Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-19
By VI. A. FRASER

While Langdon labored over the problem
Of Mayne's identity. he had watched the
horses at the post through his glasses. Tho
Dutchman had behaved well, his trihe Of
eaRerness to break away was even better
than Lauzanne's indolent Indifference. The
other FIVE had acted as three-year-olds are
wont TO act-with cratic indecision; one
minute violent desire. and the next obsti-
Rate reluctance characterizing their inter-
-ainable twistings, backings and plungings.
II had not been for long; a neck or half a
length at the start meant little when a
mile and a half stretched its firing length
between them and the finish post.
Langdon's perplexity was cut short by
the cry They're on" the Jingle OF a bell,
and the scurrying of many feet, as eager
men rushed for higher points Of observa-
tlon In the stand.
As the seven horses came laundering by,
pulling double in eager Ignorance Of the
long journey that lay before them, Langdon
saw with evil satisfaction that The Indian
was we'll out in the lead.
The Dutchman was sixth, and behind
with a short, awkward strength in his gal
Top. loafed Lausanne.
There was smoothness In the stride Of
Hanover's big son. the Dutchman, and
Langdon, as he watched him swing with
strong grace around the first turn, men
tally fingered the $40, 900 that would shortly
be his.
THAT skate win!" he ~sneered, as Lau-
zsnne followed. "He gallops like a fat pig.
He can't live the pace-he can't live the
pace" he repeated, and his voice was mel
low with a cheerful exultation.
His observations seemed eminently truth
full. Allis' horse trailed farther and far
ther behind the others.
Out in front g~alloped with unseeming
haste The Indiana brown blotch Of swift
gliding color. Two lengths from his CLINT
ing heels raced four horses In a bunch
two bays, a gray and a black, so close to-
gether that they formed a small mosaic OF
notified hue against the green background
Of the field beyond.
Then the D%utchman, with his powerful
stride, full Of easy motion-a tireless gal
lop that would surely land him the win
ner, 'Langdon thought. as he hung with
breathless interest on every move Of West
ley's body.
Mike Gaynor had taken his place on the
little platform at the top CT the steps lead
ing to- the stand. He was watching the
race with intense interest. His judgment
told HIM that this fast pace could not last
and that Lausanne could gallop as he was
going from end to end OF the mile and a
half, even faster II he so wished, At the
mile and a quarter a half thrill of hope
came to Mike, for Lausanne was clear OF
the ruck and surely gaining on the leaders.
And still his rider was lying low on the
withers, just a blue blur on the dark gold
Of the chestnut.
Bot thumbs. but they're a PART" NUT
tered the Irishman. BE me soul, I t'ink
they'll win"
At the bottom turn into the stretch Mike
could see that White Moth and the Dutch
man had closed up on the Indian, 80 that
they swung wide around the owner of the
horse.
Cad. she's shut Oft" he muttered. It
was a living wall, and through little chinks !
in It's quivering face he could see specks
Of blue close up where raced Lausanne.
Poor grill" he gasped, they've got her
In a pocket. Damn them b'ys. Why did
che hug the rail2 She's fair t'rowed away
the last chance"
Half way up the steps stood Langdon,
and his coarse, evil face took on a look Of
unholy Joy as Lausanne was blotted into
oblivion by the horse 10 front.
"Pocketed. by Godl Clever, trainer, to
put up a kid like that agin Westley an the
other" he sneered.
Then a deafening roar went up from the
stand, Somebody thrust a pair OF broad
shoulders in front Of Mikes face. He leaned
out far past the intruder and saw the In
dian sway drunkenly in his stride away
from the rail. carrying White Moth and the
Dutchman out. and into the opening he had
left. glued TO the rail, crept the chestnut
form OF Lausanne.
A wild yell Of Irish JOY escaped Mike.
Then he waited. Now 1t would be a race.
But Lausanne was trying. trying all by
himself, for the rider was still as death.
Already the clamor of many voices was
splitting the air; all over the stand II was,
THE favorite wins! The Dutchman wins!"
Even yet there was no reckoning call for
Lausanne, but Mike knew. He had said to
Allis before she went out, III you ever get
level wit them IN the straight you can
win"
And now Lauzanne's yellow head was even
with the others and soon Il was in front.
And then there we're only two battling
Lausanne and the Dutchman, and on the
bay Wesley was riding with whip and
spur.
I'm a waikiki a walk. tell you!" fairly
screamed Old Bill, clutching at Mortimer's
arm; didn't ! tell you? We're a thousand
TO the good. Look at him. look at hlm!"
He had climbed half way up M%ortimer's
strong back In kis excitement. Look at
the kfdi Never moyed-in a walk, in a
walk! Larcen all the way for a thousand!"
His voice, generally weak and tattered,
hke his clothes, had risen TO a shriil
scream OF exultation.
1t was past all doubt. Lausanne, a length
In front OF the D~utchman. was opposite the
stand; In two seconds they had flashed by |
the judges box and Lausanne had won.
The wave Of humanity that swept down
the steps carried Mike in its front wash.
He took his stand elose to the judges box,