The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-02-03
We'll Placed Among the Leaders,

Well Placed Among the Leaders,
sfble, you understand" I warned her.
She frightened my fingers about the
money, thrusting my hand from her
imperiously.
Il have said that am going to re-
" upon your judgment At ten to one,
should win, will have made $4,000.
Do you wish me to go myself? II not,
you had best hurry
For the first time really chilled by
doubt and feeling my convictions ooze,
/ continued to protest. aBut he may
be pocketed, he may foul another
horse, he may be left at the post
anything may happen in the race to
make him lose" She looked at me
steadily, silently, / thought almost con-
temptuously, and without more words
I pocketed the hill Through the
crush of the betting ring I fought my
way, placed my money in the hands Of
a perspiring man who stood upon
stool and came back to her warm and
crumpled. Already the Derby racers
had galloped the course in their pre-
linainary warming up and were now
ehaf1ng before the flag. gave her the
ticket for her wager and resumed my
seat In throbbing hush
| Then came a roar like the crash of
surf and thunderous wave of sound
doomed across the field and was
echoed back by the distant walls. In
a compact bunch and stretching them
selves like greyhounds the horses
swept past us. For an instant felt
a sensation Of giddiness and closed my
eyes; then opening them once more
rfyeted them on the field as 1t cir
cled the course with the speed OF
hawks. Well placed among the lead
ers / saw the powerful launches OF
Eagle Boy working with the smooth
power of pistons as they steadily
drove him into the foremost rank.
With roar Of hoofs they turned the
last curve and came into the stretch,
while the sea of humanity rising upon
tiptoe burst into full tongue. Mrs.
Dace was upon her feet and watching
them with parted lips. sat beside
her with parched lips, my knees
shaking. Then from out of the bunch
a black horse that shone like a pol
ished shoe forged yard at bound,
and putting a good length between
himself and his nearest follower, led
the way homeward in a burst of speed
that was truly magnificent. Petit
was fairly lifting him from his feet,
his whip hicking, singing him on like
venomous yellow striped wasp. I
fercely clutched my companions arm.
eagle Boy wins, 7 roared in her ear.
Then as in a nightmare I saw the
happening of an evil thing. A dozen
yards from the wire and when two
more leaps would have brought him
victory, there came a stumble that
sent the great black one crashing to
the ground, while over him his near
est rival hurtled as jumper clears
fence From the vast crowd there
arose first a cry, shrill and explosive,
followed by an instant Of silence and
then a raging tumult. heard an in
voluntary exclamation from the lips
OF the woman at my side and turned
to her with the cold perspiration
bursting from my forehead. Her lips
were tightly compressed and she was
gazing fxedly at the fallen horse as
he arose with difficulty. The Jockey
was already limping about and the
mob surging upon the track.
II guess that race is settled for ali
time. she said quietly as she snapped
her pocket-book shut. i suppose we
might as well be going" Her face re-
sumed its placidity, but she turned 1t
away from me. Half dazed by the sud
denness Of the catastrophe my hand
hought hers IN sympathetic squeeze.
She did not respond.
/ whipped through the crush reck-
lessly in my chagrin and bitterness.
Silently cursing my folly drove
| her homeward with but perfunctory
attempt at conciliation- Even to that
she did not reply, and decided that
II had better remain quiet until she
had recovered her equilibrium. I had
never seen woman whom consid-
cred a good loser, and there was that
in her deneanor now which warned
me to caution Silence on the part Of