Evening star., 1923-06-24

HrSI cAreSS Oh MS Wrlnkleu nAnu ana
the responsive nudge of her velvet
muzzle against his shoulder in the
seclusfon of a box car. The man had
no other interest in life; no other
hope; no other love. All his years
he had lived with horses. feeding
them. rubbing them, blanketing them.
fondling them-but this was the first
he had ever owned,
Now, il came to pass that in the
/ Y classic Nursery Stakes, fifteen
two-year-olds lined up at the barrier
for their maiden scramble, and Polly
Oliver, ridden by Bubbles" Jackson,
sixteen and chocolate-hued, came
home in front at 20 to 1. Six lengths
behind was Lantana, the very same
half-sister so zealously hidden away
by Black" Murdoch. Subsequent
workouts left little doubt that Polly
oliver, under the handling of Jimmy
Whiskers, was destined to prove a
better horse than the one retained
by Murdoch.
All these things and a few others
were in the mind OF the Information
Kid. That night he broached the
subject to Henry the Rat
Did 1t strike you there was any
thing queer about that fire. Henry"
For once Henry was disposed to
think that something was actually
on the square. 81 understand they
was shooting craps in the Waterford
feed room and some guy knocked a
lamp into the hay"
"I don't mean that" the Kid told
him. What I'm getting at is this:
Seems like they had plenty of time
to get all the horses out of the Bal
timore stables. didn't they?"
"They did get 'em out said Henry.
"all except Polly oliver, and she
don't belong to the string. / guess
they forgot about her. Dunlap was
away"
"All right" said the Kid. here's
a little medicine for your bum ear
and don't you spill it,
Shoot said Henry.
The Information Kid unpealed his
hunch. Jimmy Whiskers was
away" he reminded. "and Polly Oil
yer, the baby that showed up all the
Ryan youngsters, was temporarily
in a stall under the same roof. Re-
member, Henry, what Murdoch said
that time when old Jimmy was boast
ing how his Ally run her half-sister
deaf, dumb and blind?"
"I get you; he made a crack about
Polly running her next race in the
morgue if he had his way about it.
I never saw a guy SO sore"
That's il. boy; and now he says
he burned his hands trying to get
her out"
"Whoops," scoffed the Rat. "He
probably burned his hands tying her
in, Now that I think of it, the filly
was in the last stall this way and
they had all the time in the world
TO get her"
The Information Kid nodded
drowsily. Right" he confirmed Il
know now why Murdock beat it SO
quick The f1lly was murdered. That's
muh diamond special, gents-take it or
leave it,
Pretty good tip at that" acknowl-
edged Henry. What you going to
do about it,
Nothing" said the Kid, "and you
do the same see? Just stick it in the
old hat band and don't let the wind
play no tricks /
For several days the Information
Kid forgot all about old Jimmy
Whiskers and the latter's bereave-
ment. The matter was recalled to
mind in a way that fixed itself per-
manently in his imagination.
Space was at a premium. but there
was an empty stall in the Sheridan
Barns, where the owner of Polly
oliver was now working as a groom |
The Information Kid. on his eter-
nal quest for knowledge, came upon
this gap in the ranks of horsefiesh
The feedbox had been recently re-
plenished and fresh bucket of water
was placed just outside. New blan-
kets hung over the half door and
on the wall there was new halter
ornamented by a faded bow of gray
and lavender.
Around the corner of the barn came !
Dunlap, quiet and unobtrusive as
usual.
"H'lo, Jimmy" the Kid greeted. |
What belongs in here?"
The old man turned placid eyes
upon the hustler.
That's my STALL
your stall? You got another |
horse?'
Nope, never will own but one. |
guess. She's good enough for me,
Kid: good enough for old Jimmy"
He disappeared into an adjoining
stall, and elucked persuasively to a
black gelding. The Information Kid
stared blankly a moment, and then
went in search of Steve Borrell, who
trained for Sheridan.
Say" he demanded whats the
idea of old Jimmy Whiskers renting |
that empty stall?'
Eorrell spread his hands deprecat-
ingly. I'm just humoring him. He's |
a good man around horses, and most |
swipes are cuckoo about something |
or other. He's keeping Polly Oliver |
alive in his memory, and paying for
it out of his wages. It's either that |
or the long black box for the old fool. |
L figure it will wear off. Who do you |!
like in the handicap"
I'm giving Captain Adams on his |
works. He's been getting bad rides. |
If they switch to a good boy this |
afternoon, look out"
Borrell nodded and moved away.
WELL" unused the Information Kid, |
"pll tell the cock-eyed world a race
track is a funny place. Think Of a |
guy paying out his wages on an |
empty stall, and fitting it out with |
food and water for a horse that's |
dead. Pitfui says THAT'S the word, |
gents-pitiful!"
TN the succeeding days the Informa-
i ton Kid alone espoused the cause |