The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1909-04-01

Ketchiine saw his chance. He wouit
drive by. then turn and head off the
fugitives. With whip and voice he
urged his horse into a great burst Of
speed, IL in a moment he was righi
alongside.
Thought you was going to run away
from me, did yeh9 Height Think you
can beat me with that little runt OF g
boss, do yeh? Height" he sneereG
almost In Jim's ear. The two men were
SO near together that they could have
touched each other.
Then 1t was that Jim Farthing's colt
showed the stun that was in her. A
II catching for the first time the spirt,
OF the race. h let out a burst OF
speed that astonished ever her owner
Neck and neck they raced. the little
mare and the long gelding. Karl, ex
cited now to fever pitch and boiling
mad, terked at the reins and urged and
storned, ard the lank beast with
mighty strides swung along like a 81
raffe. Jim spared whip and voice, but
he held the colt firmly In hand, and
watched eagerly for something to hap
PEN.
He had not long to wait. Suddenly
THE bridge; remember the bridge,
We're almost there The excitement
of the race made her forget all else.
The bridge, q woeden affair wide
enough for only one sleigh, stood near
the lower end of the valley. It would
be the goal. Keichline heard the cry
Of the girl, and realized the danger
h same instant as jim. He broke into
whoops like Il Cemanchee.
"Ha-a-a-y, Bill" he yelled. "Ha-a-
~a-a-a-a-y, there! Get ap! Get ap!
Get ap! Hay-a-a-a-a-a-y!
The pplHinpr crronpr IN hfS ,,fr,0at
Steadily he began to nose ahead OF
the mare. Jim did his level best, but
he could not equal that steady, onward
rush hat was putting him foot by foot
into h ear. The great horse was
swinging along with t%en-foot strides
ahead,-half a length, and gaining with
every bound.
Then something happened.
"Herei" 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 n of the girl that COM
PEELED instant surrender. Jim passed
the reins over like a 0ma and she
took them like a 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
suddenly sprung into life. Jim watched
her like n fascinated. She had
thrown back her wrap and hood, and
and now she leaned far over, her
bare hands %clutching the reins,
her hair fluttering about her face,
q md har Slirl h~iyy fnpca -;+l
energy. The sleigh jumped, and
rolled and pitched like a thing
Of life, but she rode as IL she were q
part of 1t. as if the reins were steel
rods holding her in place.
Then arose above he road Of hoof
and sleigh the wild cry of the Jockey.
that shrill, penetrating falsetto heard
on every racetrack at critical i~nstants,
a cry that goes to the heart of a strug-
CLING racer like liquid fire.
"Hti hi! hi-e-e-e-e-e-e-e! Hi, hi! hi!
hi-e-e-e-e-e; Hi! hi! hi! Hi-e-e!" The
little horse f1attened 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 posed
inch by inch ahead of the great gelding.
who was rolling and swinging like q
runaway.
Head straight out, 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
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
Ike an express train, and she held the
center OF the road as true as a die.
Karl Keicbline, yelling now and even
eagerness. He leaned far over the
dashboard and screamed at his horse.
He yanlSed out the whip and began to
play 1t furiously. Sharp and thick fell
the cruel blows. Then, with a mad fling
Of the head, the gelding gave up, broke
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
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. IT never could have beat him
alone. There amt 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 ~nstant-
ly.
Guess he's hit the bridge" he REQ
piled grimly.
tContinued Next Weekl
Ono Lona Drink.