Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-21

should the message home be one OF disaster?
Even II the little mare won, her Joy might
lead her to commit strange pranks; she felt
that her heart would burst out OF sheer Joy
II she did not shout in exultation, or caper
madly. as she had seen others do in the
hour Of victory. She was sorry that Crane
had come.
II was looking for you" he said; II want
to see you win this race, that is i'll mean,
like every other man here, l have harked
back to my natural instinct Of c~ovetous &C
QUESTION, and had a bet on"
mot Lucretia?"
Motive bet on Diablo. Langdon thinks
he'll win. Do you remember that little
agreement about his purchaser"
What was that-I've half forgotten It."
"Just a little bet on your account. you
know"
"oh, I remember: but that was only in
fun. wasn't it,"
ut was part OF the bargain, and It's on.
You'll take It, won't you, II he wins"
They're ont" Some one had shouted the
magic word from the head Of the steps. In
a second every voice Of the thousands was
stilled and there was only the noise OF
shutting feet, as eager watchers stood up
to see the horses.
IT'S a false start" said Crane, quietly,
bringing his eye back from the interweav-
ing wool Of colored silk that splashed the
dull gray OF the race course with fantastic
brightness.
1T would have been we'll for you, Miss
Allis. had the starter let them go. Lu-
cretia was we'll out in the lead; II was Dr.
sblo's fault, too. that they had to go back
he was left standing
Cranes voice was fate's voice. Would
there never be anything but Lucretia and
Diablo, I and 13, 10 and Z? Fate was drear-
lily monotonous in the insistent monologue
Of these names and numbers.
"Diablo's a bad horse at the post, sure
CALCULATED Crane, letting his held glass rest
for an instant on his knee; "he Just backs
up and shakes his head viciously; evidently
he doesn't like the idea OF so much COM
pany."
"How is Lucretia acting. Mr.. Crane7"
Perfectly. You must have instilled some
Of your own patience into her"
The girl hardly heard the implied compli-
ment.
Would the patience be rewarded? or would
10, that was symbolical of evil, and its
bearer. Diablo, who was an agent OF evil,
together snatch from her this prize that
meant so much? 1t was strange that she
should not think Of the other horses at all.
IL was do NhoNbh ~ Wv u " N
race, Lucretia and Diablo-and yet they
were both outsiders. Was fate the only real
Judge, and was he whispering to her to steel
her heart against reverse?
The starter is having a bad time Of It;
that makes six false breaks" said Allis'
companion; lit will end up by his losing pa
thence with the boys, l fear, and let them go
with something of in a long lead. But they
say that Fitzpatrick is a cool hand and gives
no man the best Of it. He'll probably fine
Diablo's rider 500. l believe it's customary
to do that when a jockey persistently re-
fuses to come up with his horses. Just look
at that, the black hend has dashed out and
nearly crippled something"
NO Lucretia, Mr.. Crane!" gasped Anis.
mo, it's a chestnut-there they go!
Good boy, Westley-I mean Diablo's jockey
has done a fendishly clever thing. He
came through his horses on the jump, car
ried them off their feet. they all broke
yes. the flags down, and he's out with a
clean lead"
Down in front a bell was changing
viciously; people were rushing with fren-
zied haste from the betting ring and clam
bering up the steps Of the stand; In the
stand itself the whole vast mob had risen
to its feet. and even now the rolling beat
of eager hoofs was in the air hushed by
the mob's clamor.
Yes, Crane had spoken truly; a great
striding black, along whose neck hung
close a tiny figure in yellow and red. was
leading the oncoming horses. Allis strained
her eyes, trying to discover the little mare,
but she was swallowed up in the struggling
mob that hung at Diablo's heels. As they
opened a little, swinging around the first
turn, Allis caught sight Of the white
starred blue Jacket. It's wearer was quito
fifth or sixth.
.Lucretia is doing we'll" said Crane;
she's holding her own; she's Tapped on
White Moth
II seemed strange to Allis that any other
thought should come into her mind at that
time other than just concern for Lucretia.
but she caught herself wondering at
Cranes professional words Of description.
For the time he was changed; the quick
brevity OF his utterances tokened an in
terested excitement. He was not at all
like the Crane she knew, the cold, collected
banker.
Lucretia's doing better" her companion
added a few seconds later. IF l were
given to sentiment, I should say her gal
lop was the poetry OF motion. She deserves
to win. But honestly, Miss Allis, l think
she'll never catch the black; he's running
like a good horse"
Allis could not answer; the strain was
too great for words. 1t would be all over
in a minute or so, then she would talk.
your mare is creeping up, Miss Allis;
| she's second to the black now, and they've
still a good three furlongs to go. You may
win yet. II takes a good horse to make all
his own running for a mile and a quarter
and then win. Her light weight MAY land
her first past the post. There are only
four in It, now, the rest are beaten OH
sure. Diablo is still in the lead, White
Moth and Lucretia are a length back and
The King is next. running strong. It's the
same into the stretch. Now the boys are
riding. Lucretia is drawing away from
White Moth-she's pressing Diablo. You'll
win yet"
His voice was drowned by the clamor
that went up from every side. Diablo! White
Moth! Lucretial" What a babel of yells.
Hes beatl Come on!" It was deafening.
All the conjecture Of months. all the hopes
and fears of thousands compressed into a
few brief seconds OF struggling endeavor.
Allis sat down. There was less frcnzied
excitement thus.
God OF Justice!" II was Cranes voice
close 10 her ear; his hot breath was on her
cheek; he had leaned down so that she
| .n4ubk hnar him sHWo1tr forEav has anId 10,