The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-08-31
BATS BEST GIRL
By ISABEL FROST.

y,
II 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 Miramar
Park, the Bat had no more doubt of the
outcome than he had Of his own ex-
stence 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 to peddle her bal
looms for her and putting up her own
money in bets on the races. She was
the Bat
He had horror Of big women.
"Any girl that goes with me has got
to weigh in with me at one hundred
and nineteen" he would say, laughing
". And Lou was 1O5.
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'll be too heavy to ride in a
year or two more. You'd better set
tie down as 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 ont of the stable.
glowing with pride. 1t was absolutely
true, and he 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 a noted
horseman in his day. After his death
she had followed the races ali over the
country, placing a sure bet where it
was needed and handling her cOnces-
sions as she pleased.
Just as the Bat came to the corner
where the uOtel StOOu lie saw Her Iuu-
hing down the steps to meet him.
II was watching for you" she said.
II was in one Of those temporary phone
booths they've put up over at the track.
AS 1 was waiting for my number I
heard Eddie Days 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 a little
window over the feedbox that was
left open at night. That was all, but,
coming from DAILY, it was enough. VIII
you tell the colonel?"
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 evil
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 knuckles had been
out the old ones that night with a
smile Of "Reminiscences.
About $3.50 wiry, 1.-THE figure
crawled Indian fashion through the
tall timothy along the paddock fence,
and after swift survey unlocked the
outer door of Starlight Bess' quarters
and disappeared inside.
The colonel was entertaining large
party Of friends at the Grand Southern
hotel that night. Just In the midst Of
his after-dinner speech he was called to
answer the long-distance phone. 1t was
the Bats best girl at the other end Of
the wire.
"Hello, hello!" she called breathless-
~. Colonel Connolly? You don't know
They tried to stab Starlight Bess In
the neck tonight. No, no, 1 don't mean
that. They tried to give her hypoder-
mic Of something to put her out OF the
running. Yes. sir, through the window
above her head. The Bat was laying
for them and he knocked out Eddie
Days 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 a broken nose but
he says he'll ride tomorrow, sir, II
you'll only let him."
"God bless the boy!'' 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 bad fall in
exercising, but while the crowd were
cheering Starlight Bess and her VIM
ming jockey, the colonel and Denver
Lou watched the finish side by side.
Eddie DAILY and four other men had
eft 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
PLY, "Td be wonderfully obliged if you