The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-05-01

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Good boy 7 to Cyrus, whom he al
ways seemed to admire, while spent
all the breath 1 could spare in shouts
of encouragement to Dan.
1--WE were half way to the sheds
before I thought of Dams handicap.
The colts were in the down-hill shed.
And they were hitched to the dou-
bic sleighs. I understood Cyrus tri-
umphant chuckle then. My interest
in the race tagged suddenly, and,
seeing nothing but sure defeat for Dan,
dropped behind somewhat. Even
If, by careful management, Dan should
get the colts out of the shed without
tangle-which 1 doubted-Cyrus
bade fair to be half way to the goal
before Dan could start.
AS I reached the shed driveway
heard the quick thump of hoofs.
Cyrus had indeed been quick, even
for the favorite upper shed. Istepped
quickly aside, for Napoleon was evil
IDENTIFY coming at a rattling pace.
And then, to my utter amazement,
there shot out into the driveway, not
sturdy old Napoleon, but spanking
black team instead. There was a
twinkle of white stockings; Ships
white star flashed in the moonlight,
and with sharp jangle of bells the
colts were off like the wind.
knowing all that I did, I Just
shouted with satisfaction. But
couldn't understand it at all. 1 ran
on into the shed enclosure in time to
hear smothered but most emphatic
exclamation of disgust and dismay
from Cyrus, who was just gathering
up his lines for start. Giving Ma
poleon spitefnl cut with the whip,
he dashed out into the driveway. He
must have known that the race was
already lost but just as he turned into
the highway he slashed again spite
fully at the horse. With a vicious
shake of his thick name, old Napoleon
jumped resentfully, and over went
the cutter as quick as flash. Cyrus
hung on to the lines and no damage
was done, but when he had picked
himself and his belongings out Of the
snow he was evidently quite satisfied
that, so far as he was concerned, the
contest was closed. Dan reached the
house where the little gathering was
breaking up, in good shape; and we
learned later that pretty Miss Violet
seemed unusually we'll content with
her choice escorts.
"Curious to know, ifpossible, how
Dan had made such exceptional time
in securing his team, I examined the
down hill shed carefully. AS swung
wide the snug fitting doors the mys-
terry was solved, for in either door
post strong new ring was securely
fastened; from each ring a stout
hitching strap was dangling. Dan
did not intend to run needless risks
with grandfather's fine young team.
He had backed the colts carefully into
the descending shed-the double
sleighs taking the downward slope
without much difficulty-instead of
driving in, as every one had always
been in the habit of doing. All he
had to do in getting his team in that
sudden emergency was to swing open
the shed doors, unsnap the hitch
straps-then away 1t was all sim
pie enough. And yet none of the
rest of us had thought oft. Harvey
and I rode home after all behind old
Napoleon and I must say we had q
very morose and sulky driver.
In some way the truth about the
tricky cuts became known. I have
always thought Cyrus himself must
have boasted about his sharp practice
to some of his cronies, for certainly
neither grandfather nor myself said
word. thought, too, that that bit
of sharp practice came to the ears of
Violet Medbury, and that it did not
help Cyrus. Atany rate, it was quite
evident that for the rest of the winter
Dan might drive or back into the
down-hill shed as he chose, for Miss
Violet was evidently content to wait
for him when teams were called for.
II will add, too, that when, some
two years later, Dan started to work
his way through college, his loyal
little partner Of the village sociables
mad agreed TO wait for him in another
and far more important matter. y
kT....o..