Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1903-11-28
RUNNING Of A
MUDLARk
BY Curran
Richard CreenIcY

G.2srSsF}.CtsCssc,IS c,ISs<tssss-Ec.SSs<SsC
"Mudlark" Jim resented the dcrisivc
title and was filled with Il longing To
fall upon and rcnd the line of ;,rinning
stable boys who yelled and booted as
Joe led Bareshanks out for his cXcr-
else. The shabby blanket happcd
around the gaunt legs, and til" bald Ro-
man nose was stretched To its far
thcst as Bareshanks shifted at the wet
morning. out in the east Il rim of sick
ly yellow barred the sky. i'm Stram-
blcd up, and they went slowly out on
the track to til" accompaniment of
"IIayrack." "Ki-yi Get on to de
moonShnc tru his Ribs "rhrce legged
skate" and Il chorus of groanS.
Jim'S thin little arms went around
the bony neck. while Il tear trick.ed Il
white line down the Crime on his
check The keen wind cut through the
lads jacket. and the little hands that
grippcd the bride were blue with cold.
Underneath the track was already
sticky. AS Jim turned into the field.
where later the littl" red taG WGu!d
mark the course from one ugly ditch to
another. BarrShHnkS lad down 10 h,S
work. The slippery turf sid away
from under his great ho0fS in Il -rr"n
glimner as they rose from hurdle TO
hurdle.
Over and over the course went Bare
shankS ana Jim. willie 1T the Stable.
in the doorway of Mayer Bros. u;,ar
tcrS. Il man s;ood p"vr.n= Through li'.d
glasses at the brown blur tl'at >w 1T
around the field.
Jim slipped 10 the ground. the SW"a;
pouring from horse ami boy alike. Joe.
his Sulky face hid under the Peak Of
his cap. gave him IL sly glanc" as l."
blankctcd the horse and led him in
side Jim turned with Il question IN
his eyes to the man VITO stood pull ~
his gray mustachc aI.d looking away
into space Jim twitrhrd his sleeve.
and he looked down in:o the small,
pinchcd face. its very p;G"rn"SS rem
derng it thinner and more pathetic.
and answered the unSpokrn query.
"Ycs: he'll do. In for Il pcnny. in for
a pound: but if he fails III see that
you get back to the old farm. ali right"
"And him''- Jim pointed to whrr"
the bony nose showed through the open
door
The man laughed shortly. "A bullet
through his ugly head" The boy shrani
back and slipped through the door. Tn
perceived. he curlcd down in the straw
almost ut the feet of EarrshHnkS. who
nt
Other eyes had watched that mornin"
gallop .Ioa. the groom. had finished
the rubbing down when. with an eye
on the silent figure outside the door, he
Snatched from its nail the bride that
BareShanliS must wear in the coming
race. drew Il bottle of colOrlcSS liquid
from his pocket and poured Il few drops
over the bit. Bright eyes watched
from the shadow of the feed box. and
when Joe. his work done. disappeared
Jim jerkcd the bride down and smell
ed it. There was not the slightest
scent. II" hung the bride back again
and resumed his place between the
horses legs. II look of owliSh gravity
on the queer. puckcrrd. old young face.
track. where Il drizzlng rain fell stead
lily. men went UP and down in mackin-
tOsheS. Women in short skirts gathered
in knots upon the grand stand, their
eyes fever bright with excitement The
crowd grew steadily. Out there, where
the little rcd flags. like points of flame,
marked the zigZag of the hurdles, the
old wagon drawn by the gray work
horse stood loaded with the net, and
scurry of boys blew hithcr and thither
in the wake of the different owners
There had been wild work when Joe
cSsaycd to lead Barcshanks out. An
old rope halter hung where the bride
should have been. Joe turned aShy.
Jim stuck like bur to Bareshanks
and trailcd at his heels in his patched
and stained jacket, Il mere apology for
owners colors. Neither horse. owner
nor jockey was favorite on the
Downs. True to the primeval instinct,
the rout was hostile to the shabby en-
touragc. Nevertheless there was no
open afiront. I.andon evidently pos
scsscd some kind of pull with Mayer
Bros; hence his occupancy of one OF
their stalls and the grudging attend
ancc of Joe.
Jim was ready to mount BareShankS
when the bell tapped, but as he passed
the grand stand, still clinging to the
old rope halter. the crowd yelled and
roSc aS Il man.
OFF with the saddle and the weighing
done. they We're mounted again ami
filed before the grand stand, Bare
shankS' ugly head reared above his
fellows. Then as they would have pass
cd into the field voice from the
Judges stand halted them: whats
the matter with that boy on No. .?
That's no bride. Where'd he get that
haltcrt"
All eyes turned on Jim. who wheeled
BarcShanNs and rode to the front of
the judges stand. while up in the front
row man shook his fist at him and
cursed savagcly. The small figure
Strengthened in the saddle and, with
an appealing glance at the wall of
faces, pulled bride, bit and all, from
the breast of his jacket. An intense
silence fell as the childish treble rang
out: Boss, here's the bride right
enough. but I'd ride him with nothin'
but rope halter to Jericho before I'd