
and the first heat OF the pacing race is
on. But interest in this event is mild.
Anxiety-and cash-are conferred on
the second heat of the running race,
the next on the program.
At last the hideous. goggle-eyed
blankets are removed and the sunlight
slances on shining flank. bride and
stirrup. Jim Harcourt. standing be-
side the Osborne carriage, in which
sits Jessie, dainty, patrician and lovely
enough to turn the head OF any man.
secs Buckskin Jones press through the
crowd and slip a folded paper into the
sand OF Bud. Roanokes jockey. who is
already mounted. Fear. anger, exulta-
ton are plainly written upon his low
browed, dissolate face as he reads
With sinister smile he tears the paper
in bits.
Jim whispers to Jessie: Il am offered
$1,000 for Roanoke IL he wins. You
know what that means for us. DEAR"
Jessie's face Pushes.
You know he will win, but will that