Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-13

against the use of what she had brought
him.
Presently, with a long sigh, he turned
and walked toward the house. AS he came
to the yard gate he found Elizabeth in
wait.
Supper has been ready half an hour
she said coldly.
Billy turned away his eyes as he an
swered I'm sorry you waited-I don t
want any. But l do want a mighty early
breakfast. Tell Maria, please, to send
it to me. down at the office. You were
right honey-I am no sort of man at all.
But this / can do. and l will. That is, not
set foot in your house until I've paid you
the money 1t cost. After that-why, I'll
come in If you ask me-
Just as you please" Elizabeth said, go
ing away high-headed. But that night, and
for many nights after, she sobbed herself
to sleep.
If Ragged Robin had been Billys curse,
he was also, after sort. his blessing. Care
of the colt, thought for him. companonship
with him, filled up time otherwise intoIer-
ably lonely In a week the fine fellow be-
gan to thrive; in month he was able to
stand on four feet, and nip Bilys sleeve,
or even his hat, as saucily as you please.
The main hurt was to the off-hough-there
had been fearful strain, but Billy soon
decided no tearing of ligaments, nor rup-
ture OF tendons. Rest care and growth
would make the creature whole and sound.
That it would also make him racer of
degree Billy could not let himself doubt.
After he had paid to Elizabeth the money
the colt had cost he had little more than
the place, the stock on it, Ragged Robin
and himself. The place took a lot of
keeping up-it was big and fertile only in
spots Then the family must live as be-
fitted the Maclyn name-there must be no
stint in anything, least of all in overflow
Ing hospitality. That meant that income
and outgoeS would balance fairly. When
balance
cial windfall if he is to pay a. debt of five
thousand dollars.
The house had cost it. Billy had never
known before what it was to be in debt
The sensation irked him so he was tempted
sometimes to mortgage the land and so pay
Elizabeth But when he looked at his boy
he could not do it, 1t was a sort of family
superstition to pass down Long Meadow
unincumbered from father to son. Besides,
a mortgage always made so much talk
and it was hard enough without to keep
people from suspccting the break. He could
not have Elizabeth talked about. Unless
Ragged Robin could really help him out
he must go this way to the end.
SO he looked after the colt with all his
horscman's art. fed and tended him and
brought him to two years old. figure of
triumph. Not blotch showed upon the
glossy coat. the name had grown again. the
tail was silken plume. There We're
punches of elastic muscle underneath the
satin skin. withal such fire and spirit in the
linpid eyes as spoke of gamecock courage
and bulldog grit.
Billy was more than ever sure he had
made no mistake He as sure that he
must wait another year to prove it. The
hough free of all stiffness, but still
the muscles and tendons lacked something
of matching those in the sound leg. They
mus; fill and play freely to the least fiber
before it would be safe to think of training
! Billy was at once glad and sorry of it,
He had come to love Ragged Robin next
| to Elizabeth and Dabney. his small son.
1t was his supreme delight upon Sundays
and his sparse holidays to Set the child
| upon the colts back and. holding him
| there, walk beside the pair all about the
| lawn or the paddock. 1t was a proud day
| for all three when Robin, duly bitted and
| saddled. first carried the little lad alone.
| Dabney sat very straight. if his fat legs
! did come little more than over the saddle
edge Growing with delight as he tipped
the rens clutched in his tiny hands. He
could Just fairly run about and lisp his
| name and Robins. but Billy knew Robin
| too well to be afraid.
Robin throve wonderfully all the year.
Billy himself was astonished to see the
horse he was making. Shortly after the
| new year came in he took the colt up for
| training. Hope was high within him. He
knew horses as few men can, and here
was marvel among horses. Then, too,
| through Bentley he had got in touch with
rich owners commissioner-the man was