Omaha daily bee., 1902-08-31


rs the other two raced on In front. What
was his light-weighted rider up to. any
way Why did she always leave Il TO him
TO do just as he liked2 WAS she really
deceiving him-did she wish him to lie
back there behind the others slways2 He
fell to wondering what she would do n he
were 70 take hold Of the bit and spread
his big muscles in one rushing gallop and
90 past the others and get home to the
feedbox hrst. He ratified the snanie in his
mouth with nervous indecision-he had q
notion to try IL.
STEADY, my boy!' said Allis. as she
slipped the reins back through her fingers
till they stretched tight. A dozen times she
had sought in vain to make him think she
did not wish him to gallop, but somethine
in the crisp air this morning threw him on
his guard. why should he be forced TO
lag behind7 He stretched the arch Of his
neck straight till the bit held hard In his
mouth; the ears pitched forward in eager
point; the great frame under the girl quiv-
cred and sank closer to earth; the roar OF
his beating hoofs came up to her ears
mufied by the drive Of the wind that was
now a gale as the chestnut raced into 1t
with the speed Of an express.
How her heart sang! Here was speed
and with such stride-strong and straight
and truei Low she crouched and her call
to Lauzspne was but a joyous whisper. Her
small hands were framed in steel; strength
to steady the big chestnut as he swung
round the course glued to the rail. On
Lausanne sped and to the rhythm OF his big
heaving quarters the girls soul sang a
song Of delight. At last, at last! was COM
ing reward; her reward.
And then, just when everything had been
achieved, when the great gallop had brought
them half UP the stretch, something came
to Lauzanne-perhaps the memory OF the
whipping finishes. At any rate he curled
up like a dog, threw his ears back-Allis
could feel the sudden stif prop Of the fore
legs as he set himself against the rush OF
speed and in a dozen strides he was Lau-
zanne again-Lauzanne the Despised.
An SO It had gone on for weeks, Allis
working out her theory up to the time OF
the trouble over Diablo.
There was something in the girls quiet
determination that was masterful; perhaps
that was why she had always had her own
way at home. Now this mastery was
spreading out wonderfully. Lausanne and
Mix and her father and Crane and Morti-
mer, all in different degrees of subsection,
but, as fate knew, all subject.
mEos 4 . ldilChN IL hight VI DOA
mans crusade. had given Crane a keynote
for his line of action.
1t was the day following her scoring OF
the tolerant husband that Crane revisited
Ringwood, full Of his new idea.
He had an impulse to buy back Lau-
zanne. For almost the first time in his
life he experienced twinges Of remorse;
this was because of AlliB. Porter's affairs
were in a bad way and he would probably
| accept eagerly an offer from Crane Ia
tighten his load. Individually he cared lit
tie for Porter's financial tribulations, bu
it was a good opportunity to prepare the
way for a stronger pressing Of his suit
with the girl.
With his usual fine discrimination he
spoke TO MRS. Porter first, %intimating
never so slightly, that her words had wor
his entire sympathy. that II her husband
would sell any of the horses he would buy
them.
There was a strong atmosphere of sin.
certify about Crane at all times; what hC
did he did with the full vigor of a maj
believing In its truth. One might almost
have suspected that he deceived himself
that he had no conception Of the upright
eousness of his acts. At any rate, he i'm.
posed most successfully upon the mother
Of Allis. Quite realistically she attributed
to herself the trend Of his friendship. II
racing phrase Crane was out for a KILN,
and playing his cards with consummat,
skill.
With the master of Ringwood he wen
very straight to the point. This was pos
sible, as Porter could not hesitate to dis
cuss his financial condition with hi
banker
Crane offered to buy Lucretia-this, witt
him, was purely a speculation-but Porte
would not part with the little mare. Thel
the banker spoke Of Lausanne, saying tina
he felt somewhat guilty since learning tn
previous evening that the horse had beef
doped.
Porter failed to see where Crane ha,
anything to do with It. But the latter in
sisted hat he had unwittingly helpel
Langdon by speaking OF Lausanne as
good horse. He had known nothing of tn
matter beyond that his trainer had as
sured him the horse would win; in fact
he had backed him.
Porter laughed at the idea that response
bility could attach to Crane. AS to tn
chestnut, he was not worth a tenth of tn
three thousand he had cost-that was wei
known; and II Crane, or any other mar
sought to buy him at that price II woul
SAVIOR too much of charity, At any rate
Lausanne belonged TO Allis and Crane woul
have to bargain with her.
Then there was Diablo, Crane said; hi
presence was a menace to Miss Porter.
i've nursed him for a good while, Por
ter replied, "and he's a bad betting PROPOSE
tion-he's too uncertain. You don't wan
such a horse as that-nobody does. T.
keep him a bit longer and put him in
handicap or two, where the purse will b
worth running for and I won't have TO bac
Elm; he'll get In with a featherweight an
some day may take It into his head I
gallop. though he's a rank bad one"
Crane aid not press the point; he under
stood Porter's motives throughout.
knew the master of Ringwood was an un
changing man, very set in his ways. ad
herring closely to his plans and opinions
So Crane went back TO Brookneld withou
purchasing a horse, saying as he lef
II claim first privilege when you wis
to SELL"
He had talked to Porter in the stabl,
and Mike, busy nearby. heard that PAL
Of their conversation referring to tn
horses.
They haven't got money enough in tn
bank to take the little mare from us ye-
have they Mixer" Porter said to Gaynoi
full OF his pride in Lucretia.
That they haven't sor." replied Mix