New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-15
LEGS

ING and stopped abruptly, listening. ''"
muck shrcwd look came INTO ms eyes.
Perhaps Jupiter was queer one, ana;
tbon any horse. when trained down me ana
road, for "A race. Is a delicate piece ol nccn
anis,n. ready 10 go 10 pieces az the slightest
provocation. He knew that smaller Things
than that had killed the chance OF a hlgh-
strung horse. remembered, for instance
how The Sabcr had gone stale strangely
three DAYS before the Derby when ms
REGULAR bow had been hurt, only 10 return
almost instantly to form when the boy came
back. And as he turned away Matiern
smiled.
THE next morning sorrow and turmoil de-
seconded ON boxstall 10 In barn No ),
sorrow when Legs was found 10 have disap;
pcarcd. turmoil when Carrots proceeded 10
bunch the everlasting daylight out Of pair OF
bows whom me- suspected Of having been re
sponsiblc for the loss. Then turmoil likewise
disappcarcd with no results, and only sorrow
fingered. sorrow and searching one by one
Carrots searched the barns; but without
success. The dog was gone. Left chained
i'm the stall during the morning workout,
when Carrots returned with Jupiter Legs
had as completely disappeared rs # an m
visible hand had reached down from above
and carried him off into the cmpyrcan
blue.
The rest Of the day and tina, night Carrots
searched high and low, here, there, every
where but 10 no avail Inquiries, pleading,
tears. brought no results Not even the men
seated about the stable door had seen him,
and the only conclusion TO which Carrots
and the old swipc could come was that
someone had lurcd the dog To- the little stall
window by offering him meat, and then UNI
snapped the chain and carried him away UNI
observed down the little lane between the
stables. He was gone.
That night Carrots cried himself TO sleep,
and Jupiter was uneasy. Al every sound ne
prickcd up his ears and looked toward the
door of the stall But there was no lcapng
yellow rush and high, staccato barking 10
greet him. and beside the sleeping boy there
was no Legs, no yellow shaggy bundle OF
rough hair curlcd up into a knot and WOoflng
now and then as in his sleep Legs dreamed
wild dog dreams
The next morning Jupitcrs temper was
dangerous. Without warning he tore the
shirt off the back Of a strange boy who IN an
unguardcd moment passed too close 10 the
stall door. Later. when Carrots took HIM
out for the all important last workout before
the race, ne was ugly too rearing and tight
ing viciouslv until, To- the boys astonish-
mcnt. he had all that he could DO to cling
to the saddle, while over by the rail Miss
Lucv's brow cloudcd as a wild fear smote
her heart and the old swipe who stood be-
side her shook his head. There was some
thing wrong: not dope,-they had guarded
the horse too carefully for that, some
thing else something he could not under
stand bound up in the pcrycrsc nature OF
the horse. The gray-haircd man sworc soft
~ under his breath.
There was no grin on Carrots face as he
slipped down from Jupitcr's back or as he
led the blankctci horse round the walking
ring to be cooled off, while Miss Lucy
AMI the gray-harci man stood silent, watch
ing them Gloom. gloom nothing but
gloom had taken the place of hope Only
one more day remained before the race. In
a little over tWcnty-tour hours It would all
be over and Jupiter was off form.
MOT for a moment was the horse left
~ alone that night. Carrots slept in little
catnaps in a corner Of the stall. The old
man slept outside the door Yet Jupiter
in the pink of physical condition and on the
night before the racc-did not sleep; but
frcttcd instead, stamping his hoots, and
standing always with his head toward the