Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-30

a respectable position to the fore. the race
was twice around a prescribed course negn-
ming and ending on the home stretcn OF Inc
race track In few seconds they were on the
turf and out of sight for the moment. AS ad-
vised by Tobias at once joined throng OF
SPECTATORS rushing to points OF vantage. WIN
q hundred others sought the water jump the
last Jump before re-entering the race course
Being long of limb and spurred by an excite
ment had never known before, outstripped
the others and placed myself where I COM
manded a perfect view Of the Jump and It's
approach.
How long waited do not know. 1t seemed
hours. Then a stable boy, whose ears were
acute from constant attendance at races, smote
me nightly on the back and shouted in my
ear. Now could hear that matches sound
the beat Of hoofs on firm turf, and over the
crest of a little hill appear the head and shoul-
ders Of a rider.
It was not Tobias and my heart sank. Down
n steep dip they came headlong for the brush
and water. Singly and in pairs they rose and
sailed incredibly landing in their stride and
tearing OF again IN q welter Of color and con-
fusion The jump took its toll, for here TWO
horses went down. Some mischance, some mis-
step or M-considered move by their haf In IT,
The jockeys rolled like balls Of bright silk ana
were barely missed by the following horses, and
the field went on. OF the IL starters, counted
nine at the jump. The two that went down left
only seven in the running, and OF these Alcan-
tara with the fifth. They had to complete the
circuit twice, so rushed to regain my box to
see the finish.
At this Jump Acantara had moved up to
third. position and was running easily. OF the
two horses ahead of him, one was faltering, but
the other had evidently not extended himself
and was running easily under the restraining
hand. Of q smiling and confident rider.
Here I got a good look at both Tobias and
his mount. Tobias was well forward on his
11ie
ender sleeves ballooning out behind him. His
lips were moving-not in prayer, fancy, but In
some strange jockey incarnation. He was tell
ing Alcantara something and the horse was
listening. AS they flashed by saw new Al
cantaTa Gone was the cynic's pose, gone the
bewildered questioning look in the eyes; in
their stead were a fire and will to win that
had TRANSPORTED him. After the jump was
cleared, Tobias sat down to ride AS they van
ished, the STOPPING shoulders were sinking lower
and lower the cramped knees coming higher
and higher and the hands reaching out nearer
and nearer the tossing head.
I returned to my box There was nothing to
do now but to live through the dreadful mo-
mentS until the reappeared. pressed my hand
to my aching eyes. I was dimly conscious Of
some ocular remarks from my companions.
did not have long to wait. On the brow Of
the hill Just before the water jump they ap-
peared for second, and almost even with the
leader saw the lavender and white. Tobias
had moved up! Would he survive the water
jump second time? closed my eyes again.
Then the throng rose as a man, and far of I
heard cheering
TNHE moment of my dreams had come. Down
the stretch they raced, stride for stride, the
rival jockey resorting to whip and spur. Tobias
was so far forward that he could almost whis-
per in the sensitive ears, and his lips were
moving convulsively. On they came. few
scant rods ahead was the finish, and as yet it
was the race for either. Suddenly Alcantara
seemed to gather himself. Tobias raised his
head and shoulders bit and Alcantara pushed
his nose by his rival The horse faltered for
second, and Alcantara swept under the wire
q clean length in the lead
do not recall what happened then, except
that dimly remember clambering out of the
box into a milling crowd. One by one the
horses returned with dropping heads and heav-