The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-04-30
CHAPTER V

{ O1o E16u 1klOOA 4Llo BIoSA1S AOoN' naoaned, 'Land sakes aliveI" Jockey Madden took one look at the num- bers, slid to the ground as Sam went to the mounts head. Plugging et the saddle, the jockey called over his shoulder to Sherry Bond, "You can't say I didn't give your horse a ride" He jerked of the saddle-ran into the enclosure and weighed, threw his tack to his fat valet, and gtalked of to the jockey room.
 Gray Star the winner, by half A nose; Pepper Boy a bang-up eecond - but a nose ahead was as good as e mile ahead, Sherry re- called, and the world paid of only on winners.
 'Take him back to the barn and Nool him out, Sam," she directed, and walked through the gate onto Che lawn.
 'Too bad, Sherry Great race and & good colt, Sherry |. You'd have won if he hadn't stumbled You've got Derby material, Sherry" Friends on the lawn were calling her, but her brain was numb. She wanted to get away - to be quiet; she had heard enough talking from Sam to last for the day.
 Miss Bond?'. A messenger was standing in front of her. \ "YeS?"
 ~secretary's compliments, Miss l Bond, and he says will you please have Pepper Boy taken into the paddock" He spoke the words as an order, not 8 request.
 Taken into the paddock? For Rtat?"
 "Secretary's compliments - for Heliyery to his new owner. He's been claimed"
 1 "ohl" Sherry bit her lip, con- Erolled herself. "Velly well-there goes Pepper Boy - tell the groom 10 take him into the paddock"
 She had lost the race-now she was losing her horse: a colt that had shown superb class-that was worth three or four times the claiming price: $2,5OO. What fool she had been to start him out of bis claSs-to run him with group ~of cheap horses. She might have known some willy trainer would claim him - why, he was 8, stand putin that great drive down the stretch he had showed Derby quality - his first race at that!
 Yes, she was fool! Paul Wharton had warned her - not pnce, but twice, not to run him In c claimer. Good old Paul! If well, if he weren't always beg kdng her to marry him - weren't getting 50 bossy, she might have listened. Paul was right.
 He was right about her marry ing him, too Deep in her heart Sherry realized that she was in love with poul, had always been in love with him. But he had been 50 determined to keep he1 put of racing.
 4 You're silly to spend money on 8 broken-down colt" Paul had warned when she first bought Pepper Boy. But Sherry had met kl1e challenge. Pepper Boys race bad proved she knew horsefesh Sven in her defeat.
 That was all changed now. She had no money. She had lost Pep per Boy. But she still had Paul She would never lose Paul.
 She spied him in the crowds; xw-o~ x,anxyiI,nr fnYro oVsS &hn iV, astratton building. She'd catch him no, and she wouldn't ask him if there were.
 r She turned, went into the pad tHock. Sam was being directed in lwith the blanketed colt at the end 'p6 a halter-rein-a very agitated Sam. Catching sight of the girl Epwner, he broke into complaints:
 q done tol' you so, Miss Sherry fS-we done lost our baby Colt lhit ain't falrl"
 Sherry shrugged her shoulders stood by, helplessly. Then two Esnen came from nowhere - walked 50 the colts head. Each put out En hand toward the halter.
 "I claimed him." said the first lrnan, . hard, pimply- faced and Eetubby fellow of mdidling years In c dusty brown suit and brown fderby.
 A tall husky in a wide-br1mmed lStetson drawled: Not 80 fast ptranger-we got a claim in, too"
 ''Wait a minute, white folks,' gam protested, you can't get this here horse right now" Sam grum- order from the secretary. Any May, which one of you white gen. blmen done claim de colt?"
 The man in the derby glared ap at the trainer in the broad br1mmed hat. "A boys bringing inc the order-be here in 8 min lste."
 ~wen see," the tall one said nnd turned aside.
 ~I.m gonna start coolin' this 6ere horse right now,' Sam grum- bled beligerently, and began Nvalk1ng Pepper Boy in a long btrcle.
 The ptmply-Saced man touched Dis derby-brim. ''You the ex- owner. Miss?"
 Sherry nodded, again biting her 9ps.
 "Sorry, miss, but it's racin' luck h-yes. nnaam, it sure tS Win to- Bay = lost tomorrow. Course, you San claim any of our nags-Same hS we claim yourS."
 She turned her shoulder; he was Nnjoying her distress. TghM 0kl1er man. she saw, was