The Green Forest tribune., 1917-07-27
BATS BEST GIRL
By ISABEL FROST.

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 The Bat had been riding for the Con- nOly stables for two years, ever since the colonel had picked him out of paddock down in Lexington. Probably, if one could have taken the soul of the Bat and dissected it, one would have found the old law of thy duty toward thy neighbor" reduced to his duty to the colonel
 When they took Starlight Bess up to capture the sweepstakes at Mramar Park, the Bat had no more doubt of the outcome than he had of his own eX- istence. She was the colonel's best. and had never been beaten.
 The week before the race the Bat shared in Starlight BesS honor. Among the other jockies and their crowd of followers he was the chief, and small wonder that he fell under the magic spell of Denver Lou. She had come on with the toy balloon concession tucked under her arm. so tO speak hiring small boys 10 peddle her bal looms for her and putting up her own money in bets on the races. She was about twenty-two. year older than the Bat.
 He had horror of big women.
 "Any girl that goes with me has got to weigh ill with me at one hundred and nineteen" he would say, laughing ly. And Lou was 105.
 At the end of the fifth day before the races she was wearing the Bats lucky nugget scarfpin, and the colonel admitted that he admired the boys choice.
 'You'H be too heavy to ride in year or two more You'd better set tie down as q trainer with wife of your own. Every man needs one, sooner or later, and like the looks of the young lady, Tommy"
 The Bat swung out of the stable, glowing with pride It was absolutely true and lie felt that he had met his fate The only trouble was he didn't have the money to swing it. Here was girl whose father had been noted horseman in his day After his death she had followed the races all over the country, placing a sure bet where 1t was needed and handling her conces- sions as she pleased.
 Just as the Bat came to the corner where the hotel stood he saw her run ming down the steps to meet him.
 II was watching for you she said. "I was in one of those temporary phone booths they've put up over at the track. fpr I heard Eddie Daly'S voice in the next booth talking low. Tommy. as sure as you're alive, they're planning some devils trick on your mare"
 The Bats eyelids narrowed as he threw away his cigarette.
 What did he have to say?" he asked.
 He was telling someone that Star light Bess was in the fifth stall from the right end as you go into the pad dock. and he said there was little window over the feedbox that was left open nj night. That was ali but, coming from Daly, ii was enough. Will you tell the colonelF
 "He won't be back till tomorrow morning. replied the Bat. "If I have them change her to another box stall it'll raise the dust and without evi- dence the association would scratch us Don't you worry. I'll fix it."
 The Bat made but few preparations. Before the days when the colonel had known him brass knuckies had been part of the Bats wardrobe, and he dug out the old ones that night with q smile of reminiscence.
 About 9:30 wiry, 1.-the figure crawled Indian fashion through the tall timothy along the paddock fence, and after d swift survey unlocked the outer door of Starlight Bess quarters and disappeared inside.
 The colonel was entertaining q large party of friends at the Grand Southern hotel that night. lust in the midst of his after-dinner speech he was called to answer the Iong-distanS phone. II was the Bats best girl at the other end of the wire.
 Hello, hello :" she called breathless- ly. Colonel Connolly? You don't know me, sir I'm Denver Lou. the Bats girl. They tried to stab Starlight Bess in the neck tonight No no l don't mean that They tried to give her d hypoder- mic of something to put her out of the running. Yes. sir, through the window above her head The Bat was laying for theD and he knocked out Eddie Dalys trainer. but they've done him up pretty badly. I've got him at the hotel with two doctors. He's got three ribs crushed and broken nose, but he says he'll ride tomorrow, sir, if you'll only let him"
 God bless the boy .s gasped the colonel Tell him I'll be there by midnight"
 The code of honor is strange in rae ing circles. The Bats injuries were sup posed to have come from a bad fall in exercising, but while the crowd were cheering Starlight Bess and her win ming jockey, the colonel and Denver Lou watched the finish side by side. Eddie Daily and four other men had left on the noon train in charge of pri- vate detectives.
 If there's anything really serious between Tommy and yourself, Miss Cassidy" the colonel remarked hap oily, "Fd be wonderfully obliged if you would permit me to offer something be- sides congratulations. The lads won thousands for me and I'll stake him to ten thousand"
 T promised him that I'd marry him two days opo " She said sif ha,d v,Tin