New Britain herald., 1924-04-19
powers." |"

powers.
 There was an air of uneastnsss hanging over the betting ring at the Fair Grounds track as the horsss -galloped to the starting post in the fourth race. The air was sur charged with expectancy. Jndges, always alert and watching for signs Of dishonesty, stared at the horses and received frequent bulletins from the betting ring. Bookmakers, fear full of sudden attack by betting commissioners backing a certain horse, held thsir chalk and erasers ready for rapid use. Bettors. hear ing vague whispers of something doing" asked each other excitedly what was being played. Yet every thing in the betting ring, paddock. and stand seemed tranquil. The betting was light. Attorney Jackson was favorite at seven to five. Patsy Frewen the second choice at two to one, the others at odds of from four to twenty. with Mildred Rogers ranging from fifteen to twenty to one and only a few scattered bets registered on her. Yet from a score of cities all over America came frantic telegrams to gamblers, bookies. and owners. asking for track odds and inquiring the mean ing of the terrific plunging on Mill dred Rogers. Big Jim Long, using the efficient organization of the company was betting the remain- ing funds of the concern. More than fifty thousand was bet in Chi- cago. thirty thousand in Louisville. twenty thousand in Cincinnati, then twelve thousand or more in other cities in which the Long Investment Company had offices.
 There was a last minute plunge on Mildred Rogers at St. Louis by gamblers who had heard the news from outside, and the odds dropped quickly from fifteen to four to one.
 As he frightened the girth for the last time, Hardshell Gaines whis- pered to Pete. his jockey:
 Take toe holt and . tooth holt. Pete. Joe'li git you of a-runnin'. and got a pill in him that'd blow up a bank. It's timed to TO o6 about the half-mile if you aint too long at the post All you got to do fig sit still and hold on."
 Running. he went to the book of his friend and wagered two dollars that sword of Gideon would win. He was stil hummins when he went down to the rail to watch the horses start and the hymn he hummed was, "Oh. for thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer's praise"
 Out by the barrier a perspirinK starter was beseechinE swearing, threatening, and scolding, while a row of horses milled and maneu- vered for position. In the midst of the melee of milling horses, Joe, the assistant starter, buggy whip in one hand, sweated and swore as he appeared 10 be striving to make Sword of Gideon line up with the other horses. Out of the corner of his eye Joe watched the starter for the telltals movement which re- vealed the second that the starter would spring the barrier.
 When that movement came Joe held the bridie bit of Sword of Gideon, and before the barrier flashed he threw the horses head around, leaped aside, and sla.hed him sharply across the ouarters with the whip.
 Sword Of Gideon, stung Into for- getfulness of fear, leaped forward. The barrier flashed past his nose and he leaped into full stride. two full lengths in the lead of the field before the others were under way.
 Big Jim Long, his fiorid face mottied, hurled his chewed cigar against the ground and swors yiciously Sword Of Gideon, run- ming like a wild horse, opened up a gap of eight lengths between him- self and the nearest pursuer in the first eighth Of mile. Tn vain At- torney Jsckson's jockey, remember ing his instructions. spurred and urged his mount, striving 10 catch the flying leader and set the pace. Al the half Attorney Jackson drop ped back. beaten and out of it. Mii- dred Rogers rider. seeing the con- spiracy going wrong. made a des- perate effor5 to overtake the flying Sword. The nitrosiycerins pellet had acted and the aged horse was running as he had run when he seemed destined to he champion. Length by length he increased his lead over the staggering, wabbiing fold, and tore down the stretch fif- teen lengths ahead of Patsy Frewen.
 Big Jim Long, his heavy jaws sagging. his face mottled red and white. his big. soft hands cienched, watched until inc horses were with in few yards of the finish. Then he turned and walked rapidly across through the edge Of the betting ring toward the exit. At the back of the betting ring he met HardshsII Gaines moving toward the paddock to greet the victorious Sword of Gideon. Big Jim's pent up wrath exploded.
 "you--and your blank bianked spawned hound!" he ragged. You blsnked old fool. If 1t hadn't been for you"
 Hardshell Gaines looked straight ahead. unseeing. unhearing. and az he walked past the furious gambler he hummed contentedly; and even Big Jim recognizes the long metre doxologv.