Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1911-12-15

expense Even at that distance, he could
see Herm engage them in earnest talk.
They tied something to Jim Dandys
bride, or he thought they did, then took
another look at Katura.
" 'Twasn't the mange-the calf gnawed
her tall" laughed a spectator to the
judges. Chauncey strained ears and eyes
to discover the author of that speech.
To his scorn, he marked owen, jealousy
guarding the colt. Chauncey smother
ed his contempt and pushed on to the
race course Sensitive as he had trained
his conscience to feel, he could have
cried shame! upon owen for going
near Katura and the committee.
After the farmers race came the foot
race for boys. The horses with records
were to trot on the morrow. ChaunceY
stood a few rods below the judges
stand, just before the ring of the start
ing bell, when Herm Lacey came along
bit excited. Espying Chauncey, he
stopped, glad of a word with someone he
knew.
wish you'd slip into my place." he
grimaced. " 1 believe I'm stage-struck.
Say you're got up just like me, for all
the world, sneaks and all! Why can't
you do my running for me? This slipper
slips up and down the heel. Must have
stretched What on earth did l squeeze
into such ladyish concern for!''
Chauncey was doing so little of the
talking that he worked his way on
through the crowd toward the judges
stand, his heart warming a little to the
boy who had always been a good neigh
Dor and good-enough comrade But
before the swarm closed behind him, he
called back genally: Been over to look
at Kats tag yet? l should think you'd
be jumping and kicking your heels to-
gether. l knew an accident like that
wouldn't make any difference" And he
was lost to observation, the troublesome
sneak tapping as he disappeared.
Chauncey's warming affections drop
| ped below zero. Katura had taken sec
ond money then? Herm might just as
well have said in plain words that she
would have come in second-best, any
way, tail or no tail! He edged through
the crowd to the fence skirted track,
stopped under the rail, and stood within
| the racers precincts with a few other
forward ones who meant to have plain
view.
The runners were at the start, their
coatless forms looking all alike from
Chauncey's distance. He could dis
tinguish Herm Lacey only by his white
shod feet 1t was round track.
| Chauncey knew all the boys, and was
not surprised to see Hermon Lacey lead
Off He wanted the honor for his town,
| but-why couldn't it have been some
other boy? Herm had so much of the
county fairs glory
AS they settled down to steady work,
one straning watcher fancied that Herm
was beginning to lag. Once he stopped
to adjust his shoe, in in the pause the
distance between him and his nearest
| rival lessened. AS they drew nearer,
Chauncey imagined he could detect a
limp in Herms gait In his minds eye
he could fairly see him curl his toes to
keep the sneak on.
Again Herm stopped, and the next
boys gain was perceptble. They were
now so close that Chauncey could see
| their features. The second runner was
a Clintvile lad, whose prize cattle had
created much talk. Chauncey had gone
to his farm once to buy COW, and
Frank had spoken deprecatingly OF
Hampton and Hampton's products
whether human or merely animal
Among other remarks, Frank had said
patronzngly: II don't wonder you have
to come out of Hampton for your stock
Judging from the scrubs shown at the
fair. And the boys there-no athletes
There! Herm's sneak shot ahead
Herm forlornly dragging along in its
wake, his limp more pronounced thar
ever as his sock-clad foot struck the
hard track. Like flash Chauncey's
sneak came off, and in a thrice Herm
slipped ii on, Frank Lauton rushing
ahead In the dust they left, Chauncey
hunted up Herm's shapeless footgeal
and fastened it on his foot. He climbed
on the fence and held himself up by the
boys already balancing there, craning his
neck and straining his eyes for every mo
ton of the contestant whose fortunes
had undergone so sudden n change.
Slowly Herm recovered lost ground
Could he hold that pace? Chauncey
trembled, swaying on the rail. Inch by
inch Herm fought. every breath caugh
with a gasp. Hats were off, and thu
boys on the fence shouted. Chauncey
hurrahed too, though he couldn't see 6
thing Someone sang out, Hampton
wins"
Chauncey tumbed off the fence ant
blnked. He felt better He could &C
see Katura now. Her tail feathers would
be grown out by next fair time.
Il should think twas time you go
around" owen hailed, when he came II
sight of Jim Dandy's tossing name anC
proud blue ribbon.
Flopping along in the retarding sneak
Chauncey even felt a thrill of pride al
Dandy struck him with his switching
tail. Hampton had won two firsts
"Kats been making great fuss,
complained Owen. "They make such
noise, l haven't dared to leave her
Why don't you keep in sight and lool
after your interests. You never turned
up when the judges came along. II !
hadn't been for Herm Lacey, she would
mt We got her rights He told 'em tn
calf gnawed her tail off"
Chauncey fingered the ribbon hanging
on the colts bride. He swallowed
First prize" on the blue streamer
Written by Lillian Loring Long 70
the Sunday Republican.
The Southern states have expended