Evening star., 1902-08-02

emily a quiet came over the mob like lull
In a storm. Silently they waited for the
winning number to go up.
u believe it's a dead heat" said Porter:
and AHis noted how calm and restful his
voice sounded after the exultant babel of
the -throated watchers.
Where was Lucretia. father?'
Third" he answered. Iaconically, school
ing his voice TO Indifference. Il hope it's
dead heat. for if Lauzanne gets the verdict
I've got to take him. I don't want him
after that run; they made him a present of
the race at the start and he only just
squeezed home"
Why must you take the horse, father. if
you don't want him? I don't understand"
Il suppose there's no law for it-I said
would that's all. The whole thing is
crooked. though: they stole the race from
IucretIa and planted me with a dope horse,
and hanged If I don't feel like backing out.
Let Langdon go before the stewards about
the sale If he dare
Did you give your word that you'd buy
the horse, father?
Il did. but it was a plant"
Then you'll take him, father. People
say that John Porters word is as good as
his bond: and that sounds sweeter in my
ears than if l were to hear them say that
you were rich, or clever, or almost any
..Lauzanne gets It." called the eager. graf
ing voice behind them. There go the num-
bers, Ned-three, five, ten; Lauzanne, The
DutChman, Lucretia. l knew it. Dick don't
make no mistakes when he's out for blood.
He drew 1t bit fine that time growled
Ned. still in opposition; it was the closest
sort Of a shave.
''Hurrah. LauZanneI'
Again there was more hurrying of feet.
a s the chestnUt's hackers who had waited
in the stand for the judges decision hur-
ried down 10 the gold mart.
IL take Lausanne, father, Ais
said when the tumult had stiHed; 1t will
come out right somehow know it will
he'll win again"
John Porter stood irresolute for a min
ute. not answering the girl, as though he
We're 10th TO go close to the COntaminatiHg
influence that seemed part and parcel Of
Lauzanne. and which was stretching out
to euvelOp him. He was thinking mOOdily
that he had played against man who
used loaded dice, and had lost through his
own rashneSs. He had staked so much on
the race that the loss would cut cripplingly
into his affairs.
L guess you're right Allis'' he said; "a
mans got to keep his word, no matter
what happens. l never owned dope horse
yet. and unless I'm mistaken this yellow
skate IS one today. III take him. though,
girl; but he'll get nothing but oats from
me to make him gallop.'
Then Porter went resoIutely down the
steps. smOthering in his heart the just
bellion that was tempting him to repudiate
his bargain
AS he reached the lawn a lad swung
eagerly up the steps. threw his eye inquir-
ingly along row after row of seats until it
stopped at Allis. Then he darted to her
side.
Hello. s:s-been looking for you Where's
dad?"
Gone to get Lauzanne."
'Lauzanne." and the boys eyes, that were
exactly like her own, opened wide in as
toniShment.
Yes. father bought him"
The deuce. l say, AlliS. that won't do.
l.
about this race? I just saved myself. 1
backed the little mare for a V-then / heard
something. This Langdon's a deuce Of a
queer fish. I can tell you. I wonder Crane
has anything to do with him. for the boss
is straight as they make them"
Did you back Lausanne, then, Alan?'
You bet did; quick. too; and was hunt
ing all over for the gOv'nOr to tell him.
the bank sometimes. He's that slick he'll
hardly say good day for fear of giving
something away"
Then how did yOu-hOw did people know
there was something wrong?'
"Oh, a woman, Of course-she blabbed. I
think she's Dick LangdCn's sister, and
"Hush-h-h"' and Allis laid her hand on
the boys arm. indicating with a curve of
her eyes the woman in the seat behind
them
I'd better go and tell father
You needn't bother: he knows. It's a
question Of honor Father said he'd buy
the horse. and he's gone TO make good"
Il wouldn't that sort OF thing will break
q man"
Its a good way TO go broke. Alan. Per
haps we'd all been richer If II wasn't SO
strong IN the Porter blood; but all the
same, brother. you do just as father IS
doing today-always keep your word.
tell you what 1t is, boy''-and her face
lighted up as she spOke-"father is a hero
that's what he IS; he's just the biggest.
bravest man ever lived. He couldn't do a
mean act. How did you get away from
the hank Alan - she said cbaOSirU no
subject; Il didn't know you were coming
today"
Mortimer was light and took on my
work He's a good sort"
Does ne bet %
The boy laughed Mortimer bet? That's
rich. We call him Old SOlemnity in the
bank: but ne doesn't mean any harm by il
he just can't help it. that's all II ne had
a stiff ruff about his neck you could pose
him for picture Of one OF those old Dutch
bUrgomasters."
He's doing your work, and you're max
Ing fun Of him. boy"
You can't make fun of him. at him. or
with him; he's a gravedigger; but you can
trust him.
That's better"
IF Id killed a man and needed a friend
70 help me out, I'd go straight TO Morti-
mer; he's got that kind OF eyes. Do you
know why he's doing my work todayT'r
Because you're away. / suppose"
Because you recited that doggerel about
The Run of Crusader
<A-e'iA- NC NEVER Spohtu 10 MI
mer.''
That's why he choked the butcher the
night OF the concert-I mean"
you're talking nonsense, Alan"
I'm not; know when a mans interested.
Hello! Blest II the boss isn't coming this
way-there's Crane. See. Allis, I've a no.
tion 10 tell him that his trainer is a crook. -
No. you won't, Alan-yOure too young to
gable"
Philip Crane had evidently intended going
higher up in the stand, but his eye light
Ing on the brother and sister. he stopped
and turned IN 10 where they were sitting.
Good afternoon. Miss Porter"
Allis started. Was the stand possessed
of unpleasant voices? There was a me-
tallic ring in Cranes that affected her dis
agreeably. He was almost a stranger to her;
she hardly remembered ever having spoken
TO him.
He turned and nodded pleasantly to Alan.
saying. May take this seat? ] am tired.
The cashier let you off for the day, eh?"
ne continued Game up TO see your
fathers mare run, l suppose-Tm deuced
sorry she was beaten"
What are they waiting for-why have
they taken the horses numbers down
again? Are they trying TO steal the RAJ