The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-01-15

was like my lduy IN nef rocking
chair. And the thin, determined, bony
face of the rider: it would be Changes
fault ii that pair did not win.
Win! The captain was not think
Ing Of Notwithstanding of something
else-thinking of the dark brown
horse just III front of him, Diablo.
Goldfnder held Chang quite safe as
far as winning went. he knew: his bus
mess was to take care OF DiablO, and
mayhap his rider, for Captain Franks
suspicion had become certainty.
steeplechase OF three miles and
half is not Il spring in which
the start counts for much; SO
they were soon away, the silk Jackets
of the riders swapping and cracking
ut the wind. like frost breaking away
from the frightened bark OF trees in
winter
Beth said to herself that she
houldn't care much, shouldn't take
much interest an the thing; but when
the roar, They're Off" beat up from
the Enclosure below and went echoing
through the stand she felt that she had
three or four hearts in her breast. all
heating and hammerng away With Ii
uffocating quickness. Still she did
ct care--it was the excitement
over the first three fences they
raced like mad things not at all like
chase.
They'll soon crack up at that pace"
racing men said; Its coo fast
JoViafS rider was racing for the lead.
and Diablo. with blood-red nostriIs
spread wide, his small wicked ears
laid tight back on his cobra-like neck
looked the perfect embodiment of evil
as he galloped on the leaders quarter
Maynard was pulling at his head. but
in ha
Musket, Goldfnder and Chang went
in bunch. over the post and rails
and drop fance," they still kept up
the terrible pace. Goldfnder making
the heart of Douglas Sade glad as he
skinned them like a deer. God and
my girl he muttered, quite like a
knight of old, as lie felt the great
springy chestnut rise each jump With
&, mighty surge and come down on
the other side like cat
Beth, TOO. was muttering something
as she watched the dark blue cap rise
IN the air almost disappear and then
go skimmlng along on the level
Maynard was pulling Diablo back to
the others. Johnson saw that and
pushed Chang out little. you
'ievil.'' he jerked out between his set
teeth. I'll give YOU what-for!"
That was for Maynard.
At the big mud wall Jovial struck
his forfeit and sent IA cloud of dust in
the air. As the others swept by they
saw JoV.als rider blowing along on
his side. as though he had been shot
out of a catapult. But he was not
hurt, and in three seconds had the
horse going again.
Maynard. with q strong pull at
Diablo's head. had got him back until
hangs nose was on his flank On
Chang'S quarter raced Goldfnder
Johnson saw Maynard take look
over his shoulder at SHADES mount.
He IL try it ON the in-and-out or the
king water jump" thought Captain
Frank.
The ''in-and-out' was two big mud
walls about twenty feet apart. AS they
neared II Johnson saw that Maynard
was up 10 mischief. Hell pull dead
across Goldfnder if 1 don't bring him
down." he thought.
Four strides from the first wall May
nard looked around again. Goldfinder
was laundering along just behind
Chang, who was still tapped on Diablos
quarter.
Captain Frank saw the look, and The
short wrap that Maynard took in the
right rein of Diablo's bride.
Pull back he yelled TO Slade, and
drove the srurs into Changes great
flanks.
At that instant Maynard pulled
Diablo's head snort 10 the right as
they lifted at the first wall With
smashing crash Chang was into hum,
Cilest on. As the two went into the
dip, q smashed hass, Goldfnder took
OH at their very heels, swinging shght-
~ TO the left, and landed clear of the
wreck.
The second wall he cleared also, and
he and Musket, length behind, raced
on the level. Jovial was lengths be-
hind.
\ cry of horror Wen. up from the
stand as Diablo and Chang toppled
over the wall in broken heap. Beth
clcsed her eyes, and turned white.
When she opened them the blue cap
was Swimming along like a bird. who
fell?" she asked family.
Captain Johnson and Maynard are
down. her companion replied. I'm
i.fra G there are backs broken there"
IT seemed wicked to feel glad when
perhaps some one was lying dead be-
tween those barriers. but her heart
certainly gave a throb of JOY at the
answer that told her the owner Of the
blue cap was Slade, and still riding.
She was beginning TO forget all about
the banter.
Then the race itself began in earnest
-AuSktI anu tIOluIllue1 were HSnIlnS
Ike gladiatorS for the cup their mas
ters coveted so much. At the water
jump. eighteen feet broad, they came
together, together they flew it. A roar
of applause went up from the strain
ms, eager watchers.
Half a mile from home Musket's
head showed well in front. Lord
Dick'Il win" said Beths companion.
'Musket's an IRISH horse, bred to run
all day"
Reths fingers clutched tightly the
handle OF her parasol, and she set
her white lips firm and hard.
And so they came, around the corner
and VI the stretch and over fences
always the same the creamy nose of
Lord Dicks roam always a tritie In
front. AS they cleared the last fence
Slade seemed to send n thrill of the
pent-up energy of his frame into Gold
Under, and the big horse made a last
mighty effort. surely, slowly, mis-
golden nozzle crept up past the mos
tied head of the roam. Lord Dicks
whip flashed in the air. and cat Al
Alusket's quivcrng tanks. Sladc sat
perfectly still. crouched loW over the
withers of his morse. for he knew tht,,