The Saint Paul globe., 1905-01-15


looked the perfect embodiment Of evil
as he galloped on the leaders quarter
Maynard was pulling at his head, but
the very devil was in the horse.
Musket, Goldfinder and Chang went
in a bunch. Over the post and rails
and drop fence" they still kept up the
terrible pace, Goldfnder making the
heart of Douglas Slade glad as he
skinned them like deer. God and
my GIRL he muttered, quite like a
knight of old, as he felt the great
springy chestnut rise each jump with
mighty surge and come down on the
other side like a cat
Beth, too, was muttering something
as she watched the dark blue cap rise
in the air, almost disappear and then
go skimming along on the level.
p Maynard was pulling Diablo back to
the others. Johnson saw that, and
pushed Chang out little. You dew
IL! 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 forefeet and sent cloud of dust in
the air. AS the others swept by they
saw Jovial's rider plowing along on his
side, as though he had been shot out
of a catapuft. But he was not hurt,
and in three seconds had the horse go
ing again.
Maynard, with a strong pull at Dia-
bios head. had got him back until
Chang's nose was on his flank. On
Chang's quarter raced Goldfinder.
Johnson saw Maynard take a look
over his shoulder at SHADES mount.
He'll try 1t on the in-and-olt or the
big water jump" thought Capt. Frank.
The fn-and -out' was two big mud
walls about twenty feet apart. As
they neared 1t Johnson saw that May
nard was up to mischief. Hell pull
dead across Goldfinder If don't bring
him down." he thought
Four strides from the first wall May
nard looked around again. Goldfnder
was laundering along just behind
Chang, who was still Tapped on Dia-
bios quarter.
Capt. Frank saw the look, and the
short wrap that Maynard took in the
right rein of Diablo's bridle
Pull back!" he yelled to Slade, and
drove the spurs into Chang's great
TANKS.
At that instant Maynard pulled Dia-
bios head short to the right as they
lifted at the first wall. With smash
ing crash Chang was into him, chest
on AS the two went into the dip,
smashed mass. Goldfinder took off at
their very heels, swinging slightly to
the left, and landed clear of the wreck.
The second wall he cleared also, and
he and Musket, q length behind, raced
on the level. Jovial was lengths be-
hind.
A cry of horror went up from the
stand as Diablo and Chang toppled
over the wall in broken heap. Beth
closed her eyes, and turned white.
When she opened them the blue cap
was skimming along like bird. "Who
fell?" she asked family. :
Capt. johnson and. Maynard are
down., her companion replied. "Pm
afraid 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
blue cap was Slade, and still riding.
She was beginning to forget all about
the banter.
Then the race itself began in earnest.
Musket and Goldfnder were fighting
like 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
ing, eager watchers.
Half a mile from home Musket's
head showed well in front. Lord
Diek'll win," said Beth's companion.
'Musket's an Irish horse, bred to run
all day.
Beth's 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 up the stretch and over fences
always the same; the creamy nose of
Lord Dicks roam always a trif1e in
front. AS they cleared the last fence
Slade seemed to send a thrill of the
pent-up energy of his frame into Gold
finder, and the big horse made last
mighty effort. Surely. slowly. his gold
en- nozzle crept up past the mottled
head of the roam. Lord Dicks whip
flashed In the air, and cut at Musket's
quivering fanks. Slade sat perfectly
still, crouched low over the withers of
his horse, for he knew that Goldfinder
knew and was making his best effort.
There was no sound in the stand, moth
ing but the strained breathing of the
people who waited.