Omaha daily bee., 1902-07-27

now, I'd tell you to keep your money In
your pocket. / must co." he added, his
eye catching the futter of a race card
which was waving to him three seats up.
Here's a seat, dad" cried the girl,
cheerily, lifting her coat from a chair she
had kept for her father.
For an instant John Porter forgot all
about Lucretia and her troubles The win
some little woman had the faculty Of al
ways making him forget his trials; she had
to the fullest extent that power so often
found IN plain faces. Strictly speaking,
she wasn't b~eautiful-zany man would have
passed thai opinion II suddenly asked the
question upon hrst seeing her. Doubt OF
the excellence OF this judgment might have
crept into his mind after he had felt the
converting influence Of the blue-gray eyes,
that were so much like her fathers; In
them was the most beautiful thing in the
world. an undoubted evidence Of truth and
honesty and sympathy. She was small and
slender, but no one had ever likened her
to a flower. There was apparent sinewy
strength and vigor in the small form. Her
life, claimed by the open air, had this as
a r~eward-the saddle is no cradle for weak
lings. Bred in an atmosphere OF racing
and surrounded as she had always been by
NuOIOuBADItus Ais udu BTONn up luil u
an admiration for their honesty and cour-
age and sweet temper.
In John Porter's home horse racing had
no debasing effects. If a man couldn't race
squarely-run to win every time-he had
better quit the game. Porter had always
asserted. He raced honestly and bet
openly. without cant and without hypoc-
rioy; Just as a inancier might have traded
in stocks in Wall street, or a farmer might
plant his crops and trust to the future and
fair weather to yield him a harvest in re-
turn.
So much Of the racing life was on honor
so much of the working out Of 1t was in
the open, where purple-clovered fields gave
rest and health and strength, that the home
atmosphere was impregnate with moral
truth and courage and frankness, in its in
fiuence on the girls development.
Every twist Of her sinewy figure bore
mute testimony to this; every glance from
her wondrous eyes was an eloquent sub
stantiating argument in favor OF the life
she affected.
John Porter looked down at the small,
rather dark, upturned face and a.half smile
Of content came to his lips.
did you see Lucretia ?" he asked. isn't
she a beauty? Hasn't Dixon get her In the
pink Of condition.
Il saw nothing else, father" she beck
oned to him with her eyes. tipped her head
forward and whispered, "Those people be-
hind us have backed Lausanne. I think
they're racing folks."/
The father smiled as an uneultured
woman's voice from one row back Jared
on his ear. Allis noticed the smile and it's
provoeatton, and said. speaking hastily, Il
2 dnUif rnaan IfLa g.Nkz-
Like u.s. he corrected.
well. perhaps: they're more like bet
ting or training people, though She pu;
her hand on his arm warningly, as a high
pitched f~alsettot penetrated the drone Of
their half-whispered words, saying. II tell
you, Dick knows all about this Porter
mare. Lucretia."
But l like her." a baritone voice an
swered. "She looks a rattlin' hlly."
You'll dine on Iweiback and by your
lonely, Ned, II you play horses on their
looks
"or women, either" the baritone cut in.
You're a fair judge, Ned. But Dick told
me to 90 the limit on Lausanne, and to
leave the Ally alone"
ION form. Lucretia ought TO win," the
man persisted; IAN there's never anythin'
dom with Porter. I've heard"
Perhaps not" the unpleasant feminine
voice sneered moekingly. with an nl-eon-
diioned drawl on the perhaps" but he
doesn't ride his own mare. does heI"
Jehn Porter started. Again that dis
tasteful expression, fraught with distrusl
and insinuation. There was a strong evil
odor Of ~stephanotis waited 70 his nostrils
as the speaker shook her fan with impa-
tisnt decision, The perfume affected him
disagreeably; il was like the exhalation Of
some noisome drug quite In keeping with
the covert insinuatiOn OF her words that
Dick. a. she called hint must be Diek