The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-01

- i't re was, as II were. a sub
Sidized interest and being forlorn
runner, IL native jockey was thought
good enough to pilot him, and much
cheaper. That's what Henry his
owner, thought; so he put up Abdul,
little better than a stable boy. who
only knew enough to sit in the sad
die and let the horse use his own
Gts>retion--which. after all. is not
such very bad thing.
BEFORE the race John, the oWne:
ct Amir, took counsel with himself
IL would be near thing between his
horse and Rocket-either might Win.
lie could not depend on Amir's win
ming, but he could upon Rockets In
fact. he quite convinced himself that
Rocket had much the better chance
SO. through friend, he backed the
other mans horse heavily. 1t was
a thoroughly sound enterprise based
On obvious principles But James
was not so sure ABOUT Rocket win
ming as was his friend John. He had
uneasy qualmS about the horse. What
ii Amir could stay the mile-he was
certainly faster than Rocket. 1t was
too risky. he would back the bette;
horse. Amir. So he sent q trusty
henchman, who loaded no tie willing
"bookies" with bets on Johns horse.
Amir. 1t was a generous thing to do,
this backing of each others horses;
an unselfish thing: and they hid their
good under a bushel; did not let the
right hand know what the left was
doing-said not a word tC each other.
OF course. the result of this steady
plunge On the part of the owners
caused Amir and Rocket to rule close
favorites in the betting. 1t was six
TO five on-take your choice. Also
because of this and because he really
hadn't a ghost of a chance. pegu Gid
ed out in the betting until he was
20 to 1.
This was a charming sort of ar
rangament for the Babe to wander
up against. He had a happy faculty
of finding intricate combinations OF
this sort, and his supreme irdiffer-
ence to results and complete faith in
his own ability usually ran him hard
and fast on the sunken rock. When
he asked q friend what he should
back the friend blithely answered:
"Amir-nothing else in it, That be-
81. ing SO, he felt that he must do some
.thIns substantial; so he had 1000
rupees ON the horse. 1t was an ex-
nilarating start and he whistled
cheerfully as he walked around to
the front of the stand.
you are happy" said Captain La
vel. meeting him on the grass prom
enade.
YES" answered Tobyn. i've just
packed the winner-that is to be-
What's the good thing?" asked
Lavel.
Amir; Grant says he can't lose
''Now, look here exclaimed Lavel,
half angrily Grants an ass. Amir
hasn't Il thoLsand-to-o chance. /
know him. for l used to own him.
He can't stay the distance; seven
eighths is as far as he can get. He'll
crack uD a furlong from home at the
pace Rocket ii set him.
He looked With angry compassion:
into the face of Tobyn, and the latte:
drew tho toe of his boot thoughtfuliy
across the grass, making Maltese
. crosses. as though he would force his
4 thought into some sort of shape La
veI's information had staggered him
What the deuce did Grant mean by.
putting him onto a horse like that
onto a dead one? Then he remem-
bered that Grant had taken a rise out
of him once or twice before. How
ever. evIdently Lavel knew about the