The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-10

The race was one of a mile and the sticky track made the time so slow that 1t was easy to see every move Of the horses and the jockeys
 Standard retained the lead to the first quarter. There the second choice passed him and gained a length before he caught the pace and held on The favorite, heav- fly handicapped by her bad start, was making a game fight 10 lengths behind. So they raced to the half and to the three quarters. At the head of the stretch the positions had not varied.
 It was in the stretch that nature took a hand In mems affairs and decided the result of the contest.
 The second choice was going along easily length to the good and looked a certain winner. Already men who knew the game had turned their backs to the track and declared it all over.
 A terrific crash followed by a dazzling light, broke over the track. There was a sound of splintering wood and the death scream of a thoroughbred. Standard passed the wire first, 10 lengths before the favorite. The second choice lay dead under the wreckage of the announcing board.
 Out in the university town of western state Charlie Carpenter sat by the bed side of boy. Racing and governors were forgotten. Nothing mattered now but the health of his son.
 The boy clasped his fathers hand and seemed to find comfort in the clasp. It was hours since he had spoken, and to- gether they fought a silent fight against disease, their two wills battling for su- premacy against the fearful odds.
 With all his interests erased from his mi nd rli hV lie on,,fc beside hour after hour and prayed in his silent way for a respite for the boy. Even clean grit has Its limits, and pain is a pace-maker which carries one to the goal rapidly.
 The doctor came. His eyes lighted with pride in manhood as he saw these two smile when he entered. Deftly he took the hand which had been clasped by the father and felt the boys pulse Both watched him as a condemned crim- inal might watch for an expected par don. But they saw no cause for hope in the doctors eyes. Instead he began to busy himself with the medicine bottlea on the stand by the bedside, regarding them the while with a glance of mingled doubt and determination. Finally he spoke.
 "A physician has many tasks to per form in the course of his days work"
 
 from agreeable. No man is an infallible judge of human nature, and he often has to take chance on making a mistake. am going to tell you now just what would wish to know myself were I in the same place."
 The father heard him with a shrink ing heart. The boys expression did not change.
 "You mean?" questioned Charlie
 "That 1t Is only question of a few hours now" said the doctor gently, mot more than 12 at the most"
 Thank you said the boy.
 The father gazed off across the fields which were framed by the open window. His thoughts took him back to those days when he had been a boy not much older than this. and had told his boys mother he loved her. He thought of the simple wedding, the birth of their only child; and then of the night when the black hooded reaper had taken her away, leaving the boy as legacy of love. The dry, hard sobs which had come to his throat seemed to choke him, the empti- ness of the future appalled, him.
 Father" said the boy.
 Charlie looked at his son.
 Father" he continued, smiling, T