Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-02-15

friend. They forgot that the way led
under branch of the Northwestern
Elevated road. They were within halt
block of the structure when a faint
scream came from Mrs. Sparks
Henry. the only thing this animal is
afraid OF is the elevated. If a train
comes along Wen be dashed to death. :"
Henry grew visibly white, but he set
his teeth and said: 'I guess we can
get under before anything comes"
Then he laid on the whip, which made
the horse increase its pace at the rate
OF at least one mile in "a hours. They
had reached point directly under the
center Of the structure when two
trains going in opposite directions
thundered overhead. The noise made
was terrifying, hollow roar. Mrs.
Sparks threw her arms about Henry's
neck. AS for the horse, it didn't so
much as prick up its ears. 1t foun-
dered on with painfully hating feet,
as though such thing as an elevated
railroad had never entered into its sum
of life.
Henry Sparks released his wife's
arms. He gave her one look, turned
the horse and buggy sharp around and
drove as fast as the reluctant animal
would admit straight to livery stable,
where the Sparkses had been accus-
toned to hire outfits before they had
started a stable of their own.
Johnson" said Mr.. Sparks to the
livery keeper, "look at this horse and
tell me what it's worth"
Mr.. Johnson looked the animal over
carefully. Then he turned to Mr..
Sparks and said: eff you'll take it out
on the Archey road, beyond the limits,
where they slaughter horses to make
sausage, think you can get four dol
lars for this mare"
Henry Sparks looked panied. Then
he pulled out the circular which had
led him to purchase the animal. Mr..
johnson read it and grinned. "Old
story" he said, solder than this horse,
and that's saying much. They groomed
1t and doctored it and made STAG out
of the beast"
Henry Sparks took his wife home
and then went straight to the Lake
View police station. He swore the Off
GER in charge to secrecy. The officer
made the affirmation with a decided
grin, and with many mental reserva-
ton. He read the circular. 'You
can't do anything, Mr.. Sparks" he
said. 81 guess the law won't touch
'em"
When Henry left the station he
thought he heard some one laugh
in fact, he thought he heard several
laughs-for Henry was known in the
station as a former police reporter.
Three days later Henry Sparks was
walking through Washington street
carrying some book reviews to the Of
flee of the Breeze. He saw coming to-
ward him Sam Lever, with whom he
had been companion night police re-
porter for two years. When he got
abreast Of Sam the latter, who had
been looking straight ahead, stopped
suddenly and said: "Why, it can't be
possible that this is my old friend
Henry Sparks? Why, how you've
changedl"
Sam had seen Henry every other day
for five years, but he kept his gravity.
81 understand, Henry, that you're
contemplating leaving the newspaper
business to become a horse trader"
Then as Henry clutched Sans arm
and led him toward the side entrance
of refreshment shop Sam chuckIed
and said: "Say, old man, to think that
you did North side police nights for
two years and then went and got stuck
on a game that's been played since the
time OF Jehu. Henry, it's no wonder
that you've degenerated from a live
night police reporter into a common
literary editor.-Edward B. Clark. in
Chicago Record-H Herald.
Didn't Want to Boast.
NRrinoat uunra unr,