Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-27

hear step on the gravel. Quick, slip into
the room: he'll be peepin' through the win
dows: he's like fox.
There was knock at the door. Wher
Langdon opened 1t, Shandy shuffied into
the room with a peculiar little rocking horse
sort of gait, just like the trot Of a skunk
His whole appearance somehow suggested
this despised animal
Have you heard anything from the Por.
ter stable?" Langdon asked, when the boy
had taken a seat.
The little mares WELL" the boy an.
swered laconically.
That's bad luck for us. shandy. Wei
be poorer by the matter Of a few thous sand
II they win the Derby
Who's WEI" questioned Shandy with
saucy directness.
The whole stable. A man has played
the Dutci1fnan to win a hundred thousand
an he's goin to give the boyss one or two
Of them five hundred If it comes off,
The small imp's weak, red-lidded eyes
took on a hungry. famished look. "What're
you givin us-is that straight goods" he
demanded, doubtingly.
Langdon didn't answer the question di-
rect; he said: MY mans afraid some
bodyll get at the Dutchman. There's lot
Of horse sickness about, an If any one was
to take some of the poison from 4 sick
horses nose and put it in the Dutchman' s
nostrils at night. why he'd never start in
the Derby, 1 reckon"
A look Of deep cunning crept into the
boys thin freckled face; his eyes contracted
and blinked nervously
What tn ellis the difference: If the Por-
ter mare starts, Redpath thinks he's got a
lead-pipe cinch.'
You'd lose your five hundred, that's the
difference" retored LanRdon.
AN II she doesn't start. an our horse
wins. ! get five hundred. Is that dead to
rights?"
IF the Dutchman wins you get the
money" replied the trainer. circumspectly
You mustn't come to me. Shandy, with No
game about takin' the horse sickness from
our two-year-old, an Akin Porters mare
cause I can't stand for that, see?"
The boy would have interrupted, but
Langdon motioned him to keep silent, and
proceeded.
"You see. II 1t leaked out. an we'd won
a lot Of money over the Dutchman, d-n
fools would say that I'd been at the bottom
Of 1t: an if they had me up in front of the
stewards I couldn't swear that I'd had
nothing to do with it,
He pulled sheet of paper from his pocket
held 1t in front Of Shandy's eyes, and said
What did you write that letter for?"
The boy stared in blank amazement He
trembled with fear; 1t was the warning
note he had sent to Crane.
Now. If was to show that to Faust. he'd
put pug on to do you up, see? 1 wouldn't
give three cents for your carcass after
they'd finished with you"
II didn't mean nothin. s. help me God, I
didn't, pleaded the BOY. Give II pack TO
me. sir"
You can take it, only don't play me the
double cross no more. If you're dom any
thing crooked don't mix me up in 1t. You
couldn't get into Porter's stable anyway, If
you tried to fix the mare"
IT didn't say was goin' to do no bloomin'
job; but 1 could get in right enough
well, I amt putin you next no dirty
work, but If you hear that the mare gets
this horse sickness that's goin' about let
If Faust got a chance to lay against the
mare, he probably wouldn't say anythin'
about that note, II he did know"
'Ill give you the Office, sir, when shes
took sick"
That's right. You amt got any too
many friends, Shandy. an you'd better
stick to them thatll help you"
DO I get that five hundred sure?"
"If Lucretia don't beat the Dutchman,
you get it,
When the boy had gone, Faust came from
his hiding place like a badger.
That's bad boy-a wicked boy!" he
said, pulling solemn face. You're good
man, Langdon, to steer him in the straight
an narrer path. He'll take good care OF
the Dutchman for that five hundred
Yes. If you don't pay these kids well
they'll throw you down; an amt takin' no
chances, Faust"
The Porter mare q. might catch the influ-
1T she does, I'll let you know at once.
Jake. But amt in 1t. threatened to
kick that kid out when he limited at some
thing crooked"
II heard you. Langdon. I'll take my oath