Evening star., 1925-05-03

son and Garfong, but Col. Trimble
| led the way to the clubhouse. There,
sheltered somewhat from the throngs
| gathering to see the international
| Lryout, Jessamine saw her fortune bal
| anced upon horseflesh.
Twelve colts faced the barrier for
| the mile and half struggle to choose
| Americas representative against
| France and Britain. All of them, save
| only little Bubbling himself. were
| heroes Of more than a single race.
| Three fine colts from the metropeli
| tan tracks, four from the best stables
| of old Maryland, another from chill
| Canada, one from far California, and
| two other Blue Grass prides composed
| tried in racing.
Little Buddy kearns wheeled the
! willing red colt up to face the barrier,
| and Bubbling stood awaiting the boys
| will. They were in the eleventh posi-
| ton out from the inner rail, with only
a single colt, the Californian, outside
| them. The Californian fretted and
danced, impatient to be off. Bubbling
| wondered. in his quiet way, what
could be the matter with his neighbor.
Up few the barrier. Up flung a
dozen colts, lifted and guided by a
! dozen pairs Of skilled hands, and out
they plunged, Bubbling with the rest.
| under Buddy's urging. And then
| calamity. The Californian, wheeling
| just as the barrier sprung, whirled
and smashed hard against Buildings S
| shoulder. The little red colt sprawled
| and scrambled. jerked himself Alright,
and swung the right way Of the track,
| onlys in utter bewilderment, to find
J that Buddy Kearns was gone!
The impact Jared the boy from his
| seat, and Buddy rolled in the dust.
Poor, bewildered Bubbling knew only
| one thing to do in this, his first race.
| He ran. Instinct drove him after
| the field, sweeping in a cloud of dust
along the inner rail. A few jumps
brought him up into the cloud of
| dust and clods. No good. Dirt gets
in the eyes and face. The fence in
side prevented escape from the rain
| ing Jumps of earth Bubbling there
| fore swung outside and galloped on.
But ! don't see Bubbling." ex-
| claimed Jessamine, all excitement in
| the clubhouse.
| ITO bad, too bad, my deah." muir
| INJURED old Col. Trimble. He was
bumped. and the boy lost his seat.
Poor Bubbling. is coming on without
| a rider"
Jessa mine declared triumphantly.
And he's my colt, after ALL"
| She relaxed and, even amid the ex-
! element growing among the crowds
| as the great field came laundering
| down the stretch for the first time,
| began planning more of the friendly,
| quiet rambles she and the little red
| colt had enjoyed. Only an exclama-
| ton from old Col. Trimble recalled
| her attention.
by heaven" cried the old colonel,
1
| min up to the leadahs"'
| He IS, he ISL echoed Jessamine,
| jumping to her feet.
InNCE free of the catapulting clods,
~ and the binding dust, Bubbling
! galloped, freely and easily, down the
middle of the track. Was this a
| game, such as he used to play with
the other colts, back in the fields Of
| Gallatin place? A game wherein
| they circled the fields. inside the
| fences, fighting with each other to
| be first and free OF the heels OF
the others? Or was 1t? Why was
there so much noise? How many
horses could so many people call to
| feed and water?
Turning his head to the right. he
viewed the excited, crowded stands
calmly. The people could not get out
at him, that was certain. The high
white fences protected him. But in.
voluntarily he swung over a little
closer to the racing band along the
inner rail. And on he galloped.
Coming down to the clubhouse turn,
he was up IN fourth position. only
slightly behind the three running
punched on the rail.
| "Bubbling, Bubbling, beat them
screamed Jessamine, thrilling with
pride and forgetting that If he won
| she lost him.
But Bubbling here showed that the
| game was new to him, for instead Of
leaning to the turn, he ran wide into
the track before he saw the curving
| outside fence looming ahead OF him.