The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-04-01

! Keichline saw his chance. He would
drive by, then turn and head Off the
f~ugitives. With whip and voice he
urged his horse into a great burst OF
speed, and In a moment he was right
alongside.
Thought you was going to run away
from me, did yeh7 Height Think you
can beat me with that little run OF a
boss, do yeh? Height" he sneered
almost in Jim's ear. The two men were
so lear together that they could have
touched each other.
Then 1t was that Jim Farthing's colt
showed the stun that was In her. As
II catching for the first time the spirit
Of the race, she let out a burst of
speed that astonished even her owner.
Neck and neck they raced. the little
mare IND the long gelding. Karl, ex-
cited now to fever pitch and boiling
mad, jerked at the reins and urged and
stormed, and the lank beast with
mighty strides swung along like a gi-
raffe. Jim spared whip and voice, but
he held the colt firmly In hand, and
watched eagerly for something to hap
per. ..a
He had not long to wait. Suddenly
Rose gave a cry.
lhC DTluBGS ESAkAChhADCI lbO AtuACs
We're almost there" The excitement
of the race made her forg.t all else.
The bridge, O wooden AFFAIR wide
enough for only one sleigh, stood near
the lower end of the valley. 1t would
be the goal. Keichline heard the cry
Of the girl, and realized the danger
the same instant as Jim. He broke into
whoops like a Comanchee.
"Ha-a-a-y, Bill" he yelled. "Ha-a-
~a-a-a-a-y, therel 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 a The great horse was
swinging along with ten-foot strides
pitiless as q machine. He was q neck
a~head,-half a length, and gaining with
every bound. .
Then something happened. "
"Here!" came the command so sud
den and eager that 1t 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 q 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 the
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 n fascinated. She had
thrown back her wrap and hood, and
and nnuy cha laannd for nrYar No.,
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 IL she were a
part of 1t. as IL the reins were steel
rods holding her In place.
Then arose above the road of hoof
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.
"Hii hi! hi-e-e-e-e-e-e-ei Hi! hi! hi!
hi-e-e-e-e-e; Hi! hi! hi! Heel" The
little horse flattened 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 geiding,
who was rolling and swinging like a
runaway.
Head straight out, heels smashing
snowballs into the dashboard, few tho
little mare. Great chunks Of ice and
snow tipped spitefully about the girl,
but h was utterly oblivious OF all save
the flying horse.
Now 1t vas a neck ahead, now half
a 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 conferred on the
little mare; and the horse knew II.
The bridge was Just ahead, coming
like an express train, Ind she held the
center OF the road as true as a die.
Karl Keichline, yelling now and even
cursing, vas on hiE feet in furious
eagerness. He leaned far over the
dashboard and screamed at his horse.
He yanked out the whip and began to
play 1t furiously. Sharp and thick fell
the cruel blows. Then, with q 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 KeichIine 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 himl"
"Hurrahl" echoed the girl, still alert,
but with al excitement as great as his
own.
TITS you: It's all you." he cried gen.
erously. II eve could have beat him
alone. There amt another girl in the
world could have done it." There was
no time for reply for at hat instant
- n atolrantnn ~ oh (rnY,o kaI4-a
ly. I "..'"
'Guess he's hit the bridge" he 70
piled grimly. ..
(continued Next Wsekl