Evening star., 1916-12-24
MAGAZINE SECTION for December "a, 1915


descended from the car, that he was
"Smiler" Smith, a New York bookmaker
known for the size of his operations, and
whom l had not hitherto seen in Gran
than. AS he said good-by from the street,
his erstwhile companion turned his face
toward him, so that l got a side view of
his face. 1t was Dane!
No definite suspicion was in my mind
yet l could not but think it strange that
the wealthy young New Yorker was on
intimate terms with a notorious "bookie."
Moved by impulse, and certain that
neither had noticed me, | jumped from
the car as it started ahead, and followed
Smith. He went straight to the railroad
station and heard him buy ticket for
New York and claim a section previously
reserved for him on the afternoon train.
Considerably mystifed, yet really without
reason, l walked to the hotel, had my
luncheon, and still puzzled little later
returned to the track. But before / did
so | looked at the hotel register. "Smiler'
Smith had arrived in Grantham, accord
ing to the book, at eleven the night before.
And he was leaving within eighteen hours
There'd been several strange occur
rences in the two weeks of racing Several
horses had run queerly-so queerly that
| had not hesitated to speak my opinion.
And now "Smiler" Smith took forty
eight hours journey down here for the
privilege of staying less than a day. |
wondered what was in the wind. Then.
for the moment, l forgot about it, as l
conferred with Jerry about the mare.
ONE last look gave her, standing there,
smooth as satin, soft as silk: from the
honest eyes of her to her dainty feet a
lady and thoroughbred. But those
brown eyes could flash fire; that satin
skin hid muscles of steel; the silken soft
ness couldn't conceal the hard fighting
nerves. Trained to the minute now, fac
ing a distance that suited her, as sure as
my name was Sale Kernan-a horse
made my way through the crowd that
thronged the paddock, and under the long,
sideless shed that housed the betting-ring.
A couple of touts saw me from the dipgy
bar, ran out, and intercepted me.
"Got little word for us, Kernan?' one
of them asked.
| have no use for this sort of cattle;
they and their kind have blacked the eye
OF racing.
"Vivandiere is in the next race, l said.
THAT ought to be enough, isn't it?'
"But just wise word begged the
other as she mednt?"
This tout never dreamed he was insult
ing me. And didn't lower myself to the
level of every Tom, Dick, and Harry by
explaining to them that every Kernan-
trained horse is meant to win, every time
he starts. Life is too short. So | just
brushed by and took a squint at the first
board | passed. My eyebrows went up.
Good reason!
For Vivandiere was fourth choice in
field of seven! She was quoted at five to
one, while Queen Molly and Cresswell
We're equal odds-on favorites, at four to
five. Bay King was second choice, at five
to two. thought some exiled hop fiend
from the Long Island tracks must have
had a relapse and chalked up those odds;
but glance at the next board made me
dismiss that idea. The figures were the
same. l couldn't understand it,
Queen Molly and Cresswell were all
right they were legitimate favorites on
their past performances and present con-