TIIE OMATEA DAILY BEE: SATURDAY, ACJGI'ST 11, 1900. 9 lSKU.I.UK 1U "lHt BKAVfc." 3-i liy .MARTHA McCL'LLOUl-WILLIAMS. L J Xa Vt. 1j J A !. .! U X J J iji , 1 j .i .t. .1. .i. ...... .i. .1. (Copyright, 1000. by Martha Williams.) McCulloch- Through tho dimness of August dawning tho course at Lorls park showed ltko nn enrthen river, dun and wile, washing jifilnuouRly about a vi'lvct tufted Island 01 lnfleld. Where the straightaway cut through the Inland tho turf was something worn. That was tho highest point of all the course, end thero folk congregated to watch the racers at work. It was a sight so well worth reelng a good few tamo to look, from the city ten miles away, as well as from tho country houses all round about. Tho wholo course Indeed was a show place Its setting up had been the pastime of a man who had a great many millions, along with tho Inclination to rpend them royally. Next to his wlfo anil his honor ho loved a good horse, so you will understand that hi: had rejolocd cxieedlngly to part with one of the millions In making ready for battles royal between tho kings nnd queens of the turf. Tho clubhouse was tho sum and pattern of slmpln yet elegant luxury, tho stand n nilraclo of comfort; more than all, tho free field a boon to tho plain people, who Upon high days nnd holidays parked Its board Boats, happily tincuvlous of folk upon the roach tops, In the boxes or scattered about tho flower-spangled clubhouse lawn, There was stnblo room, free, for 1,000 racers, ulong with training quarters ns liberally planned. The course Indeed waa a village In Itself, bigger and more populous than tho straggling trolley-haunted hamlet Just outsldo ItB gate. The gate opened every mimmtr morning at 3 o'clock, so that such trainers as cared to give their strings slow road work for hardening might send them out and over miles of the broad, hard-bcatcn clay highway. A string, hood id and blanketed, had Just (Midden out, looking like four-footed ghosts In tho gray crepuscular dawn-darkness, ivhon a smart trap rattled along tho village plnjet and swung In with a flourish between tho big stone portals. It was too dark to neo tho horses, but they exhaled u sweaty Kmcll, which told that they had been driven hard. The driver puffed with long, vicious inhalations at a very lino clgur. Ho Bworc between his teeth as a second out-coming hooded string forced him to check nnd pull flhnrply to imu side. Tho oath would have astonished thoso who, knowing him on tho Hurfaco, fancied they knew him all through. They said that Uix llascom, bookmaker, had the austerity of u priest and tho conscience of a pirate. A slim, lank lad, sitting at llascom's elbow, gnve a lltllo distressed cry. "You know It's tho worst ort of luck to swear before breakfast," he said, half hesitatingly, with a llttlo catch under tho words. Das com sworn ngalni this time outrlpht. "It dori't seem llko anything could make my luck worse," ho added. "I wonder If you know Just what I dropped on the Kquus Sat urday? Exactly $15,000 and all becauso or tho Ilrnvo " "I begged you not to lay odds" tho lad began, llascom laughed shortly. "You al ways do that,"' ho said. "If I listened to you In six mouths I'd be " "You havo uet now for u year, ovory time you gavo oddK against Thu Ilrnvo," tho lad said huskily. "I reckoned it nil up Punday ho has lost you over $50,000. I told you at tho vory first ho was your luck" "Tho devil's own luck!" llascom said sav agely. "Yet I can't hato htm, d n him! It's In mo to lovo a Iiomo, an J he's easily ths horso of a generation." Tho brightening east touchol all tho gray and green of thu coursa with suffused rosy. rndlanco. Sparrows were twittering madly nil about, flying In huddled flocks around tho stablo doors, sotting their heads astdo, and quarreling greillly over tholr flotsam of chanco oatB. In tho trees shout tho train ers houses a few venturcsomo robins lot fall now and then a dropping note. The untouched turf was all n. shimmer of beaded clow, Every footmark Bhowed on It a print of vivid green. Thoy wero reasonably plenty, and for tho most part ran In straight lines toward that high upper cornor, where tho straightaway camo In. Tho barrier, of course, was across it. Only when u straight dash Impended was nny training permitted over Its olaatle. loamy breadth. llascom sprang down n hundred yards from the corner, Hung tho rolns to his companion, ttaying: "Put them up, 'Urlosc, then como to mo but bo suro you don't get run over. Ho shot across tho track, dodging In and out of a moving mnio, squeezed himself nlmost Hat against tho rail, and ran until no camo to tho place ho sought. Already It had twonty occupants men. horsey mon of nil sorts and conditions, from tho tout to tho millionaire. Though tho freemasonry or sport for tho tlmo leveled artificial dis tinctions, they wero almost silent too in tent In gazing to wasto tlmo In speech. Tho courso was nllvct. Six hundred rac ers walked or cantorcd or galloped nlong The bays were as largely white-starred and snipped, with even nn occasional skewbald Against their mass as against an Indistin guishable background two unique racers wero thrown Into high relief. Ono wan pigeon-blue, with white mane and tall, tho other that rarest of all thluga, a perfect golden chestnut. Both wero stal lions, 3 years old, nnd magnificently bred. 3ulclmn:i, the pigeon-blue, was grandson to Uend'or, If ho did throw back In color to omc remote Ilarb ancestor. He Flood six teen hands full, a big, slashing, long-striding beast, upheaded nnd full of Arc, yet playful as a kitten. Tho Hravo'n coat was no such puzzle of heredity it came straight from his Hire, St. Maine, nnd was further legitimized by his dam's pedigree on both sides she was Inbred to Lexington, As tall t Suleiman, In action ho appeared half n hand lower. Suleiman ran all above ground. Tho Ilravo had a fashion of lying very close to It when he burnt wind down tho home, stretch. So far the vagaries of a peculiar racing season had kept tho pair apart. Suleiman had mowed down tho west, JUHt as The Hrnvo had conquered tho cast. Both were u f pi lm If hive it in uix! TUB RISK!" DO! THINK OV It, somo swathed In blankets and bandages uomo stripped as If at tho bugle call. Evory trainer stood, timepiece In hand, watching with lntcnso eyes his own partlcula charges. Now and again one sent a long hall nt a boy who rodo too fnst or too slow Now and again also n beckoning ban stopped a string short, waved them nway to quarters, a rub down nnd tho test tho thermometer. Thoro was something uncanny lu the space, thu silence, th movement, above all in tho flies of sheete figures, each with n etnil-human lump crouching upon Its back. It was nmazln to recall that somo of tho lumps wero Jock cys. world-famous, with Incomes n prlnco might envy, Imperious to nil tho world out tide, yet here almost nbject beforo tho slow elleut men, with hard-lined faces, wh -poko shortly when they spoke nt all, and directed affairs In a sort of grotesque panto mime. As morp and moro racers came out fro the rub-down, stripped and shining like satin, tho spectacle brightened. Among the rutin coats there wore blacks a-plenty, the meirst sprinkled of grays, too many dull washy sorrelu, and bays and dark ehes,iiu In platoons, Near half tho sorrels and chestnutu worn whlto stockings all round Suleiman led by near n hundred yards, the dlscocred a great ono the wrongdoer would Urave had decided It was time for dunning. Ho stretched himself, loweied his head and struck Into an easy sweeping, stealing stride that devouted the c urse faster than even Suleiman's Javelin bounds. At the next furlong pole Tho Urave had made up twenty yards. Suleiman heard him coming and lay down to It, swinging Into a killing dead run. Hut run as he? might, Tho Bravo crept up. As they swung n second time Into the stretch tho blue stallion was not twenty yards to the good. Bound tho turn they pay the full penalty of tho law ' I I wanted to pull The Brave out thero on the courso so's to fool you bockles Into laying big odds against htm I know he can win ns he pleases If only I ituld n-kept you from knowln' It, too, I might n-had u chance." Harris wound up miserably, llascom chewed the enit of his cigar a minute, then thrust his hand deep In his pocket. He drew It out full i of thousand dollar bills. "Luck's been I fair this week, Mark," ho said, "so 1 can forged, with still the golden henfl advanc- j spare this lot of plcturs for a good whiu- lng. Through tho outstretcn tnc duel lasted, you take 'em and square things After with no advantage to either of the pair. As , Ward we'll talk of balancing accouuts nhcatcn, and in tho minds of their follow ing unbeatable. In tho books outside and at home Bascom had won on Suleiman a few hundred dollars moro than ho had lost on Tho Brave. They wero to meet In tho Searchlight, Lorls Parft's richest stake. It would bo run upon the very last day of tho protracted summer meeting. So that set full threo Weeks ahead much too far for any thought of final preparation. Still, the ralners of both cracks kept them going overly. Both had raced hard since prlng, neither could afford a letup, nnd oth, It was ccrtnln, would bo tho better for a Hpaco of seml-rctlrcmcnt. It was tho hopo of seeing thera that had brought at least half tho crowd. Before Drlcse, tho lad, had como back It hail swelled to nearly 100. 'Drieso threaded It shrlnklngly, edging around tho burly figures hlch crowded thickest nt Uascom's el bows. Ah the lad moved a whisper run eblnd tho backs of hands: "That's Vaux Andrleso Vaux BaBcom's confidential crlc, you know." When nods had nn- wcred tho whisper another ran back: Wonder It ho couldn't glvo a mighty tralght tip for tho Searchlight? " One man, gray nnd pursy, nnd npple- necked, went bo far ns to pluck nt Drleso's nrm and say, In a carefully uncon- orned voice: "What's the good thing today, Vaux1 e always know there's somcthln' In tho Ind when wo sco you nnd your boss up It It tho lark." llascom turned, frowning henvlly ns he caught tho words: '"Drlcse, I want you! once!" ho said, reaching to clutch nt tho lad's shoulder nnd drnw him In front f himself next tho rail. Thero ho thrust chronometer Into his hand, with a mut tered order, only hnlf uudlblo to tho rest. Still, It sulllced to sot up In them n sharp, pricking expectance. Whcro a horse or his preparation woh concerned, they bo- oved supremely In Bascom. Ho liad been for half an hour watching tho courso and especially tho year's equlno gladl- tors ho must bo suro something of mo ment hung In tho wind, thus to leave his own eyes frco for watching. Suleiman and The Brave had come hack from tho rub down. Both had been warmed up very gradually, walking first, then can torine, then set In a brushing gallop, nnd endlnr with half a mile- on the dead run Tho Brave's trainer scowled a little as he went to the chestnut's head and ran his hand down tho clean swolling throat. AI through ho was a hundred yards off, Bas com. through his glass, noted the scowl Ho wondered a little- at It. Tho trainer, Mark Harris, was n genial fellow, commonly n love with himself and life and things. Bascom had no time to Bpeculato over the scowl. Harris spoke shortly nnd with cm nhasls to tho Jockey, who leaned from tho saddle to hear, held up his nana as mougn In wnrnlne. then waved the lad on. The ockcv looked over his shoulder. Suleiman was coming perhaps twenty yards behind. In shook his reins and whistled very low. notautly Tho Bravo began to move, not In whirlwind fashion, but with slow, easy strides. Sulclmnn passed him In a rush ami ran bucking nnd ramping ahead. Suleiman had tho family temper, and something In tho rubdown had not been to his mind. Why, Sulcy 'II spread-caglo that fellow!" ho puroy man said, complacently. "I tell ou, gentlemen, my money goes on the hiuo horse, no matter nt what odds." Better wall and see tho finish," a sec ond man said, good-humoredly. A third, n newcomer, tall and llorld and smiling under cavernous slouch hat, nodded nsecnt. That's good advice," ho said. "I've como ton miles this mornln' a-purposo to ec-o Tho Bravo. Ho's a sort of old acqualntanco of mine bred In Kentucky, you know, where I llvo. In fact, I know the man who bred him nnd saw tho colt tho day after ho was foaled. It's as much on account of Major Thompson ns myself that I camo this morning. Ho charged me tho last thing beforo I left, 'Bo sure you bring mo a true account of that colt.' " "You'vo seen him In a race?" the pursy man said, tentatively. Tho other man shook his head. "No, worso luck to me," he said. "I'd like to seo him In the Searchlight, but that's out of tho question. Still. I think If they let him run truo this morning I shall bo able to pick tho Searchlight winner." "Then you'vo seen Suleiman run?" from tho pursy man. Tho Kentucklan nodded "Twlco!" he said: "Won a couple o' thoU' sand ovor him In tho Lakeside derby. Qreat horse Btlll, unless tho other's changed a heap slnco I saw him in tho pasture, I've a notion hos Just a bit better." Thero la comity among trainers. As soon as It was seen tho big racers were nut for a trial tho bulk of the hones drew to the outer half of tho course. Thus the Inner half wag free as for a race. The men nt the cor- uer, slowly wheeling glasses to eyea, could seo nil the way round. At first It was tnmo enough. Suleiman ran like a mad horse, fighting for his head, savaging his pace maker and buck-Jumping every threo stride, but under doublo wraps, no tho paco was slow. In splto of the slowness Tho Brave hung still fifty yards back. Now and again ho tumed his head, whickering faintly to his stall-roato a yard behind. Impatient murmurs rose nmong tho watchers: "Why don't they let 'em at each other?" the pursy man said. Bascom laughed u hard laugh. "That would never do never In tho world," ho said. "Tho main use of trials Is to show what a horse can't do. If he was up against the other fellow they might show what ho couid." "Hold still! You'll see something It yoti wait long enough!" tho Kentucklan sang out cheerily. Tho horses were In the straight beforo tho stand, a little more than half a mile from the stnrt. Tho paco waB quicken ing sensibly. Suleiman no longer ran zig zag. Ho was settling Into a long leaping stride, high and freo and open as the day. "Jove! He's fencing all the way," one man said. Another nodded sagely, "That's his way," he said. "I believe ho hates the ground. Ho always runs as far from It as ho can " "Ho gets thero Just tho same." the pursy man said exultantly. "Talk to mo about your Brave. Look at him now!" "Ho Is worth seeing," Bascom said, smil ing tranquilly. The Kentucklan laughed aloud, At the third quarter polo, though they swung and squared away for home they were nlmost lockel. The watcher held their breath. No need to look at watches. They knew they wero seeing tho best race ever run on the courso. Who would win? Suleiman wns tireless. Still The Bravo came on, moving llko n shadow In High!. They were halt through tho last quarter, The Brave's noso at Sulei man's throatlach. Both Jockeys crouched far forward. Neither dared go to the whip. Thoro was no need of it indeed. Each stallion knew ho ran ngalnst a rival, not n pacemaker, nnd was mad, with n consum ing mndncss, to come In first. Suddenly Mark Harris ran down tho courso shouting wildly. Nixon on Tho Bravo nt once pulled tip, leaving Suleiman to gallop home ulonc. There was a rustic of resentment among tho watchers. "A d d shame! That's what I call It," the pursy man said. "I'm satlBiled," tho Kentucklan answered. with Sharp and nil the rest. When Bascom got homo lata that night n yellow envelope lay on his desk, lnsldu thero wns a slnglo line: "Drothor lu con dition to be brought cast coming via Chicago." There was neither date nor signature, but Bascom understood, ana smiled. Ho pulled forward a calendar nnd marked off fifteen days on It. "I don't know whether the lime Is too long ot too Hhort," ho said to hlmsolf. "Anyway I havo got tho cards In my hand, nnd out certainly going to play the game through." I. oris park was at its best upon Its last day of summer racing. Thu flowers on the lawns had never been so brilliant, the turf so green nnd velvety, tho throng In stand nnd elubhouso quite so distinguished, nor that In the free field quite bo overflowing with puro Jollity nnd delight In sport. Tho day had been clear and whlto hot, r 73 OF THE BULLDOG IN HIM." sloners for mysterious pair s out of town tho best of tho ruck In second place nnd bond kisrs her nnd says It was the fancy who picked him winner said ,The Brave absolutely lnst. Then. Indeed. the popular voice. The talent to n man pandemonium reigned. Yells, cries, curses, pinned Its hopes and risked Its Searchlight hisses rent tho nlr. Sharp, ten yards money on Tho Brave. uway from llascom, was dazed, his face And how they cheered him when ho came! white, drawn and aged. "I have no ex Last of all, looking finer than silk, fitter , cuse to offer. " ho said to thoso about him. than he had ever looked, sweet-tempered j "The herse was lit to run for a man's life, as n lamb, not even snatching on tho bit, ' u is only that ho will not stny." but caracoling nlong ns though keeping "Thnt I what I thought. Ho Is too time to the wildly ringing shouts! Bascom handsome to have anything of tho bull oven drew n hard breath ns he listened. dog in him: 1 laid accordingly," llascom 'Drieso shut his eyes tight n second, nnd tsald, with tho nccent of respectful sym- let his head droop so. Bascom touched his pathy, as he moved away. "Hi: IS TOO HANDSOME TO HAVE ANYTHING "It wuh worth twlco tho trouble of coming to say nothing of the talo I shall tell tho major. O, but he'll bo a proud man after tho Searchlight. His fear had been always that Tho Bravo couldn't stay. All the colt's wins, you know, havo been at n mile nnd under. Ho hasn't got Lexington nnd Longfellow blood for nothing. After today I Bhan't fear to bet on him In nny com pany. Ho'll win 'from eend to cend.' " "Blood docs tell," Bascom said almost affably. Tho Kentucklan laughed ub ho answered: "Sometimes." Then, after a llttlo pause, he ran on: "Yes sometimes. But thero has got to bo something cIbc You'll hardly bellove It, but Tho Bravo has got a blood-brother, Just his own age, nnd as llko him ns two peas lu tho pod, who can run over anything ns long ns ho stays In front, but quits like a cur tho minute ho Is collared, or even finds another hoi so close behind." Aro you suro of his breeding?" Bnscom asked. '1 ought to la I bred him myself. Same Blre, and dams full sisters." tho Kentucklan said with n grimace. "And I thought I had n world-beater until tho brute camo 2 years old. Money wouldn't havo bought him ns a yearling. I was glad to give him to n fellow who was going up In Ohio. Of courso I couldn't let him stay In Kentucky there we havo no use for quitters and cowards." You should havo shot blm," Bascom said, with a laugh. "That Is tho proper ending for tho story, which renlly has Interested mo very much. Tho Ilravo has been n sort uf hoodoo for me nil this season, but 1 shall havo to forgive him, after this morning. I ngreo with you, ho wlnB on his courage." Bascom did not speak on tho way home. Andrleso drove, with hands so tremulous the horses nfter a while becamo skittish. When, for the third time, they began to dance, threatening to upset the trap, Bas com Bnntchcd tho reins. Still, he kept silence until he was alone with Andrlete In his own apartments. Ho had sat at his desk for ten minutes, running down the columns of tho stud book. As ho looked up from It ho said, with a leaping smile hato sending you on such an errand, 'Drlcse you have un Inconvenient nmount of con sclonco still but there Is nobody clo daro trust In auch u matter." 'Drieso got very white. "I hnvo no con science except for you," ho said. "You know that. I saw your plan in your eyes whtlo that man was talking. (llvo It up, Uix! Do! Think ot tho risk!" "I llvo for risks," Bascom said, shutting his llpa hard. "They are the only things worth living for almost. Still, I think I might satisfy my cravings with onu big, overwhelming risk a risk that has honor and cuso and profit on ono Bide and on tho other the blackness of darkness. That Is why I nm bo set on this adventure. Help me carry It through. I glvo you my word, If It Is a success, and I don't see how It can fall, we shall be able to chuck up tho ring nnd we will. I will take away with mo to some far country" "Don't," 'Drieso enld, putting n hand over his eyes. "Uix, you don't need to bribe me. even with promises. Only tell me what I nm to do." Bascom told, speaking low and rapidly, and tit tho end thrusting Into 'Drleso's hand a huge roll of money. When It was safely stowed nway Bascom ran on: "Start tit once, by tho fastest train, and telegraph tho minute you llnd out anything. Hero nro tho names horse nnd owner I only hope tho horso has not been tin own out of train ing. If ho has, we must wait but this Is tho golden time. Wo shall never havo such another chance. Mark Harris Is In trouble. What the trouble is I shall know before to morrow nlcht." 9$ to ( It was n trouble common enough nnd sor did euough. Harris, n rich owner's thrlco trusted employe, had dropped f 10.000 of money riot his own In tho effort to bent the books by an Infallible system. I'nless ho could make good the stable's bank balanco within tho next fortnight there would bo the cxposuro which meant ruin. Sharp, tho ownor. prided himself upon paying bo well the men be paid must remain honest. Therefore, ho wns pitiless to the least fault In them, It was ccrtnln that it be ns befits August s farewell, but toward o'clock n dcltcnto mottled white cloud dimmed without chilling tho Btreamlne sunshine. Thero was baroly wind enough to flutter tho flags upon their staffs ana to rufllo the dusty leaves upon the trees around tho courso. Hero or thero, In convenient forks and crotches, adventurous lads sat snug. From their clevatlpn they had oven a sort of pity for tho folk In tho stand nnd olubhouse. No doubt It wns fine to sit thore but not to comparo with this perch upon swaying boughs, whcro nil the happenings ot tho park were In plain and proper sight. Tho flno pcoplo could see no moro than the start and tho finish. Tho troe-hauntcrs watched everything with avid eyes, and heard nil tho gossip of track nnd Btnblcs, with eager cars. It was retailed liberally directly under. neath them. Trainers' houses nro cen ters of insldo turf knowledge. Today thero wns ono overwhelming topic, com mon alike to training quarters, club house, paddock, Btand nnd freo field Bascom's foolish laying against Tho Bravo. Not withstanding ho was odds-on In all tho other books, Bascom wrote him 5 to 4. Ah a consequence ho was nearly swampod by the rush of layers. Ho would havo been quite swamped but that he had taken the precaution from the beginning to lay only on tho event of the Searchlight. "Tho fellow's mad, qulto mad," com mented tho pursy man, as ho pocketed a Blip made out for $1,000. I'lenty of others thought nr.d said tho samo thing, but as tho supposed madman had tho namo of being shrewdly far-sighted, nnd, further, had money to burn, thoy also mado tholr wagers, and did not niako them small Bascom smiled nt them, us he gavo out the Blips. Ho was not writing himself, neither wns 'Drieso. Ho had half a dozen clerks and cveu then thero was waiting. Ho stood a llttlo stooped nnd spoko now and then In whlBpors to young Vaux. "No more bets after tho call to post, mean to sco this race If I never bco an nlhnr ' tin shnllfnil. n lln hennl ttlfi Rad dling bell. Tho mob of bettors answered fffK with n howl. A follow uooumaner auouiea j across: "Say, Bascom, you're mighty good all nt once, throwing nway your money to keep tho rest of us from losing. But you needn't expect ub to pass round tho hat for you. If n man goes broke with his eyes open, ho deserves what ho gets." Sometimes," BaBcom said, composedly. Drieso turned white. "Oct awny nt once. Oo outsldo. Your face tells tales," Bas com said, pushing tho lad almost roughly away. 'Drieso went laggardly, lifeless and with hanging head. Ho was nlways pale. Now the pallor was a sort of lvorln tint moro ghastly than death. Hn crept to tho lawn's farthest edge und flung him self nt length upon the grass, prosslng both hands hard over his uyes before he opened their dark-fringed lids. Ho lay there, outwardly quiet, full of riotous tremors, until UaBcora stopped and touched him on tho shoulder. "Stand up!" ho said, Imperatively. "Watch them go byl Wo must get out of this everything that Is In It. It Is something to hear how the crowd will cheer for Tho Brave." He spoko very low, and ended with a faint chuckle. 'Drieso rose, staggering n little, clutched tho lawn fenco and hung a llttlo over It. Ulppllug huzzas heralded the ad vanclng racers. Cp and down for a full quarter of u mile tho courso was thronged on either side. You might havo walked tho dlstanco upon human heads and every head was set hard toward tho dun eurthun river, Eleven horses camo along It. Suleiman and Tho Bravo ought to huve made the Held smaller, but thero was tho glorious un eertalnly of tho sport to save owners and trainers from being frightened out. So black and bay nnd gray and chestnut, sorrels In a variety, nnd ovon a dappled gray, camo mincing nnd prancing on, necks arched. coats shining gllddcry-smooth, with Jockeys all In tire-new cblors as gorgeous as a tulip bed In April bloom. Tho cheering roso and fell Irregularly until Sucllraan swept In view then It rose shrill und ear-piercing, with nn undernoto of drtlunce Suleiman had gone back In the books to threes. At that thero were big bctB on him bets made by truth cotumla- hanging hand and Bald lu n fierce whisper: "D n you! Brace up! Don't you, won't you see, it's tor you 1 nm doing this? I want to quit to make nn end, nnd a good end, to this wretched mnsquerade of ours." 'Drieso stood up, a flicker ot lambaut red In either check. "I I havo not com plained," ho said. "No! that's the worst of It." Baacom rotortcd, still In a whis per: "You forget, though I wns a gen tlcmon once. It hasn't been pleasant for me sending my wife about, to crush with tho ring." "Hush! For heaven's sake, hush: 'Drieso said, gasping faintly. Baacom glued his cyo to his glass, watching tin start. He saw Mark Hnrris nt Tho Brave s head saw Nixon lean down, nnd mentally heard Harris' last orders: "Keep lu front tho first mile, wnlt through tho half, then como home, leading nil you can." There wero three brenknwnys. In each The Brave led. Bascom smiled ns ho saw It: "The game's working benutlfully," he said In 'Drlcse's car. 'Drlcse had a glass, too, nnd mado bellove to look. It Is a question, though, If tho deep-sot, dark frlngcd eyes took any Intelligent noto ot what they taw. "At last I" Bascom said, dropping hir glass with n long, deep breath. It was a ragged start, but fair enougii, wun miici man lying n llttlo back, Tho Brao in front and tho others well bunched townrd the middle of the course. Fresh shouta went up as Tho Brave shot ahead, opening a gap between himself nnd nil contenders, running stroug nnd free, nnu closer man over to his mother earth. "Ho Is tho Antncus of racing." n pedant said to his elbow neighbor watching the golden head flash further and further fot- ward. The neighbor grunted. 110 wns noi used to mix mythology with hlH Bport. Ho had como out for a good tlmo which meant ho was there for the ilollciou thrill born of Bcolng n horso como first ana knowing that It meant money In the pocket. But Baacom, who overheard tno peuani. smiled comprehension, nnd said over his shoulder: "You ought not to Bay that, It you havo bet on Tho Bravo, uomcmbot Antaeus had his Hercules!" A cry mado him look at 'Drieso, whos eyes now did not lcavo tho racers. Tho first mllo was run, and still Tho Bravo whs In front, going llko a whirlwind, nnd two lcnethfl to tho good. Nixon hold him hard, but still ho ran, his matchless steal ing strides defying vision. iiaBcom s neari gavo n great bound nt tho Bight. "God! Suppose nfter nil, ho Is not u coward!" ho whispered hollowly In 'Drleso's car. Ho looke d ngaln. Still Tho Bravo ran. 110 wns half through tho outstretch upon this, tho excess dlstnnce. Ho had but to run on for flvo furlongs moro nnd Bascom would bo ruined beyond nil hopo. Could Nixon bo playing false? Could the Kentucklan? but no! No man in his senses would have parted with such n beast except for ludublt ablo cause. Tho man thought ho spoko truth. If Bascom hod bolloved him to his own undoing tho fault lay wholly with himself. Only hnlf n mile now. nnd still The Bravo led gallantly. He had never stridden to strongly, so swiftly, with such ease, might and grace. Tho hushed throng watcnea wun bated breath ns ho swept tho ttnit-mne post, swung and squared for the last quarter be foro tho run home. Suleiman lor well back. Thero were three horses betwixt him and The Bravo At tho polo his Jockey stood up, shook his reins, drew his whip and drove homo the spurs. Then began a horso race to Btlr tho blood. Like a lance well hurled Suleiman went forward, collared his horses and leaped nfter The Bravo. A llttlo quavering cry, the rattlo of suspended breath told that the course noted. It swelled to u roar, honrso and wild as the rush of Icy seas, In tho next half minute. For ns ho caught tho thunder of Suleiman's hoofs behind Tho Bravo slackened, shortened stride, shut up like n Jacknlfe. Suleiman locked him, passed him ran clear by two lengths, Nixon piled steel and catgut, but nil In vain. There upon what had promised to bo his field ot triumph ho showed himself n quitter of tho worst. Nobody believed oven their own eyes until Suleiman dashed ovor tho line, with Bascom went to l'arls on tho strength of that thrlro lucky stroke. Ho lives thero In quiet elegance only his namo Is not llascom now. His wife Is slim, with no beauty, but a pair of big. dark eyes. Occasionally a look of frightened melan choly erctp.4 into them mid then her bus- Don t bo frightened. 'Dries- I prom Ised you never to go Inside u murv gulo ngaln and I shall keep my wrrd " Lorls park, of course, has forgotten Has com nnd most of his works, but If yo.i happen to lounge there abbut trnt'iltiic quarters, through nn off day or ix dull ono, tho chnnces nro that some veteran will toll you the other side of this story and finish with. "And sure as you live, the very next morning they found Tho Brave, poor fellow, dead In his stall. The vet said heart disease, but wo all had our opinion. Sharp, he's a hard man, mighty hard, and ho wanted to win that Sennh llght tho very worst way. Funny thing though. Is The Bravo has got n brother soniowhero out west and somo of tho gamest youngstet). In training nro his sons nnd daughter though folks say ho was n quitter, too. ' IN SUMMER. Sunburn, Chafmp Insect Bites, Hurm, ltchinp, Scratches, Sprains. StilTiicss of Joint. Fatigue ami Inflamed Eves ate cured by the use of Pond's Extract Used Intcriiitlly and Externally CAVTIOS! Hcfuae he M-e.ifc, watery Witch Jlnxel preparation represented to f-e "f hennio.i" i'O.Yll'S HXTKACT, which easily sour nail ieaeratty contain "woml alcohol," (identity jioi.ion. POXli'S EXTRACT isoUl OST,V la SKALVD liottleM, enclosed in buff wrapper. I'ONIVS I.XTKACT CO., ) t-iftii Alt., N, Y. 3?a..rr Nt4M "A FAIR FACE MAY PROVE A FOUL BAR GAIN." MARRY A PLAIN GIRL IF SHE USES SAPOLIO TOURS IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS. VIA THE Denver & Rio Grande RAILROAD. IN CONNECTION WITH Special Excursions to Colorado and Utah Special excursion tickotB to Denver, Colorado Springa, Pueblo and Glcnwood Springs, Colorado, Bait Lake City and Ogden, Utah, will bo on sale via. All lines from Omaha and all Missouri rlrer points and points west, Aucust 7 and 21 and Peptomber 4 and 18 at a rats of One Fare pi $2.00 Forthe Round Trip Stop-over will be allowed on these tickots at points west of Denver, Colo rado Springs aud Pueblo, on the going trip within limit of thirty days. The Dentcr & Rio Grande Railroad "The Scenic Line of the World," Will ninki very low rnton for tho round trip from Denver, Colorado Hnrlncs anil I'liehlo to nil principal resorts und scenic points of Intrroxt lu Colorado and to Salt I.uku City, rtah. For fri'i illustrated pamphlets nnd Information reRnrdlng routes nnd rates cull at our city ticket olllce, 17th nnd Stout Streets, Denver, Coliitado, or ud drosH S. K. HOOPER, (J. P. &T. A., Denver, Colo. THE PARIS EXPOSITION FOR AMERICAN REA DERS The Bee has made special arrangements to supply its readers with tho now famous to m (n to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to t to to to to to to to Parisian Dream City which Is an actual ruproductlon of the treatett of all the World's Hxpooltloos, now In progress In Paris, France. It consists of 20 elegant portfolio., oach contalnlriK not less than 16 original half-tones, printed on the finest quality ot heavy coated plate paper, 12x14 Inches In alze. Tho full nerloa will embrace about 350 of thcio superb original half tone reproductions, caob representing a separate nnd distinct view of the Kxpoaltton grounds, buildings, exhibits, and all the wonders of this vaot collection ot ths world's greatest accomplishments In art, literature, Ingenuity and Indus try, Each flew Is accompanied by a graphic and beautifully expressed description, written on the spot by the dlatln guloiied author, poet and artist, Jose de Ollvaree. These descriptions are a feature of special significance, and value, dlfforlng altogether from the usual pro forma foot-notes accompanying works of this character. All of the 350 superb half-tone views to bo prlntod In tho PAHIHIAN DKBAM CITY aro direct reproduction. Iron the original photographs ot Mauris liar, the omclal photographer of tho French Government, and of tbe distinguished Neurdeln Brothers, of Paris, the most celebrated art photorraphers of Furope. They mbraco not only a COMPLETE nKPRODUCTION OF TUB EXPOSITION FOR SPECIAL AMKHK'AN CIRCULATION, but they also Include about 1 very fine and accurate special views of tbe Art Galleries of the Exposition Famous Paintings and Statuary a,,d me Royal German Collection l.onncd by the Emptror from the ' Royal Palaces It German Empire " 1 1 ii i mAyiily Special American Edition & Parisian Dream City S In fhn rrnnnt it ii ft ft ii Ui 0 ii Hi t tt w t U & vi it tt. ii iO ti vi vi vi vi vi 0 and they cannot bo obtalnod through nny othor nourco. Tbo work Is Introduced to American renders by Frederic Mayer, Editor of the French Official Organ of tho Expedi tion, accompanied by an Introductory Statement from Hon. Ferdinand W. Peclc, Commlssloner-Rcnerttl .' - l'nltil States Government. The circulation of this magnificent Sprclal American Edition Is confined In this locality exclusively readers of The Bee. Tho regular price Is 25 centK per weekly part, but by special arrangement with tho Ameri j i publish ers we aro enabled to nupply It to our reader freo. with a merely nominal feo of 10 cents per part to lover rout of handling. Hevcn parts aro now ready, nnd will bo forwarded postpaid to any address on receipt of 10 cents each, ac companied by the coupon printed else. hero In this puper. it) vi ii ii M Vi li v r. sr. c: sr. sr. m c. sr. er; c er: sr. sr. cr: sr. 5r. ttr, r. sr. er. er: r. c. r cr. r. f . tr. sr; sr. f i