Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-14

they'll come on, both OF them. II anybody
asks you. Wesley. the Dutchman was beaten
on. see? | don't like to discourage the clever
owners as has good 'uns In the handicap"
Then he added. as a sort OF a~fterthough. and
with wondrous carelessness: ut doesn't
matter about the black, you Knowles only
a sellin' platter, so IL doesn't matter. But
all the same. westiey. when we ind a soft
spot for him, an overnight sellin' purse or
somethin', you'll have the leg up, with a bet
down for you at a long price, sect"
Il understand. sir"
BY the time Langdon had slipped the sad
die from Disblo's back. the boy had thrown
a hooded blanket over him and he was led
away.
Send them home, westley. Now, Mr..
Crane, well drive back to the house, an
have a bit Of lunch"
AS they drove along, Crane brought up the
subject Of the trial.
THE colt must be extra good, Jangdon.
or the black is-well, he was represented to
be not much account"
Il guess Diablo's about good enough to
win a big handicap, II he happened to be in
one at a light weight"
He didn't win today"
He came pretty near It,"
bul WneTe WOuiu ne nave Deeu carry
ing his proper weight?"
About where he was, l guess"
You said as a ~4-year-old he should
have had up 1875 and he carried 112 and
besides had the best boy by seven pounds
on his back"
Just pass me that saddle, Mr.. Crane"
said Langdon by way Of an answer. mo,
not that-the one l took of Diablo."
Crane reached down his hand, but the
saddle didn't come quite as freely as it
should have. whats II caught in?" he
asked, fretfully.
I'm itself. l reckon-lift IT,"
"Gadl it's heavy. Did Diablo carry that
what's in it?"
"Lead-built into It: it's my old fiddle.
you know. You're the first man that's
had his hand on that saddle for sometime,
l can tell you"
Then Diablo did carry his full weight"
commented Crane, a light breaking in upon
him.
Just about, and carried it like a stake
horse, too"
And you"
Yes, / changed the saddles after West
ley weighed. He's a good boy and don't
shoot of his mouth much. but all the same
things will out while riding boys have the
power Of speech"
ut looks as though DiabTo had some
thing In him." said Crane, medltatively.
Hes got the Brooklyn in him. Fancy
the Dutchman in at seventy pounds; that's
what 1t comes to. Diablo's got ninety TO
carry an he gave the other twenty pounds
today. You've got the greatest thing on
earth right in your own hands now"
Langdon hesitated for a minute and then
added: Blu I guess you knew this all
before or you wouldn't have sent him
here"
Il bought him for a bad horse" an
swered Crane, quietly. but IL he turns
out we'll that's so much to the sood. But
it's a bit of luck Porter's not having de-
clarcd him out to save nearly a hundred. He
seems to have raced pretty loose"
Il wonder II he thinks I'm taking in the
fairy tale7" thought Langdon. Aloud he
said: But you'll back him now, sir, won't
you? He must be a long price in the win
ter books"
Yes, I'll arrange that" answered the
other, "and I'll take care of you, too. I
suppose Westley will take the mount"
Surely"
We'll, you can give him to understand
that he'll be looked after IL the horse
wins"
It's the Brooklyn, sir, Is it,"
Seems like It,"
II won't say anything about the race to
Westley, though"
"Ill leave all that to you. I'll attend to
getting the money on, you do the rest"
When Crane had gone, Langdon paid fur
ther mental tribute to his masters astute-
ness. Now / see II ALL" he muttered,
"the old man just thought to keep me
0,iaf 1hrnuy x,a ~ ~. a.-t ~ -
Heated the other trial-wherever they
pulled 1t of. Now he's got a sure line on
the black, an he'll make such a KILN
that the books II remember him for many
a day. But why does he keep throwing
that fairy tale into me about buyin' a bad
horse to obllge somebody? A man would
be a sucker to believe that Of Crane; he's
not the sort. But one sure thing, he said
he'd look efter me, an he will. He'd break
a man quick enough, but when he gives his
word, 1t stands. Mr.. Jakey Faust can look
after himself. I'm not goin' to take chances
Of losln' a big stable Of bread winners by
doublin' on the boss"
Langdon's mental analysis OF Cranes
motives was the outcome Of considerable
experience; that mans past life was not
compatible with generous dealing. His act
OF buying Diablo had been prompted by
newborn feelings of regard for the Porters.
chiefly Allis; but no man. much less Lang
don would have given him credit for other
than the most selfish motives.
True to his resolve Langdon utterly re-
fused to share his condolences with Jakey
Faust.
We've tried the horses" he said, "and
The Dutchman won. but Crane knows more
about the whole business than I do. You
go to him, Jake, or wait till he sends for
you an you'll ind out all about 1t. My
games to run straight with one man. any
way, an In going to do It,"
That was all Faust could learn. When an
occasion offered, he slipped e $40 note into
Shandy's hand, for he knew the lad was
full open TO a bride, but Shandy knew no
more than did the bookmaker. The Dutch
man had won the trial from the black quite
easily, was the extent Of his knowledge.
- ~ d.