Evening star., 1902-08-09

mare-when and how,bleave to you, want
you to cut her price. .short-do you under
stand? Make her golfo the post two to one
on if you can, don't forget that"
IF the mare goes wrong?" objected
Faust.
Il don't think sheSwill, but you needn't
be in hurry-there's plenty of time
Nv mats the limit ?" 3asked Faust
Il want her backed down to even money
at least, Crane answered: probably ten
thousand will do it. At any rate you can
go that far
Then for few days Langdon prepared
ms new morse for tie Eclipse according to
his idea of Cranes idea: and Dixon round
ed Lucretia to in a manner that gladdened
John Porter's hearS.zSThey knew nothing
OF anythlng but that Iucretia was very Mt,
that they had Boston Bill's jockey to ride
stralght and honest for them, and that
with good price against >the mare they
would recoup all their losses.
me day OF the race, when John Porter
went IN 10 the betting ring, he was con-
lronted with even money about his mare.
Ii he mad read on the ring blackboard
notlce that she was dead he would not
nave oeen more astonished. He fought his
way PACK to the open of the paddock with
out making a bet.
Even money! calculated Dixon when
his owner told him of the ring situation,
why they're crazy Who's doin t?''
Not the public" declared Porter, 'for 1
was tnere Just after the first betting. 1t
must be your friend Boston Bill that had
tofestalled US; nobody else knew of the
mares trial"
Not on your life, Mr. Porter: Boston
plays fair. Dye think he could live at this
game IL ne threw down his friends?"
But NOBODY else even knew that we'd
got good boy for the mare
II don make no difference" curtly an
sWered Dixon; its a million dollars to a
penny whistle that Boston hasn't dollar
on yet. Our agreement was that he'd send
IN his commission when they were at the
soma as a judges decision It's someone
else. There's somebody behind that
dTd Lansdon-he's not clever enough for
all this. Dyou know that the Dutchman' S
flunlh IN Langdons name today?'
He is.''
Yes, he's supposed to own him"
tias price?"
1T means that we're goin' to be allowed
to win The other day they laid against
her. an she got beat; today they're holdn'
her out, SO l suppose she'll win, but some
body else gets the benefit
Cad! that Langdon must be crook, y
muttered Porter. I'm going to speak to
my friend Crane about him again. No
honest man should have horses in his
stable"
That they shouldn't" assented Dixon.
But we've got our own troubles today.
From what l see of this thing I'd rather
back the mare at even money than L would
If she was ten to one If I'm any judge
We're being buncoed good and plenty
L think you're right Dixon. I'll go back
and have good bet down on her at even"
But in five minutes Lucretia's owner was
back in the paddock with the cheerful in
telliSence that the mare was now three to
five.
Il wouldn't back Salvador among a lot
of cart horses at that price, commented
Dixon. Leave it alone, an We'll go for the
| stake. We're up against it good and hard;
somebody seems to know more about our
N IA n n nIlrS
Il think myself that the gods are angry
| with us, Dixon" said Porter, moodily;
| 'and the mortals will be furious, too,
| whichever way the race goes. They We
| backed the little mare al this short price,
| no doubt, an if she's beaten they'll howl;
| if she wins they'll swear my money was on
| today, and that l pulled her in her last
| race"
(To be continued)