Evening star., 1922-07-09
By Jonathan Brooks
4 Story Of a Horse Race in the -Hoosier State

hte earNe1tne8S to win. write VIA
ter foaMed toward the wire, boiling
over With oslatsd speed. He couiu not
do better than fourth.
Then somethtnS happened. The fool
Wsa1iag Balls swervsl to the right
again just before reachinE the wire.
Brown, suddenly arouss1. swung his
weight On the right rein and 5erksd
Rsmeo or kis stride aaa out Of
harms way He threw the horse int
a bad break, and Romeo went under
the wire op the. run. CBrien, after
q short, sharp tussle On the lines.
rishtsd wedding Bells and kept the
horse on lhe pace. wedding 1eias
was . nose ahsad OF Expresssnan.
wAich in turn VA . note in front of
White Winter. Ire time gas 21sk,
better than the hrst heat.
A 8 the four drew back to the judges
~ stand to salute. Brown was curs-
ing O'Brien, and the sheriff was all
apology. Apparently not liking the
prospect Of facing Brown and Ed
wards, he started for the stairs lead
ing up to the judges loft after con-
signing Wedding Bells to old Sour
mash. Brown and Edwards, thorough
oughly angry and smelling a mouse,
trailed after him. Not q word was
said until all three were in the loft.
Judge" said the sheriff, addressing
the Judge Of the finish. that horse
Of mine is blind on the left side"
80 you told me before" answered
the judge. Does he make just one
jump to the right in every heat?"
There was 4 note of sarcasm in hir
voice. Before o'Brien could answe'
Brown shesidered his way to the
front ana demanded: What l want
to know. sub. is: Does he always
jump right thsah at tn finish?'
This a stekalchase, or what:" ask
I'd Edwards.
Now, sentiemen. gentlemen" said
the Judge. II think we can get this
littls matter straikhtened out. Mr..
O'Brien, you're not claiming any
rights because Browns hoss went un-
der the wire running, are you?"
'sWhy," said o'Brien. II told you my
horse was blind on the left side.
He"
yes, remember you did" the judge
interrupted. You told me three
times. think You forced Browns
hoss to break. Now we'll just place
Brown and his Romeo-"
Wait = minute, Judge" came a
voice from the stairway. A dusty.
dirty little mAa wearing a soft hat
ana an air Of Importance joined the
group.
what il H7'
brewn snd Edwards eyed the new
conner in wonder, but O'Brien seemed
wholly at saie.
'pver On the back stretch a minute
ago 1 was inside the rail. l heard
this fHlio~"--indfeatink Brown-"say
to this man here"--fnotioninE a thumb
at o'Bften---" Take back there. can't
yuhr That was all 1 heard, because
tAsy wsrs Eoin' 30 tAst they were out
Of reach before he said anything back.
I thought I'd better tell yuh."
''It IL q good tAihk you did," the
judge replied. Turning to the other
judges, he said: "Yoa hear what this
Judge Of the track saya Now well
see whether we've got hoss race or
a hippodrome Goin' on here He
TURNED to the horssMen. Were you
betting on your hoss to win that
heat- 10 demanded of Brown, who
flushed.
'tSuhtathly. auA," Brewh replied.
Were you!' Ne asked o'Drien.
Not a nickel on that HEAT" the
sheriff answered, truthtuils enough.
Then" said the judks. turning to
face the other judges again, well
just place O'Brien's hoss hrst and
shove Brown and his ROMEO back to
second place. And. gentlemen" this
to the horsemen, IF I see any more
of this hippodroming or anything that
looks like it I'll fine you $500 apiece
and bar your hosses. wen have =
little racing now. That's ALL"
AS well areue with \ mule hs with
racing judge. He ID iMmovaote.
The three horstmen took their way
down the steep little stairway. none
saying . word until they had crossed
the track and were near the exit
sats. g.
II you're as good a sheriff al you
are" began Brown.
Now, now" ana o'Brisn. in depre.
eating tone, started to defend himseif.
what want 10 know" demanded
Edwards In q strong staSs whisper.
rs what tn devil you're up to. Are
you tryin' to throw this whole racs?"
As they turned through the kats
a toward the barns they stopped
for an instant, and 4 small crowd
gathered. eager TO hear what the trip
to the judges stand meant. The three
stood. embarrassed. in the center OF
. little circle Of raiibirds. Then
o'Brien, with an ability te meet
emergencies that NAV have been born
Of his political experience. said:
III you Ssntlemen wish to look over
the horse. I'll be glad to show him to
you right now. But, you understand.
I'm not saying I'll ssll him."
50 saying. he pushed his way throush
the crowd, ana the others followed
toward his stable. A few Of the hAAS.
srs-on followed. but none Of them
could enter the stable, A. O'Brisn,
after holding open the door for the
other two horsemen. closed It behind
them. Persons lingering near the
door during the next Ave minutes
might have heard deal Of low.
toned. earnsst conversation, with IN
excitsd falsetto voice cutting fire.
ouAntly into thA dihounaion JuSt bN.
fore the door swung open again 1t
might have been noted that the fall
setto had calmed down. 1t belonged