Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-06

eln-DOTuer0O, sweeping driveway, leaQ- ing from gate to old colonial residence. It's thick-grassed fields and running water made it just the place for man who tempered his passion for racing with common sense. And 1t would pass from Porter's hands right enough Crane knew that. Porter might call it i'll luck, but he, Crane the banker, knew it was the lack of something, the inability to make money.
 Made music to me on Crusader" Yes, that was it. With the Porters it was jingle of spurs and stride of the horse. All very fine in theory, but racing. as he looked at it, was a ques- ton of proper odds, and many other things connected with the betting ring.
 Why did the girl, Alis, with her jingling verse, creep into his mind. Crane suddenly chuckled in dry disap- probation of himself. Grotesquely enough, all at once he remembered that he was forty-that very day forty He ran his hand over his waistcoat, dipped two fingers into the pocket and drew out a cigar.
 Save for the curling smoke that streamed Iazily upward one might have thought the banker fast asleep in his chair, so still he sat, while his mind labored with the quiescent ve- loclty of spinning top. He had won big stake over Lauzanne's victory. The race had helped beggar Porter. and brought Ringwood nearer his cov- etous grasp. If Porter failed to win the Eclipse, his finances would be in a Y>{f kn4A f to sell his good Ally Lucretia. He fell to wondering whether The Dutchman might not beat Lucretia. A question of this sort was one of the few he discussed with Langdon. When Crane had smoked his cigar out, he had settled the trend of many things
 That evening he talked with his trainer.
 What should win the Eclipse, Lang don?" he asked.
 well. I don't know whatll start" began the trainer, with diplomatic cau- ton.
 Would Porter's mare have chance?''
 T think she would. hear somefhins about trial she gave them good enough to win-if could find out her time-Porter don't talk much, an Andy Dixon's like clam. There's boy in the stable, Shandy, that I might pump"
 Don't bother, MT. Langdon; dislike prying into anybody's business"
 The trainer stared, but he didn't know that Porter had told Crane all about the trial.
 Has The Dutchman a look in?" con- tinued Crane.
 "On his runnin' he has: he wasn't half ft, an' got as bad ride as ever see in my life. The race ought to be be- tween 'em-I ain't seen .no two-year- olds out to beat that pair. ''If thought The Dutchman would win I'd buy him. T don't know as the owner'd sell him"
 Do you remember the buying of Sil- yer Foot, Langdon?"
 ''Yes."
 ''He was good horse"
 The best handicap horse in the coun- try, an he was sold for song-seven thousand
 Less than that the first time," cor T0CLGQ NTduC.
 "Yes, they stole him from old Wal ters; made him believe the horse was no good"
 ".Just so,'' commented Crane; eve heard that story" it~a Langdon waited for the other to con- tinue, but the banker seemed wrapped up in retrospect of the Silver Foot deal.
 "I know Billy Smith, that trains The Dutchman," hazarded Langdon; "he's a boozer."
 'I'm glad of that-I mean. that you l know Smith," declared Crane. T hap 1 pen to know the swner-his name is Baker. His racing is what might be 1 called fndiscriminate, and like men of 1 that class he sometimes blunders upon good horse without knowing 1t; and I doubt very much but that If he knew I all about the other race-how bad Lau- game really is: how the mare, Lucretia 1 -well-got shut off, and couldn't get through her horses, say-of course his own trainer, Smith. would have to tell 1 these things, you understand. In fact. If he knew the exact truth, he might l take a reasonable offer for The Dutch man"
 l Langdon nodded approvingly. He l loved his subtle master; cards up his sleeves tingled his nerves, and loaded dice were joy forever more. Crane proceeded to unwind the stlken cord. Naturally Smith would hate to lose fair horse out of his stable, and would, perhaps, attempt to thwart any deal; so think you might remunerate 1 him for his loss."
 When Silver Foot was sold, they 1 gave him bad trial before the sale--'' I'm not interested in Silver Foot, !" interrupted Crane, "andI shouldn't like to have anything-well, I don't want my name associated with anything shady, you understand, Langdon? You 1 are to buy The Dutchman as cheap as you can, and run him as your own horse in the Eclipse I think Porter's mare will win it, so we needn't lose anything l over The Dutchman." Langdon started.
 "But," he gasped, "there was row