Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-02-05

ure up in vain endeavor to see over the shoulders of those in front
 "She had an opening there," Porter replied, speaking his thoughts more than answering the girl, "but the boy pulled her into the bunch on, the rail. He doesn't want to get through Oh!" he exclaimed, as though some one had struck him in the face
 Whats wrong? Has she" Its the Minstrel. His boy threw him fair across Lucretia, and knocked her to her knees.' He lowered his glasses listlessly. "It's Lauzanne all the way if he lasts out He's dying fast, though, and Westley's gone to the whip"
 He was looking through his glasses again. Though beaten, his racing blood was up. eff Lauzanne wins it will be Westley's riding; the Hanover colt, The Dutchman, is at his quar- CTS. He'll beat him out, for the Hanovers are all game"
 Inch by inch the brave son of Han- over was creeping up on Lauzanne. How loosely the big chestnut galloped rolling like drunken man in the hour of his distress. Close pressed to his neck. flat over his withers lay the intense form of his rider-a camel's hump-a part of the racing mechan- ism, unimpeding the weary horse in the masterly rigidity of his body and legs; but the arms, even the shoulders of the great jockey thrust his mount forward, always forward-f~rw at each stride; fairly lifting him. till the very lurches of Lauzanne carried him toward the goal. And at his girth raced the compact bay son of Hanover; galloping, galloping with stout heart and eager reaching head.
 An, gallant little bay! On his back was the offspring of minimizing par ents-a pin-head. Perhaps the evil one had ordained him to the completion of Langdon's villainy with Lauzanne. At the pinch his judgment had fown-he was become an instrument of torture; with whip and spur he was throwing away the race. Each time he raised his arm and lashed, his poor foolish body sWayed in the saddle, and The Dutchman was checked. .. @.
 tOh, if he would but sit still" Por- ter criedy as he watched the equine battle E5& - sE
 The stand mob clamored as though Nero sat there and lions had been Ioos- ened in the arena. The strange med ley of cries smote on the ears of Allis. She closed her eyes, for she was weary of the struggle, and listened. Yes, they were wolves leaping at the throat of her father, and toying in the defeat of Lucretia. Deep-throated hoWls from full-chested wolves: Come on you, Lauzanne! On, Westley, on! The bay wins! The Dutchman-The Dntchman for thousand" Allis sank back into her seat She knew it was all over. The shufle of many feet hastening madly, the crash of eager heels down the wooden steps. surging, pushing, as the wolf-pack blocked each passage in it's thirstful rush for the gold it had won, told her that the race was over.
 No one knew which horse had won. Presently a quiet came over the mob like lull in storm. Silently they waited for the winning number to go up.
 "I believe it's dead heat" said Por- ter; and Allis noted how calm and restful his voice sounded after the ex- ultant babel of the hoarse-throated watchers.
 Where was Lucretia, father?" Third" he answered, laconically, schooling his voice to indifference. ] hope it's dead heat, for if Lauzanne gets the verdict I've got to take him. don't want him after that run; they l made him present of the race at the 1 start, and he only squeezed home" 'Why must you take the horse, l father, if you don't want him? I don t understand"
 'I suppose there's no law for it-I said I would, that's all The whole thing is crooked, though; they stole 1 the race from Lucretia and planted me with dope horse, and hanged 1T don't feel like backing out. Let Lang don go before the stewards about the sale if he dare"
 Did you give your word that you'6 buy the horse, father?"
 i T did; but it was a plant"
 "Then you'll take him, father. Peo. 1 pie say that John Porter's word is as good as his bond; and that sounds
 sweeter in my ears than if I were tc hear them say that you were rich, o1 clever, or almost anything"
 |. "Lauzanne gets it!" called the eager grating voice behind them. There ge
 the numbers, Ned-three, five, ten; Lauaanne, The Dutchman, Lucretia. knew it. Dick don't make no mistakes when he's out for blood"
 "He drew it bit fine that time, l growled Ned, still in opposition; ii was the closest sort of shave"
 Again there was more hurrying o1 feet as the chestnut's packers who haC waited in the stand for the judges de- 1 cision, hurried down to the gold mart Then Porter went resolutely dowI
 the steps, smothering in his heart the i Just rebellion that was tempting hin
 to repudiate his bargain.
 AS he reached the lawn lad swung
 eagerly up the steps, threw his eye in 1 quiringly along row after row of seats
 until it stopped at Allis. Then he dart l 0I %o ~;I I4