The Huttig news., 1908-06-13
CHAPTER XXI

horses as the smart girl of today knows her pedigreed dog. yet mar veled at Uncle Billy's timely discern ment of every rut and hole; at the skill that slowed or gave rein to the 1 galloping team with such nice calcula- | tion
 The sharp rushing air made Stella shiver. Uncle Billy felt 1t through the 1 same sense that guided him over the unseen road. Shifting the lines to his right hand. with the other he pulled a buffalo robe from under the seat and adjusted it about her with quick skill.
 1 Thank you," she said gratefully, and was silent on account of the 1 stranger at her left. Yet little later. under cover of the dark, the rose went into Uncle Billys button.hole, and in answer to his low question Stella re- peated the booking clerks news of Gideon.
 An inhospitable gray crept at last into the sky. and showed the road duly red. The lash went singing through the air in long, unwinding coils. Though no horse was struck. l the six leaped to added speed
 Come on, boys! It's the day of yo' 1 life!" Uncle Billy called chaerily. You, Socks an Boots, set 'em pace therei"
 It was trumpet call to the leaders. Indeed, all the horses caught the race spirit and stretched to their task with almost human ardor
 'Misteh Montague, will you time us from that pine tree yondeh?" the driver asked of the passenger on the other side of Stella
 Three forty-four," he said when a mile had sped behind.
 It would have been three twenty four if old Snorteh and Posey had been leading. But I reckon we'll make this beat in pretty good shape with Socks and Boots"
 That's great speed You can't make it much of the time, can you?'' No, sah; not as much of the time as I'd like to-" Uncle Billy barely touched the nigh swing horse with the lash, and the double tree pulled I have; and two houhs latch therell be heap of wagons on the grade No otheh chance fo speed this side of Donneh Lake. Hey, there, Socks an Bootsl Stretch yoselvesi'
 What queer names" ventured Stel- la, her eyes on the straining leaders.
 "Yes. It fits, though. See? That nigh leadehs white clean up to his sorrel knees; the othehs sorrel plumb down to his white fetlocks."
 Foam-fecked, panting dripping, the wheel horses dun with dust, they swung into the first changing station. Uncle Billy was on the ground before the wheels had stopped, and forward among the horses. He gave the one nearest him an affectionate slap and a low word. Stella saw the faded creature turn to the caress and knew then why John Spalding said that l Billy Dodge could get more out of his stock with Tess damage than any other driver the company had.
 The change was made with incred- ible swiftness. A fresh team stood harnessed and ready A man to each horse. they led them in line and hooked them up close upon the heels of the retiring team. Other men looked to the running gear, tested the wheels, saw that the numbering coach was everywhere safe to continue it's lurching. racking journey.
 Stella now saw Uncle Billy on duty, silent, watehful. himself observed by all, the captain and autocrat of this horseflesh battle against mountains and time. A proprietary pride warmed Stella's heart as she noticed the eager deference paid to him; his non- chalance; his apparent uneoneern as he rubbed his hands Timber while pacing slowly, CT leaned in perfect re- post against the rough porch pillar of the station house.
 The bartender brought him hot drink He slipped little and returned the glass unemptied. A woman came to the door with warm crullers: but he shook his head with a smile and a word that made refusal as gracious as 1 acceptance.
 How Is it the Chrysopolis didn't break down between Freeport and Sac ramento?" asked a bystander, eager for news of the race. 'I expected they'd play that trick on us
 Uncle Billy's lip curled. The snipes. They had it fixed to slow up and take two houhs fo' the i2 miles to Sacramento; but we beat 'em, Had a messengeh there on a race horse. He took the Virginia mail and papehs into Sacramento like greased light ming: and our train pulled out only 49 minutes ditch their cars left Free port"
 Scant were the moments, hardly reaching a plural. before they were off aeain