The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-05-22

Dont Try anything IKE tnat!" ne
cried in terrible voice that brought
Gabby Gallagher striding toward
them.
What's goin' On here? Are they
tryin' to fix you, Skinner"
mot bit like it," Glass protested
stoutly. Il only asked him which side
he'd rather run on, and now he calls
for police protection"
Don't try it again, that's ALL" the
cook warned, sullenly.
Il reckon I'll take q hand in this! 7"
Gallagher was in a fine rage, and
would have fallen upon the offender
had not Slower stepped in his path.
Il reckon you DON'T" he said easily.
The two glared at each other. and
were standing thus when Speed and
his trainer moved gently off. They
made their way to the house in COM
parative silence. Il made a mis-
take said Wally.
you've been jobbed like you was a
baby" said Glass There amt but
one thing to do now. Go into the
house and change your clothes. and
when you get ready to run, get ready
to run for your Iife-and mine"
Over on the race-course GALLAGHER
was inquiring:
Who's goin' TO send these y'ere
athaletes away"
Il ami" announced Willie without
hesitation. "Bein' perhaps the handi.
goin' to start this Journey" He
looked his foes squarely in the eyes.
HAS anybody got objections to me?"
The silence was iattering, and more
loudly now, so that Skinner might
hear, he added: eff your man tries to
beat the gun. I'll have him wingin'
his way to lands celestial before he
makes his second jump"
Gallagher acknowledged the fair
ness of this proposition. "This race
is goin' to be squar'," said he. "We're
ready when y'all are"
]. Wallingford Speed stepped out of
his clothes and into his silken run.
ning-suit He was numb and cold
His hands performed their duties to
be sure, but his brain was idle. All
he knew was that he had been be-
trayed and all was lost. He heard
Glass painting instructions into his
ear, but they made no impression upon
him. In a dull trance he followed his
trainer back to the track, his eyes
staring, his bones like water Not un.
til he heard the welcoming shout of
the Flying Heart henchmen did he
realize that the worst was yet to
come. He heard Larry still coaching
earnestly: eff you can't bite him, trip
him up" and some one said:
Are we ready?"
Glass held out his hand. "Good-by,
Mr. Speed
Chaplin came forward and smoke
with artificial heartiness, "Good-luck
Wally; beat him at the start" and
Covington followed
Remember" he cautioned, sadly
what told you about the start-its
your only chance"
why don't you fellows think about
the finish of this racer" faltered the
runner. =
Then, in voice broken with excite.
ment, Helen Blake spoke, holding out
her hand for good-by clasp. Dear
Mr.. Speed" she said, will you try
to remember this to run
before he does, and don't let him
catch up to you. If you do that, just
know you'll win
This magnificent display of conf
dence nerved the athlete, and he
smiled at her. He wished to speak,
but dared not trust himself.
Gallagher was calling; so he went
to the starting-point, whence he sur.
veyed the course. There it lay, no
more than a lane leading down be.
tween ranks of brown-faced men whose
eyes were turned upon him. On the
top rail of the corral perched Willie,
revolver in hand. The babble Of
voices ceased, the strident laughter
stilled, Speed heard the nervous rus
tie of feminine skirts. Skinner was
standing like statue, his toe to the
mark, his eyes averted
You'll start here and run a hun.
dred yards out yonder to the tape"
Gallagher announced.
Il refused" said Speed firmly.
For one breathless instant there
was a hush of amazement, then a cry
of rage. Still Bill Slower hurled the
nearest man out of his patch, and
strobe forward, his lean face ablaze.