Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-01-21

~ easy ones. until they approached
the Liverpool" an awe-inspiring leap
to the unframed rider or to a badly
schooled horse.
BricktGp. with the Indifference born
of scores Of former struggles, skinned
it like bird. but Brighteyes would
have none of it. Druid and Harvester
were now on equal terms; and Stan
ley Borden, with quick glance from
the corner of his eye, realized that
Hugh was going to be a formidable
competitor, after all.
He took a fresh grasp of his reins
as both horses approached the Liver
pool" and Hugh did his best 10 steady
his own mount.
The two horses went az the big
jump-a guard-rail. a slx-foot ditch,
and stiff hedge ON the landing side
together. AS one horse they rose, and,
as they landed and raced madly on,
faint sound as of applause from the
crowd came from the clubhouse, three
quarters of a mile away.
The race was now on in earnest.
Bricktop well in the lead. began to
set the pace. while Druid and Har-
Vester fought 1t out together.
10 doubt Stanley Borden was sur
prised to find himself contending with
Hugh.
CHANGING ahead Hugh saw that they
were gaining ra|idly on Bricktop.
Slowly the brown drew away from
the chestnut, until, as they approached
the brook he was leading by a couple
OF lengths. Druid went at the water
fun speed and cleared II splendidly,
but for a moment Hugh feared that
his mount was going to refuse.
Just one little hint with his spurred
Aeel did Hugh give TO the chestnut,
ana he flew into the cir, landing well
in his stride on the other side of the
brook.
The jumping was over. and the run
home, three quarters of a mile in
length, now lay before them.
In one respect, however, Borden had
the advantage. He could punish with
whip and spur and thus force his
mount to use all the speed he pos
sessed. Hugh could only coax the
chestnut by appealing to his courage
and by an occasional hint from his
spur.
But as inch by inch he began to
draw up to Druid, and when at last
the chestnut's nose was on line with
The brown horses girth, he felt his
confidence return to him with a rush,
and he was his own man again. After
that Hugh had only a rather dim idea
of what was taking place.
But it was not until he had turned
and was riding back to the judges
stand that he was assured. by the
cheering Of the spectators. of his vic
tory.
II was Havester's race.
Surely his self-raised bogy of mid
die age had been exercised now for all
time; and he hurried his toilet with
the eagerness of boy in his anxiety
to see Edith Penton.
He found her in the shadow of the
Penton drag, talking to Stanley Bor-
den, who was still dressed in his rae
ing clothes. Borden held out his hard
III earn and sincere congratulation
You rode a wonderful race" he
said.
Edith, too, extended her hand to
Hugh.
u cannot tell you how grateful
am" she cried. at was splendid.
Just to show you how much ] appre-
cate your winning for me, ] am going
TO tell you a secret, hours before any
one else hears tour secret, Stanley's
and mine"
Poor old Hugh.
Things began to blur before him
again as they did in the finish of the
steeplechase.
He heard Edith murmur something
about the engagement being announced
that evening, and somehow he man
aged TO say what was expected Of
him: then he made his exit as best he
could
Hugh did not stay for the festivities
at Penton Lodge that night, but plead
ed an urgent telephone message which
compelled him to hurry back to town.
AS he stood before his mirror late
that evening examining ruefully the
increasing grayness about his temples
he reflected bitterly that the race Is
not always to the swift nor the victory
to the strong
To which wise reflection he added
a stern resolution to ride no more
steeplechases.
SECRET THAT NATURE KEEPS