Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-17
Copyright. 1902, by Mcclure. Phillips q Co.
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Copyright, 1902. by Mcclure. Phillips & Coz
CHAPTER v.
John Porter sat In the grandstand with his
usual companion, Allis, beside him, as the
D~utehman. Lueretia and the other Eclipse
horses passed town the broad spread Of the
straight Eclipse course to the hve-and-one-
hslf-furlong post.
Though Porter had missed the betting. he
Intuitively felt the Joy. Of an anticipated
win. Only q true lover Of thoroughbreds
can know aught Of the mad tumult Of exul-
tation that twangs and vlbrates the heart
strings as a loved horse comes b~ravely, gal
Iently, out from the surging throng Of his
rivals, peerless and king Of them all,
stretching his tapering neck with eager
striving, and goes onward, past the tribunal,
nrst and alone, the leader, the winner, the
one to be cheered Of the many thousands
wrought to frenzy by his conquest.
Surely Lucretia will win today, father
don't you think so?" asked Allis; Il feel
that she will" She's got a big weight up"
he answered. shes a little bit OF a thing,
and Il may drive her into the ground COM
ing down the Eclipse hill. l expect they'll
come at a terrible Jog, too; they don't often
hans back on that course"
Now that the betting worry and the worry
Of getting an honest boy were Over-that
the horses had gone to the post, and that
the race rested with Lucretia herself, Por-
ter's mind had relaxed. Even at the time Of
the struggle itself tension had gone from
him; he was in q meditative mood, and spoke
on, Weighing the chances, with All.s as audi
ence.
'But they'll have to move some to beat
the little mares trial-they'n make 1t In
record time II they head her. I think"
aV.-ss 49, h1rao that haat hnr the Ofhor
day In, too, father7"
THE Dutchman--yes, but l fancy his
owner IL backing my mare"
Father"
1T wouldn't make any difference, though;
she'd beat him anyway. II I'm any Judge.
he's short"
Allls felt a rustic at her elbow as though
someone wished to pass between the seats.
The faintest whin Of stephanotis came to
her on the lazy summer air. Involuntarily
she turned her head and looked for the
harsh-voiced woman who had been verify
steeped in the aggressive odor the day of
LauEanne's triumph. Two burly men sat
behind her. They surely did not affect per-
fumery-there was even a fair gale Of cigar
origin, homing in their clothes. Higher up
the stand her eye searched-four rows back
sat the woman Alan had said was Langdon's
sister. There wes no forgetting the buoy
ant brilliancy of her apparel. But the al
most fancied zephyr Of stephanotic was
minRllnR with the rustic at her elbow; she
turned her head inquiringly in that direc-
tiou. AMI Cranes syss peersd at her over
the stone wall OF their narrow lids. He was
standing In the passage Just beyond her
father, now looking wistfully at the vacant
seat on her left.
Good afternoon. Miss Porter-how are
you, Porterf May l sit here with you and
see Lucretia VIM"
Come in, come int answered Porter.
frankly.
IT was sitting with some friends higher
up in the stand. when l saw you here and
thought ia like to make one of the VIC
torious party"
Allis knew who the friends we're; the
cjinging touch Of stephanotis had come
with him q faint voiced mentor that sug-
EeSted to her an evil atmosphere.
The discrepancy in Cranes sentiments
jarred on Allis-the stephanotis had be-
trayed him most emphatically; that other
day this woman had been his trainers
sister, to be recognized for polite pur-
poses; today he had been sitting with
friends"
Topping the rail in the distance, just
AueIG the COURSE klnhtQ a llNllC " ~ iclNi
AlIis could see the blur Of many colored
silks In the sunlight. Then 1t seemed to
hatten down almost level with the rail, as
the horses broadened on to the earth in
Facing spread. and the riders chung low to
the galloping colts-for they had started.
There they come said Crane. What's
In the lead. Porter"
Porter did not answer A man could
have counted thirty before he said: THE
Dutchman's out in fronts length, and
they're coming down the hill like mad"
Allis felt her heart sink. Was il to be
the same old story-was there always to- be
something in front OF Lucretia?
Where IL your mare9" Crane asked.
His own glasses lay idly in his lap
Though he spoke Of the race. Il was curious
that his eyes were watching the play Of
Allis' features. as hope and despair fought
their old human-torturing fight over agair
IN her heart.
"Now she's eoming!" Porter's voice
made Crane jump; he had almost for
gotten the race. To his close-ealculatin
mind Il had been settled days before. The
Dutehman would not win, and Lucretia was
the best of the others-why worry?
They we're standing now-everybody was
Now, my beauty. they'll have to gallop,
Porter was saying.
They were close up. and Crane could SCI
that Lueretia had got TO the bay colt
head, and be was dying away. He smiled
eynleally as he watched Wesley go I,
the whip on the Dutehman. with Lucretii
half a length In the lead. Most e~ertalnl!
Langdon was an excellent trainer; thu
Dutohman was Just good enough to las
into second place, and Lucretia had VOL
handily. What a win Crane had had.
A little smothered gasp distracted hi
momentary thought OF success. and. turn
ing quickly. he say tears in a pair Of era!
eyes that were set in a smiling face.
Like = babe on his neck I was sohhing.
eame back 70 Crane out OF the poem Ali
hsd reeited.
Il congratulate you, Miss Porter h
said, raising hs hat. Then he turned an,
held out his hand to her father, saying
"rm glad you've won, Porter though
you would. The Dutehmsn quit when h
was pinehed."
1T wasn't the colts fault-he was short,
said Porter. II shouldn't like 70 haV
horses In that mans stable-he's too goo
q trainer fcr'me,"
There was a marked emphasis on Porter
words he was trying to give Crane
friendly hint.