Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-19
,nents. and vivid velninss Of whittier electric

Even the swiftly darkenfng heavens did
not draw eyes from the start. The crowd
had stood up to watch the paraders-now
there was noise as OF many faint waters
while the mass of IL settled back to place.
Here or there a man stood with eyes glued
to the glass. letting fall now and then a
muttered comment, or groan of dismay.
But for the most part the great throng was
as hushed as the still air, too intent on the
quicksilver creatures which carried Its hopes
OF fortune for speech, or for note of the
Imminent storm.
The wind rose first In long. signing gusty
sobs. Quickly the sobs sweiled to steady.
rushing gale. From heavens but three
parts black there pelted q sheeted FALL Of
rain that drenched wherever 1t struck, and
turned all the dust-brown OF the course into
foany. yellow drown mud. 1t was idle to
think of. to hope for. shelter. The wind.
still mounting, drove the rain sheets every
where. the dash, the splashing, alike
stunned and refreshed. The long slant lines
built a silver wall between the watchers
and the post-they could only hope and
pray that all might be well there
Suddenly there came an appalling flash
veritable sword of light that shone
through the darkness and cleft 1t in twain.
Before the crashing thunder had ceased to
grumbie overhead the rain-squali had swept
on, out to sea, leaving behind course like
river, and small tricksy, dwindling
shower to aggravate its own suitry wake
But the drenched watchers paid no heed to
it, any more than they had done to the mad
wind and rain For down course over its
muddy river. all In clots and lunches, came
nine mad horses, running as If each felt
within himself the might the strength, the
speed of the storm.
Akbar led the rush. but the Childe was at
his throat latch, and the two length clear
of all the rest At the stand they alone
showed colors-those behind had been
splashed to a sodden uniformity Even
Corn Silks rider-all the white he showed
was the back of his jacket-as for the green
cap, 1t was mere clod. Corn Silk, indeed,
ran next to last. Tatnall smiled grimly to
see it, saying to Maxwell;
THAT cock is done growing for all time,
I think"
But Maxwell shook doubtful head as
he replied Maybe so. But don't holler-
yet. There's room for u heap of happening
In the last mile of a race"
That first half mile had been run as
through a rivulet-the course face was little
more-a rivulet which. hindering slightly,
did not hold and tire.
All through the next quarter and on to
the backstretch Akbar and the Childe held
their place of pride. Now one, now the
other. had a nose in front, but neither as
yet seriously challenged, and everything
else seemed beaten off There was still a
remnant murk In the air, which. Joined to
the drizzle. made clear vision hard
Gray could not take his eyes from the
glass. He kept 1t fixed on the flying pair,
his face dead white, his pose rigid.
Tatnall, watching his son narrowly as
he watched the horses marveled greatly.
The boy had always rather disdained sport
but, AFTER all, DiOOQ tOlQ. lie was coming
to himself. and would be, as became Tat
nall. sports devotee. Smiling at the
thought. he laid his hand on Gray's shout
der. saying:
$50 you're finding out It Is worth while,
after all?''
Gray started. and shook off his fathers
hand. saying almost impatiently: Il hope
to God may never see such race AGAIN.
abashed voice, keeping his eyes to the
glass: 'You-you mustn't mind me, gov
ernor! live got down my first swell pet
and that's rather upsetting you know
Tatnall nodded and put up his own glass
Just in time to see the leaders sweep the
turn around the mile post. He held his
breath-from there home there were traps
and pitfalls untold. Every hoofcup left the
had soaked and spread all about In spot
of mushy mire. To go through 1t, or over
it, was the supreme test. Still, he did not
fear for Akbar. The horse was no mudlark,
but he had the stuff in him to make him
hold his own In any sort of going.
Half a furiong over the cupped stretch
and all was still well. Not a f1eck of mud
marked the leaders faces, nor their colors,
Notwithstanding they were mud-coated
from counter to tail. The ruck behind them
was mud-coated all over. Suddenly some
thing shot out Of it-something indistin-
gulshable as to coat. but there was mis-
taking its mighty reaching stride
Corn Silk was going up to the leaders.
VINO still ran like a team At the furIong
pole ne got his nose to their tails, but on
beyond 1t fell back half length Then
over-voicing the pattering rain, the sob
oihg vino, the grumbling of the diving
seoril, mao men. madden women began
cainhs TO Akbar, to the Childe: Come!
LONE on! Come. Akbar. Come. ChiIde,
Come and win! Win, You musti' throbbed
or sha1iied In all keys through the tense
ar the tenser seconds. as the fleet game
creatures swept into the stretch
NO man, no horse, may do more than ba
Iel. Wnat avail the speed and STAY of the
ueseit the proud fire of long victorious
ane against buffeting winds that scant the
oieatii against relaxing airs, against srck-
ing. hlndering mud. fetlock deep? Ganelv
gallantly as became their blood and hrea5
Akpar and the Childe fioundered through n
wiz, Win hearts pumping madly, eyebalis al
most bursting under the killing strain.
ihey Knew the ruck was out of tt-aven
pelofe 1t came to the cupped quarter Thev
ndd only Corn Silk and each other to heat
Corn Silk was still half a length RI tho haJ
le must not come nearer If thew died for
.ooa was cruel sight, yet gaIant-the
sood creatures running on courage when
they had come to the end of breath 81
stay. They ran stride for stride tha
strides shortening by ever SO little Their
riders easily might have cIasped hands
put put tne hands had other uses. Both boys
nad sat down-whips were fyine snurr
gong nome. Each meant to come first
was bound to, IL he could SO dared NOT
nave thought for the horse beneath him
al -eSeu, WIFI llned, grim faces thew
iousnt on and on, never looking behind
tiu warning Groan told them where Law
the real danger. 10y
AT long and at last Corn Silk was COM
flig-not whiTlwind-wise, the track forbade
pnt gong down almost fiat. then coming
away as II that near approach to earth had
renewed him. With every stride he gained
NOT Tor naught were those ragged quar-
ters massey with knotted muscle Honor Ia
the cart mare who gave. them, to the stami-
nate cold cross whence came the might TO
90 through mud and mire like q catanult
IRVING power was needed-and driving
power was there! Running well within
himself straight and true as bullet to
the mark. he went under the wire. ma
2estically alone. with Alebar and Cbiide five
lengths back, slipping, staggering ali but
railing, making 1t dead heat for the place
A half minute the hush of the storm
seemed to fall upon the crowd, then a cheer
broke out, hearty, full-throated. with a
Keen, triumphant tang at the last II came
from the Threats of exultant winners az
good and game losers-rnen who felt that
they had got the run of a lifetime for their
money Although here or there a woman
soooed hysterically. or man smothered
an oath. in the main there was satisfactfon
Keenly touched with regret ut passing I'M a
winner whose price had been six to one
Maxwell even began to say jocularIy TO
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