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

ing TANKS. They were stripped and the jockeys
and their kit again weighed. 1 sought out
Alcantara. He stood proudly in the surging
crowd with head erect, nostrils distended and
eyes cleaning. All at once found myself be-
side him.
I threw my arm over his neck and heard the
whirr and click of countless cameras. Some one
appeared with an immense floral horseshoe and
laid it on Alcantaras neck; again the cameras
clicked and whirred Tobias joined me.
wrung his hand. Word failed me. stable boy
my stable boy, complete stranger to me, as
sisted Tobias, and Alcantara was shrouded in
an enormous cooler and led away.
It was over. The hour of my dream had
come and passed. Again confronted bat
terry of cameras, this time holding an ornate
piece of plate 1 sought the stable Tobias was
in no mood to talk. I told him to come to me
in the evening, and with my wildly jubilant
companions 1 motored home. We were recog-
nized at every turn and cheers and shouts Of
congratulation greeted us everywhere. I was
in a daze The whole thing seemed unreal
everything but the memory of the face of
my business partner, of which I caught a
momentary glimpse as posed with the silver
pitcher. It was not a pleasant face to re-
member.
We dined sumptuously at the club and I in
sisted on paying for everything. This was my
night, I explained and besides, the committee
would be sending me stable check in the
morning. After dinner fastened home to
meet Tobias I half expected to find him there
on my return. He had not come, so sent out
for all the evening papers, particularly those
more devoted to the gentle art of horse racing.
I read every word of them all. In every one
/ saw my picture. In some of the photographs
held the pitcher, but in most of them had
my arm caressingly around Alcantara's neck.
None of the pictures, thought, did justice to
either Alcantara or myself, and my smile
seemed peculiarly silly and fatuous.
finished the papers, and still Tobias failed
to appear. After an hour or two resorted to
the telephone could not find him at any
of the places thought he might frequent on
this memorable evening. The race track failed
to respond, the training quarters knew naught
Of Tobias or the horse.
With aching head went to bed and passed
a night Of troubled dreams. was up early and
breakfasted alone. The morning papers gave
me some solace. But 1t all seemed cold and
perfunctory now.
The doorben rang in the distance, and was
brought letter and tiny bundle. The letter
proved to be a laconic communication from
Tobias In the briefeSt manner was told that,
a few hours after our triumph, Alcantara had
passed out of this world Of turmoil and trou-
BILE. Heart strain in the race-that was all;
1t was not uncommon. Tobias would see me
soon, but in the meantime he had sent me q
memento of Alcantara. opened the bundle
and found dainty racing shoe scarcely
scratched by use.
sat Tor a moment stunned py the uneS-
pected news; then determined to be up and
doing dashed to the race track. Tobias was
not there; nor was Alcantara. made inquiries,
only to learn that Tobias and the horse had
departed for an undesignated destination.
spent the day following fruitless clews
I DECLINED an invitation to a congratulatory
dinner to be given that night by friends, and
spent the evening in the solitude Of my library
in thoughtful mood. I reviewed with care all
the incidents of my association with Tobias. I
recalled one detail that had forgotten. Before