The San Francisco call., 1908-09-27
COpCORAN. M1)
BY FREDERICK ORIN

laurel But there was plenty OF OtnerS.
An that, m'son, was the first of a bunch
of races that broke. reckon, we'll nigh
every handicap record in the world He
began easy cause after the news got
round he couldn't git any one. even
outside the town, who wasn't drunk to
bet on him in a foot race. So he was
bliged to branch out little
One night he puts this up to them:
Gents" he says. you've been good
sports an now 1 wants to give you all
run fer yer money. I'm goneter make
this offer; I'll go agin anything, any
thing, gents, afoot or afioat" says he,
anything on boss or on wheels. fer
20 miles or over An the same old con-
ditions; races start at 10 a. m. prompt,
an money goes to the party what gifts
there fust."
1 don't like to see a good sport loso
his head. I knows how man will git
boas ful when he's got a crowd round
him and talk wild like. So 1 whispers
Better bar hosses," says I.
NO. he says, out loud so every one
can hear. No. 1 got my sixth wind
last time I'm good fer it. I'll take
anything that moves"
Fergerson had been listenin' hard at
this an now he comes forward.
Do understan'," he says slow like.
DO understan that you agree to race
on foot anything, man or beast?"
throat and proceeds slow. like he's got
a good thing and doesn't want to scare
1t off by bein' too anxious bout grab
bin it.
An says ne. "thc other fellcr to
name tn course?"
Fer % miles or over" says Cor
coran.
Taken" says he, FER two thousand"
Two thousand" says Corcoran,
coolly
An the course to be from here to
Cornish" says Fergerson.
L see Corcoran start, cause this was
a good thirty mile on road straight as
an arrow. Wouldn't be any chance fer
snort cuts on that stretch. But he
never says nothin' 'cept turn to me.
Put all you've got on me-" says he.
only you ought to get Odds
Odds? Mson, 1 got 10 10 1 an It.
came so fast that il it hadn't been agin
my principles I'd have hedged an hour
before the race. Fer what dye think?
Fergerson turns up with Black Bess
from over In the next county-the fast
est long distance hoss in the state An
not only that, but he gifts Morgan to
tide her-Morgan who warn't bigger'n
q peanut, but who's never lost a race
yet At quarter of 10 Fergerson leads
out the bronco In front of the crowd an
makes a little speech, which was:
Beat him If you kill the hoss. An
remember ye're ridin' fer one thousand
dollars"
When Corcoran shows UP. the crowd
lets out a laff you could hear into the
next town. They JUS puts their hands
10 their sides an laffs in a bunch till
the tears come. He looks round, sober
like, but never says a word-stoops
down to tie up his shoes, peels off his
coat an hands EN- to me- as usual He
sees I'm lookin mighty sober, SO he
says, Don't worry" he says. He had
on gray flannel shirt an the same old
vest.
Better take off that" says I.
But he only gives a hitch to the belt
what holds up his blue overalls and
says agin:
Don't worry"
Then Small makes little speech.
Gentlemen he says, at is your
privilege to witness the greatest race
that was ever run by a human being
man aginst hossa If the man wins
great glory shall be his; If he loses, he
will go down with honor"
He raises the revolver slowly and
with look in his face that made every
one stop laughing and hold his breath.
Are you ready, gents?" he asks.
Morgan leans forward on the neck of
the boss, which was steppin' sideways
and switching her tail, an Corcoran
mods
GO" says he, shootin' at the same
time.
There was rattle of hoofs. a cIoud
Of dust, and fore Corcoran catches his
breath Morgan was outer sight. The
crowd hooted, but he never says nothin'
jus starts out at that same old Jog
which was so discouragin' TO the men
who had taken chance on him They
follered him fer a mile or so, but it
was sorter tiresome, and he looked so
dead sure beaten that they turned back
But was he beaten? Was he, m'son?
Dye know what Morgan sees when he
rides up to Bentley's at the finish
rides UP reelin in the saddle-Black
Bess white to the fanks. He sees Cor
coran restin' on the piazza, smokin'
with bunch of men round him lookin'
like they'd lost their last friend.
Looks like you had a hard time of