The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1917-09-13
BATS BEST GIRL
BY ISABEL FROST.

The Bat had been riding for the Con-
molly stables for two years, ever since
the colonel had picked him out of a
paddock down in Lexington. Probably.
IL one could have taken the soul of the
Bat and dissected ii. 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-
istcnce. She was the colonels 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 peddie her baf-
looms for her and putting up her own
money in bets on the races. she was
about twenty-five, a year older than
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
ly. And Lou was 105.
At the end of the fifth day before
the races she was wearing the Bats
lucky nugget scarfpln. and the colonel
admitted that ne admired the boys
choice.
you'll be too heavy TO ride in
year or two more. You'd better set
your own Every man needs one
sooner or later. and like the looks of
the Young lady, Tommy"
The Bat swung out of the sable.
glowing with pride. II 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
a girl whose father had been a noted
horseman in his day. After his death
she had followed the races all over the
country. placing sure bet where ii
sio,s as she pleased.
Just as the Bat came 70 the corner
where the hotel stood he saw her run
ming down the steps to meet him.
al was watching for you" she said.
II was In one of those temporary phone
'----A- .S--'-. ',rf uo over at the track.
As I WAS Whiting for my number 1
heard Eddie Days voice in the next
booth talking low. Tommy. ns sure as
NJ
DEVILS trick On your mare"
The Bats eyelids narrowed as he
threw away his cigarette
"what did he haye 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. II was enough. VIII
you tell the colonelf
He won't be hack till tomorrow
morning. replied the Bat. 'If 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 fiI It"
The Bat made but few preparations.
BEFORE the days when the colonel had
known him brass knuckles had been
part of the Bats wardrobe. and he dug
out the old ones that night with
smile of "Reminiscences.
About $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-iistance phone. 1t was
the Bats best girl Mt the other end of
the wire.
Hello, hello." she called hreathless-
iy. "Colonel Connolly You don't know
me, sir. Tn Denver Lou. the Rats girl.
They tried to stab Starlight Bess in
the neck tonight. No. no. l don't mean
that. They tried to give her hypodcr-
mic of something to put her ont of the
running. Yes. sir. through the window
above her head. The Bat was laying
for them and he knocked out Eddie
Daly's trainer. but they've done him
up pretty badly. I've got him Mt 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'n only let him."
God bless the boyI- gasped the
colonel. TELL him I'll be there by
midnight"
The code of honor Is strange In rae
Ing circles. The Rats injuries were sup
posed TO have come from a bad fall In