Evening star., 1923-06-24

happened the night OF the fire. | was
in a theater. and 1 got right up and
come out. But l missed the night
train and, had to lay over. Now. I'm
telling you-kid-some day. she's GO
ing to find her way home. and that's
why I'm keeping the stall always
ready"
The Information Kids eyes soft
ened. He laid a consoling hand on
the others shoulder. That's right,
Jimmy-keep the old head up. says 1.
That's muh rule of life. pal-keep the
| old head up. And IL you got a good
hunch-ride it. bo, ride it,
Jimmy Whiskers retained his empty
stall and patiently awaited the time
when Polly Oliver should rise miracu-
lously from the mass of scorched flesh
and bones long since buried in Mexi-
can soil.
Getaway day came. marking an
other dispersal for the tribe of the
whip and spurs. Some stables were
moving south to Mexico City, others
to Tia Juana, but the majority looked
northward to winter quarters on
home soil. The Sheridan string was
scheduled to campaign at New Or
leans.
Going to follow the stable, Jim
my?" questioned the Information Kid.
The old man acquiesced duly.
Guess I'll have to. son. Mr.. Borrell
is going to save me a stall. He's
pretty nice. Kid; pretty nice"
still buying feed for Polly oliver.
Jimmy? Still figure she'll show up?"
nun 10 h Too 70 cd
were misty and his face was down
cast. 1t was going to be hard for
Jimmy Whiskers to keep up the fic-
tion once he had turned his back on
the spot where he had last seen his
beloved f1lly alive.
Distance don't mean nothing to a
stake horse" the Kid comforted.
She could come to New Orleans just
as well as anywhere. Jimmy"
Think so, Kid? Some times / feel
at night that if 1 was to get up and
just walk. and walk, and walk until
L couldn't go any farther-Polly
would come the balance of the way
to meet me-
Jimmy's auditor deemed it advisable
to say:
Don't do nothing like that. Just
work nice and pretty for the Sheri-
dan outfit and stick close to Pollys
stall at nights so you won't miss her
when she comes looking for you, see?
I'll hunt you up when we get to New
Orleans"
But, when the new arrivals were
settled in the park outside the Cres-
cent city, fate ordained that the
Sheridan stables should directly ad-
join the Baltimore Ryan quarters,
and that Black Murdoch should learn
from the lips of Steve Borrell about
Jimmy Whiskers and the vacant stall
that was reserved for Polly oliver.
THE old fool" said Murdoch. 7
saw the filly burn up. with my own
eyes. Got the scars yet from trying
to get her out. wouldn't encourage
nut like that. Steve. No telling
, what he's liable to do. l wouldn't
trust him around my horses If he
says Polly Oliver to me. I'll crown
him"
Borrell pursed his lips thoughtfulIy.
"You may be right at that" he ad-
mitted The old man seems to be
getting worse. Guess I'd better let
him go before he starts something
But Sheridan's trainer was spared
the necessity of dismissing Jimmy
Whiskers. From a stall just back of
where the two men had been stand
ing Polly's owner had overheard the
conversation. The next day he vol.
unfairly moved his belongings to a
barn at the extreme end Of the
grounds, and thereafter Stunned
human intercourse as much as pos
sible. The Information Kid learned
the reason for this move, and ex-
pressed his sentiments concerning
Murdoch in three languages, English,
Mexican and profane.
Don't you mind that guy. old
timer" he said to Dunlap! He's just
afraid Polly will come back and beat
Lantana,"
She'll do it. too" said Jimmy.
whiskers kid. something tells me
I'm pretty near to Polly-pretty near
the end of the trail. Kid