Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1920-07-23

this. Naturally, I was as muc sur
prised as any one else to learn that
my stable was being shown favors.
horses and possibly the better Jockeys
and trainer. But 1 brought Connors
over here with me today; I didn't
suppose he'd be needed, but
ORIOLES here, too, isn't he?"
Soren nodded. Bring them In"
said Classon. Soren pressed a bell. IA
moment later Starter O'Toole and
Trainer Connors were in the room,
soren looked from 'one to the other
OF them. Then he spoke to Q'Toole.
"Mr. o'Toole," he said, from the
head Of the table. did you ever pay
a visit to Mr.. Connors' house q"
O'Toole's Eyes opened wonderinely.
He shook his head. why, sir, 1 bare.
lily know Connors."
"Connors, did o'Toole ever call at
your house," asked soren.
NO. sir" said Corners innocently.
Q course, you've both read Mr..
Kernan's charges in The Bugle? Well,
He claims that you two have met In
your house. Connors."
He's crazy" said the trainer.
o'Toole smiled CONTEMPORARY.
THAT will be ALL" said soren. They
withdrew, and the old financier turn
ed again to me.
Its hard to believe that a Ken
lucky gentleman would let jealousy
overcome craftsmanship" he said
slowly. TITS hard to believe that a
Kentucky gentleman would forget his
honor and"
Don't say it, sir" I interrupted
quietly. III you dom care to be-
lieve me- well and good. But don't
Soren tapped the table with his
nervous fingers. He looked at, Class
son.
"Mr. Classon," he said. this is a
matter before us stewards; person
aiities NUT be dropped; forgotten.
All should act as one body. Yet-in-
asmuch as you have a personal inter-
est, aside from your interest as a
steward in seeing that Beaumont is
Kept clear from scandal-will you
kindly tell US what action you think
we should take?"
! Classon pursed his lips. "Of
course" he said, my inclination
would be to bar Mr.. Herman from the
,sonal interest in the matter, I would
hate to seem vindictive. Let me sug-
gest thai Mr.. Herman make a person.
al apology to me, for having dragged
my name-my stables name-into a
nasty scandal. and that he further
comply with our written request to
him and make a public retraction of
his charges"
Very fair" exclaimed old soren.
He turned to the others. That's all
right, gentlemen"
The other stewards nodded assent.
The old %fnancier looked at me.
"Mr. Keenan," he began. this is a
very a occasion. 1 knew your ia
ther, sir. No more honorable gentle
m a n ,n. foirar o~rN<c~e~ Nv~~ >n--
out Of Kentucky. 1t has been my
great pleasure to defeat him and to
be defeated by him. He was a gen
'tleman; he loved horses; he loved
their regulations; he was never to
throw mire. Yet neither was he one
to let scandal grow unchecked. He
! honesty-but he would nave had
proof of his charges. He would not
have made them pnfounded. Only the
coward, sir, makes charges not gus
. ceptible to proof. And you are not q
coward; you are simply q h~ot-headed
young man, proud OF the stable he
trains and unwilling to accept de-
feat. But. Mr.. Herman, a gentleman
does not try, to excuse his defeat by
charging dishonesty to his opponent.
unless he is certain! And you-I am
very sorry for this. I am glad that
Mr.. Classon is so generous: 1t ave
us from a most unpleasant duty. In
stead of barring you from the turf
we give you the opportunity to
square yourself. Mr.. Herman. we are
waiting to hear your apology to Mr..
Classon."
I bit my lip; I felt my nails digging
into my palms. For I had not been
mistaken; I had seen O'Toole &c in
to Connors' house and seer him come
out of there: I stared at Classon.
who sat, Slightly smiling, awaiting my
humiliation. For it is humiliation to
apologize through fear. I had been
ia fool. I should not have let the re-
porter know my feelings; I should not
have said anything unless l had ire
ifutable proof. And yet. I was not
ashamed of my ~foolishness. It is not
the Herman way to keep silent about
crookedness because Of what may
happen because Of failure of proof.
1t is not h Herman habit to keep ST.
lent about dishonesty through fear of
the consequences, We Kernans may
lack TACT, but we are neither moral
nor. physical towards, 1 hope. And as
i stared at Classon's smiling coun-
itenance I noticed that his lips were
"a bit too close together. wondered
if the stories that his brokerage
house was but little better than a
bucket-shop could be
true. And an idea came to me. II!
|O'Toole were bribed, surely Connors,
|Classon's trainer, didn't have money
enough to do it. OF course. the two
ring. but still-bets can often be
traced. And it Is racing death to a
starter to be ever suspected Of bet
ting. No, O'Toole must be getting
money from Connors. But who gave
.Connors the money?
t""Mr. Classon," said. may I ask
you a question:"
you may" he said.
You keep books of your stable, OF
course? Account books?"
Certainly
And. a separate checking-account
for all stable expenses"
rOf course" he said coldly.
And another separate Tor
your business Z"
several OF. them.' he answered.
And a personal account-for your
own expenses"
Yes, but why
Then, Mr.. Classon, will you sub
NIT al your check-books to your fell
low stewards
He gIared at me, and his face grew
crimson. What the devil do you
mean? What are you driving at?"
''I.d like to examine those check
esting to note If Mr.. Connors has re-
ceived any large checks recently
which are plainly in excess Of his sal
AIRY or stable expenses. Sufficient, l
might say, to make a starter forget
his duty to the racing association"
It was a long shetland 1t didn't
win! Classon Jumped to his feet:
by God. sir. do you dare instnu-
!.T,no ~ in.fruaxin~ ANYTHING III .