The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-07-08


couple OF ponies and, while the pas
seneers laneuidly wondered what was
the occasion for the assemblage, each
pony was mounted by a boy and was
brought Into position evidently for
straightaway trial Of speed. Much 10
the disappointment Of the travellers
some OF whom began 10 place bets on
the result as soon as the nature of the
forthcoming contest became manl1est.
the train drew away lust as the race
commenced and no one on board ever
knew whether the sorrel or the gray
came out ahead But the race started
a new topic OF conversation In the
smoking compartment
You don't often see a race on
straight track nowadays SAID the
mine operator from Joplin, "unless It's
some impromptu affair, like the one
back the road, but It's not so many
years since there was no other kind -
from Peoria. II can remember when
every little one-horse town west OF
the Alleghanies had its race track, or
rather two tracks. for they were near
ly always two parallel tracks, each
about three feet wide and with elk or
eight feet Of spece between them. l
tell you. what, gentlemen, I've seen
tracks in the early days There wasn't
as much style about them. nor as much
money lost by people who couldn't af-
ford It as In the races today, but there
was lots of excitement and occasionally
some bloodshed."
And they knew how TO play tricks
in those days, too" broke in a griz-
zled veteran from Kansas City. The
best horse didn't always win then. any
more than Il does now"
You seem speak from expert
ence." said the red-headed man in the
corner. Perhaps you can enlighten
us as TO the methods of doping IN the
antiquity OF your recollection"
Yes. I'll admit that I've had lit
tie experience in that line, but not In
the way you so gently insinuate." re-
piled the veteran. with laugh. Il
was never the doper, but always the
victim, although doping as we under
stand 1T now was not known then. The
tricks OF that time we're crude and
would not work now, but they were
effective enough then
We'll, now, just for instance urged
the red-headed man.
Just for instance, then, there was
the case of the mysterious stranger at
Hannibal, Mo-" and the veteran re-
nued and lighted his pipe, while the
other occupants Of the compartment
shifted to more comfortable positions
In their seats.
Back In the sos" the veteran re-
sumed, there was a right smart OF
travel through Hannibal. mostly go
Ing down into Kansas or up into Ne
braska. Covered moving wagons were
seen on the streets almost every day,
and immigrants were so common no.
body paid any attention to them.
These immigrants were, in the main.
oYo L. Gov n
location in a new country. but there
were exceptions Some OF them were
the biggest rascals that ever crossed
the Mississippi, and you'll admit, gem
tlemen, that quite few Of that sort
have drifted over from the other side
of the great river"
YES" said the redheaded man, "and
We'll all admit that every once In
while a No l rascal is born on this
side"
That's right, too" assented tho vet
eran, "but it's the travellers, present
company excepted, that I'm speaking
about now. AS I was saying, all these
were not as innocent as
they looked, One day a dilapidated
outfit crossed the Mississippi river on
the ferry and drove up the steep bank
to the main street Of Hannibal. 1t was
tho usual type OF covered wagon, but
were a woman and two children. The
husband and father walked by the side
of the vehicle and guided the team by
the crack OF long blacksnake whip.
He was about the oneriest specimen OF
the mover that I ever saw. Long. lank
and sallow. he didn't seem to have
enough brains to break rock, and his
conversation matched his looks. His
horses harmoniZed with the rest Of the
outfit-ugly, rawboned animals. appa-
rently half starved and as spiritless as
a donkey in January drizzle.
Just about that tISe young fellow
named Jim Thomas had got hold of
little bay mare that could naturally
walk away from any piece Of horse
flesh in that part Of Missouri. Jim had
backed 1t against all corners, and the
half-mile straight track on the edge Of
the town had seen some OF the prettiest
speed contests that ever happened. He
was certain that Liza Jane as he
called his mare, could beat anything In
creation. A race had just been finished
when the stranger. who said his name,
as near as I can recollect, was Adams,
drove up Main street, and he was at
tracted by the crowd that had gath
cred around a little tavern to congratu-
late Jim Thomas and to drink TO the
long life OF Liza Jane
THE stranger was little thirsty
himself, so. leaving his team and fam
ily-I name them In the order of his
regard for them-in the middle OF the
road, he Joined the crowd and listened
with apparent unconcern to the enthu-
siastic comments OF the worshipers OF
Liza Jane.
There's no use talkin'. fellers,'
spoke up Jim Thomas. after awhile,
'nothin' on four legs can beat my little
mare.
WAL broke in the stranger. my
ole Nance amt much for looks, but she
can canter some.
' "'Where Is yer hoss?' asked Jim.
Out thar In the road
Everybody turned out to look and
when they saw the bundle OF bones
hitched to the movers wagon they
nearly split their sides a-lauehln'.
That hoss run, Why. II can't even
catch its breath and I've got an old
COW at home that I'll put up agen It.