Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-04-03

a-a-a-a-y, there! Get ap! Get ap!
Get ap! Hay-a-a-a-a-a-y!
The gelding sprang to his utmost.
Steadily he began to nose ahead of
the mare. Jim did his level best, but
he could not equal that steady, onward
rush that was putting him foot by foot
into the rear. The great horse was
swinging along with ten-foot strides
pitiless as machine. He was neck
ahead, half length, and gaining with
every bound.
Then something happened.
"Here!" came the command so sud-
den and eager that it startled jim
Give me them reins! Quick, there!
Quick! There was something in the
, tone and manner of the girl that COM
PEELED instant surrender. Jim passed
the reins over like a woman. and she
took them like man. She was in her
element. The thrill and excitement OF
the contest had entered her soul; for
the moment there was nothing in the
whole world but this single race: and
the little mare must win.
Instantly there was a change in tho
driving. That nameless thrill that
flashes between horse and pockey went
quivering down the reins into the
struggling little racer. The girl had
suddenly sprung into life. Jim watched
her like one fascinated. She had
thrown back her wrap and hood, ana
and now she leaned far over, her
bare hands clutching the reins,
her hair fiuttering about her face,
and her slim body tense with
energy. The sleigh jumped, and
rolled and pitched like a thing
Of life, but she rode as if she were q
part of it. as If the reins were steel
rods holding her in place.
Then arose above the road of hoot
and sleigh the wild cry of the jockey
that shrill, penetrating falsetto heard
on every racetrack at critical instants,
a cry that goes to the heart OF a strug-
Cling racer like liquid fire.
Hi hi! hi-e-e-e-e-e-e-e, Hi. hi, hi,
hi-e-e-e-e-e; Hi! hi! hi! Heel" The
little horse fiattened herself almost to
the ground and put out the very last
ounce that was In her. She gained back
her loss in 20 strides, and then nosed
inch by inch ahead of the great gelding,
who was rolling and swinging like a
runaway.
Head straight ont, heels smashing
snowballs into the dashboard, flew the
little mare. Great chunks of ice and
snow tipped spitefully about the girl,
but she was utterly oblivious of all save
the flying horse.
Now 1t was a neck ahead now half
length-Jim almost yelled in his ex-
element, but the girl gave no sign Of
emotion. She was as cool as steel;
her whole soul was centered on the
little mare; and the horse knew it,
The bridge was just ahead, coming
like an express train. and she held the
center of the road as true as a die.
Karl Keichline, yelling now and even
cursing, was on his feet in furious
eagerness. He leaned far over the
dashboard and screamed at his horse.
He yanked out the whip and began to
play II furiously. Sharp and thick fell
the cruel blows. Then, with a mad fling
of the head. the gelding gave up, broke
into a rocking gallOp, and fell a length
behind the sleigh.
He had lost.
There was nothing for Keichline to
do but to pull down his horse by main
strength and prevent him from crash
ing into the bridge rail. But furious
with anger he continued to ply the
whip.
"Hurrah." yelled jim, more excited
than he had ever been before in his
life. "Hurrah. we've beat him!"
"Hurrah!" echoed the girl, still alert.
but with an excitement as great as his
own.
IT'S you: it's all YOU" he cried gen
erously. II never could have beat him
alone. There ain't another girl in the
world could have done it," There was
no time for reply for at that instant
came a sickening crash from behind,
What's that?" She wheeled instant
ly.
Guess he's hit the bridge" he rs-
piled grimly.
(Continued Next WeekJ