The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1907-05-17

hand.
Don't cry, Ada, my darling, you will
make yourself i'll again. entreated
the distracted mother. TN send to
town. and then stopped. Whom
could she send?
At this critical moment l stepped
up and cheerfully offered my
reckless young services. | would
drive Whitesox over-whv, had | NOT
driven him often? | failed to add
that on those occasions I had either
been under the eye or by the side of
Jake, the cusser.' you know how
kind and gentle he is and he does not
pull an ounce
The anxious mother hesitated and
we all know what happens when a
woman hesitates. The voice of the
tempter spake with my lips: The
day is so mild and fine | can use that
light o~ne-Seated topless trap. His
public work is over for the year-so
no II can possibly object"
| got the precious notices and turn
ed homeward. All had gone well.
NhitesoX and | had had one slight
difference of opinion, and he was a
bit veXed because | insisted upon let
ting a carriage and pair pass us. But
now we were heading for home-the
houses were thinning. | hummed
happily a little tune and laughed to
see his delicate ears tip and turn this
way and that, trying to place the un.
usual sound Then from a side lane
there turned into the Dad a big bay.
ugly, scrawny and hin of name and tail
but a trotter for all that. Whitesox
felt his presence, and | do believe his
quality. | held him gently but firmly
in, and said: Steady. boy-steady,"
and waited for the bay to pass. As
he did SO, his driver recognized
Whitesox and leaning out challenged
me to a race. | fixed my eyes straight
ahead and lost, apparently. the sense
of hearing.
He was a middle-aeed, red-faced.
vulgar brute, and secretly | was
frightened lest he might be in liquor
n crafty cause some accident. He
saw the effort it cost me to keep nv
ervou horse down, and he tried with
~cluckings and ger longs to force
him to break bonds. At last he cried
out to me: All, you're a coward
that's what's the matter with you,
Why don't Yer drive a goat with gill
horns. pretty pet?'
My face was like fre-but | kept
steady hands aud unseeing eyes. He
drove in closer: That anything call
ing itself a driver would take a dare.
Chicken-heart,"
Whitesox was really fretting rather
alarmingly. | spoke: Won't you
please go on-this is not a race
course"
Nav he sneered. 81. it was he
wouldn't be on it. the brute. I've got
a twenty dollar gold piece here (hold
ing out the COIN that says that fin
nicky Lightfoot can't reach Three
Rocks ahead of this horse Fishhawk
more than that. he can't go half the
distance without breaking his gait
Dashed. d~iscredited. white-footed plat
err"
1t was too much-besides | could
not hold him much longer. l gave him
the world let him go. A new HEAVIER
and a new earth. What brought the ,
words to me. l annot tell, but they
came separate. distinct. like so many
blows. Then my thoughts went on
| may never know about n heaven
but this is a new world. a glorious
world. Power was delicious. Flying
was delicious. too. My muscles. ner
yes. seemed to be turning to steel. but
Ii living. thrilling steel: "Die-die
Whitesox!" | breathed, but get te
Three Rocks first. Fishhawk is ugly !
but he's strong. Oh. don't break
don't"
Aloud. | pleaded: STEADY, boy
please steady-steady,"
That brute of a man heard and
laughed: Steady Steady a lot!
He'll break in another second"
There were the Rocks ahead, but
my wrists-good heaven. my wrists
were weakening. | could not feel my
fingers any more-woOl seemed to MI
my mouth-hot pains stung my eye
balls, and there was the warning |
tremble down the satiny flank I'll
was not | who spoke-I swear it. bu,
something independent of me or my
will cried aver my lips; "Cuss 'em
boy, oh. oh. cuss EN-! Isl 'em!" He
steadied. Something threw me for
ward-a flame ran up my back
sparks danced before my eyes, and Ia
the vi;j.,c of a mad woman, there rang
out on the air: Eat 'em up, boy! Eat
up! Damn him. il you must-but
eat him up" and he whirled me past
Three Rocks, and ven laundering on
a bit beyond, pursued by the cry:
"Lightfoot wins-by thunder"
Cooled and apparently sane, we en-.
tered the home gates. to find Jake
waiting and watching: and that vain
glorious Whitesox, with a Whitney OF
triumph. thrust his face into the be.
loved breast and-told all. To Jake's
pictorial questioning I pantingly ejac.
"He was insulted, Jake. chal
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