Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-02
A Story by Jonathan Brooks

answering his call with the best burst
to the wire she had thrust her brown
head past Fox's shoulder and was gain
ing with every stride. Young Charlie
half rose in his seat and fairly flung the
little mare along. Five lengths from
home he had her head and head with
Mack Toddles. the two fighting like the
little thoroughbreds they were. A roar
of voices from the grandstand arose to
urge her on, and staccato burst OF
handclapping greeted the game fight she
was making.
The noise and the sight Of the great
masses of people suddenly unnerved the
filly, and she once more left her feet in
a frantic gallop. Mack Toddles stuck
mechanically to his trotting. and went
under the wire a winner. Fox breathed
place melting from his grip. Young
Charlie, overwrought from the nerve
racking drive he had made under such
a tremendous handicap. was, boylike, on
the verge of crying. Sure OF second
place. he pulled the mare down slowly.
while White was bringing Patchen Dill
lon along in plenty of time to beat the
distance flag.
Dismounting after coming back to
the judges stand to salute. Charlie was
warmly welcomed by old Harry Wright.
Boy. yo' sho' en- drive" said the old
boy, this yere iii filly en- sho' trot-
She's got TIL mostest foot All evuh see.
Y'all did tn fastest half and tn fastest
three-qua'tuhs in at ole race. Heah
these yere folks waving an arm gran
diloouently at the crowds. rise up and
roah when YAH come down tn stretch
Wen git 'em next time out"
Charlie slid off the bike and sick at
heart. trudged along beside the darky
up the track and around the turn toward
their barn
Sitting in her box, Elizabeth worried
her curly head whether she should go
out to the stall again to try and COM
fort and cheer the boy She knew she
would be in the way, but she wanted TO
help if she could. Something was
wrong, she felt sure. for Lovely Lady
was not accustomed to break and run
as she had done twice in that heat.
While she was trying to decide what
to do. two men entered the next box
and sat down to talk with a prosper
ous-looking business man seated there.
1t seemed that they were friends OF Gen.
Ouarles, the owner of Mack Tod
dies Elizabeth pricked her ears and
decided to stay where she was
An hour later the colts came out again
for their second mile This time Char
lie decided to force things from the
start. A break by Mack Toddles at the
far turn left the race between Lovely
LADY and Patchen Dillon. The pair
rushed down to the wire only head
anart. and once more the great crowds
rose with a roar to cheer them on.
Charlie suddenly sensed-disaster de,
spite his lead of inches. He tigntened
his grip on the reins and called to the
nIIy in a soothing voice. but ten YARDS
from the wire the excitement proved
her ,,ndoing. Once more she broke into
a trembling, hysterical run. Patcnen
Dillon won the heat, and again young
Charlie had to be content WIN sec IN
Mace Mack Toddles coming in Iair
third The time of the mile was z.ot 2.
II looked to be a forlorn hope for the
Elizabeth Coates was ready to cry
and would have cried in any spot less
public than the Fl. front ad t q, 'h sowneast
Charlie plodding off the track beside
did Harry and the FLY. shaking MS
head in despair. A desire 10 cross
the grounds and see the BOY, 10 Ell,
courage him as best she could. moved
her to leave. But just as she was rls-
ing to make her excuses man came
into the next box and asked for MT.
Rouse She stayed where she was.
keeping an ear open for the talk be-
tween the two men. something was
said about an open bride, ana the
girl sat bolt upright She rose ana
walked hurriedly out Of her box and
made almost as good time getting to
Charles stall as Lovely Lady could
have made herself.
Charlie. oh, Charlie" she cried.
half running. and arriving at the door
of the stall all out of breath. Listen.
Is it too late to win the race?
Hello, girl" the boy replied, look
ing up, with a wan smile. He was
wrapping a foreleg in flannel, to keep
the tendons warm until the next heat.
mo. it isn't too late, but it begins to
look like it's too big job"
"Sho we can still win" spoke up old
Harry, rubbing down the filly's aleav-
ing sides. Them othuh colts got a
two seconds. This yere's three
heat race, an if we win next time
out we win the race. Plains tn nose
on nah facen' he added, chuckling.
Charlie. we've got to win. We've