THE OMAHA DAILY BEE SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 1902.
horoughbrecjs.
By W. A. FRASCR
Aolhor f "The Outcast," ''MMitt" and Other Slorle.
(CoHyrtght, la, by McClure, Phillips Co.)
ty-s. Porter, reading a book on the
Cftnda, heard the crunch of wheels at
buggy, slow-moving, turned Into the drive.
Bbe raised her eyes leisurely, the matter ot
the story still In her mind, but with a quick
cry of "John!" sbe sprang to her feet, the
volume, left to Itself, rustling from her lap
to the floor.
The mother eyes saw that something was
wrong and the mother heart felt that some
svll had come to Allls.
Mrs. Porter had gone white In an Instant.
Over her hung heavy at all times the dread
of some terrible accldedt coming to Allls
through the horses.
"Did jrou call, wife?" Porter esked, as he
eme to the door. Then he sprang quickly
across the veranda at sight of bis wife's
blanched face and reached out to catch her
In his arms. But she stopped him, pointing
down the drive. "It's Allls, John; oh, mr
God!" .
"No, no," he answered, "they're Just com
ing backhere, sit down again, I'll see,"
sod he raced down the steps, just as Mike
pulled up.
"What's the matter, girl?" he began.
"The rouna glntleraan's aot a bit shook !
up. slr-nothln' bsd lolke," Mike broke in,!
hastily. The diplomatic rider, "not bad," I
was added for Mrs. Porter's benefit; his 1
quick eye having seen her white-face. -
"Miss Allis's not hurt at all," be contin
ued. "We'll help the young glntleman In,
an' I'd best go for the docther, I'm think
In'." . '
Even as he wss speaking tbey helped Mor
timer from the rig. He bad not uttered a
sound; his teeth were set hard against the
agony that was In his side and the queer
dizziness that was over him left little be
yond a consciousness that he was being .
looked after and that if he couyi only keep i
iou., .vr . Ju.i ... - ..... .
a. wuu.u vreuwj ...uwcu w .... . ,
ina; was wmi ne wamea, no iu uruw.j.
As he went up the steps between two men
a haggard face peered at htm over the rail.
It was familiar; he felt some recognition
pas due, for It was a lady'a face. He tried
to smile.- Then he was on bed, and and
sleep at last.
When the three men, with the silence of
disaster over them, passed strugglingly Into
the house Mrs. Porter threw herself on Allls'
neck and a passion of teara flooded down
and damped the girl's shoulder.
"God be thanked, God be thanked!"
gasped the troubled woman, and one hand
that was over the girl's ahoulder patted her
with erratlo rapidity. Then she interrupted
I herself. "What am I saying? it's wicked,
-J and Mr. Mortimer like that. But I can't
lhelp It I can't help It. Oh, Allls, my
" neart wss in mv mourn: 1 leei inai soma
i day you will come home like this."
At that Instant Oaynor dashed by them,
leaped Into the. buggy and called, aa he
drove off: "I'll have the docther In a Jiffy
th' young man's all right!" He was still
talking aa the whirr of swlft-rushlng wheels
.smothered out his voice, and the dust rose
like a steam cloud, almost blotting htm
from the landscape.
"Oh, gtrll I thought you'd been killed." 1
"Here, alt down, mother you're all
worked up," and Allls put a eool hand on
her mother's hot forehead.
But the shock to her feelings had loosed
the good woman's vocabulary. At all times
mouldered in her heart a hatred ot racing,
even of the horses.
"It's the anger of God," Mrs. Porter de
nounced, .vehemently. "This gambling and
racing Is contrary to His law. Never
night passes, Allls, that I do not pray to
God that be may open your father's eyes
to ths sin. of racing. No good can come
of it no good has ever come of It nothing
but disaster and trouble;. In a day the sub
stance of a year Is wasted. There can't
be prosperity living In sin."
"Hush, mother," crooned Allls, softly.
This outburst from Mrs. Porter startled
ths girl; It waa so passionate, so vehement.
When they had talked of racing In the horns
life the mother had nearly always pre
erved a reproachful alienee; her attitude
was understood and respected.
"I must speak, girl," she said again;
"ibis sinful life Is crushing me. ' Do you
jthlnk I feel no shame when I alt in meeting
find hear our good minister denounce
Wambling and racing? I can feel his eyes
Of me, and I cannot ralae my voice In
protest, for do I not countenance It. My
people were all church people." she con
tinued, almost apologetically, "tolerating
no sin In ths household. Living In stn there
can be no hope for eternal life."
"I know, mother," soothed the girl; "1
know Just how you feel, but we can't de
jert father. He doc not look upon It as a
islu, as tarrying any dishonor; he may be
bested, but he cheats no man. It can t
Bfc.so sinful If there la no evil Intent. And
listen, mother, no matter what anybody
may aay, even the minister, Ve must both
tick to father. If he chooses to race horses
all his life."
"Ah, sweetheart!" John Porter cried oat
In a pleased voice, as he came to them
"looking after mother; that'a right. Cynthia
lias helped me Ox up Mortimer. He'll be all
right as soon as Mike gets back with Rath
bone. I think we'd better have a cup of
tea these horses are trytDg on the nerves,
aren't tbey, little woman?" and be nestle!
tls wife's head against his side. "How did
it happen, Allls? Did Mortimer slip into
Dlablo's box or"
"It wss all over that rascally boy, Bhandy
Diablo was Just paying him back tor his 111-
trcatmsnt and I went In to rescue him and
Mortimer risked bia life to save mine."
"He was plucky, eh, girl?"
"He fought the black like a hero, father
But, father, you must never think bad of
Lunne again it he hadn't come and
fought the black Mr. Mortimer would have
been too late."
"It's drsadful. dreadful," moaned the
mother. . ,
, Allls shot al quick look at hsr tathsr, and
ne changed the subject ana eommepcea tain
log about Alan (pondering where he was
and other irrelevant matters.
Then there was freth dlvertlsement, as
Mike rattled up, and Doctor fUlhbone. who
was ot a great alxe, bustled la to where
Mortimer lay.
Three suashed ribs and a broken arm wss
h'e Inventory ot the damage ImMcted by
v Pblo's kick, when he came out again with
Jl'orter, in an hour. '
tt'Tm afraid one ot the splintered riba Is
tickling his lung, though." he added, "but
the fellow has got such a good nerve that I
hardly discovered this unpleasant fact. He'll
be all right, however; he'a young and
healthy as a peach. Good nursing Is the
Idea, and he11 get that here, of course. He
daaln I k,nt murh mAriiMn that mm lfin
Xfor cur enemies Ha, ha!" and hs laughed
f keerlly, as if It were all a good Joke en the
natierd man.
f "Thlm docthera Is cold-bloodtd dlvlls."
was Mike's comment. "You'd a thought
they'd beea throwin" dice an It was a hor.e
on the other glntleman. Bot' t'umbs! it
was, too, Still If ould Sawbones had been
In the box yonder wit' Diablo he wouldn't
felt so ttinnj."
1 1
"Mortimer behaved well, didn't he, Mike?'
asked Porter.
"Behaved well. Is It? He was like a live
divll; punched thlm two big stallions till
tbey took wster an' backed out. My word!
whin flrst I see him come to the stable wit'
Miss Allls, thinks I, here's wan av thlm
city chumps; he made me tired. An' whin
he talked about Lausanne's knees, m'anlng
his hocks, I had to hide me head In a
grain bag. But If you'd seen htm handle
that fork, bastln' the black, you'd, thought
It was single sticks he was it, wit' t'ou
sand. dollars fer a kock out."
"One can't always tell how a coat will
shape, can they, Mike?" epoke Porter; for
Mlka'a fanciful description- was almost
bringing a smile to Mrs. Porter's troubled
face.
"You can't, sor; an' yer next the truf
there. I've seen a herrln' gutted weed av
a I-yesr-old I remlmber wan now, he was
a Lexington. - It was at Saratoga, an' bot'
t'umbs! he just made hacks av Iverythlng
in soight spread-eagled his field. Te
wouldn't give a two dollar fer him, an' he
come out an cleaned up the Troy stake.
like the great horse that be was."
"And you think Mortimer has turned out
?n'thing like that, eh, Mike?"
"Well, fer a man that knows no more av
horses than I know av the strology av
,Ur n hot w"' n " tne d'
truf.'
Mortimer's gallant act had roused the
Irishman's admiration. He would have done
as much himself, but that would have been
expected of a horseman, constantly encoun
terlng danger; that an office man, a man
to be pitied in his Ignorance, should have
fearlessly entered the stall with the tight
Ing stallions, wss quite a different matter,
Even Allls, with her more highly devel
oped sense of character analysatlon, felt
something of the same Influence. She had
Meded ioB uch m,ntfestJLtlon" of Mortl.
integral force, and this had come
wUh intensity In the tragic box-
. .. ..... -v.. of th. iMi
originated no polished rhetoric; the gen
erally pedantic Mortimer's declamation had
been unconventional In the extreme. "Back,
you devils!" he had rendered with explosive
fierceness, oblivious of everything but that
he must ssve the girl. The words still rang
In the ears of Allls, and also the echo of
i'her own cry when In peril, "Mortimer!"
There must have been a foreshadowing la
her soul of the man's reliability, though
she knew It not.
Even without the doctor's orders. It was
patent that Mortimer must remain at Ring
wood for a tew days.
It waa as If Philip Crane, playing with
all his Intense subtlety, had met his mas
ter In fste; the grim arbiter of man's wsys
had pushed forward a chessman to occupy
& ccrt&Is zqu.tc en ths bord for tiu,
Mortimer had been most decisively
smashed up, but his Immense physique had
wonderful recuperative powera. The bone
aetting and the attendant fever were dis
counted by his vitality, and, his progress
toward recovery was marvelous. . - -
' CHAPTER t.'3 V
Crane heard ot the accident on one of
his visits to Brookfleld a- oouplo ot days
later, and ot course must needs hurry, to
Rlngwood to see his employe. ' It hap
pened that Rev. Dolman graced the Porter
home with his presence the tame evening
that Crane was there.
Naturally the. paramount subject of ln
terest waa the narrow escspe of Miss Allls;
but the Individuality of discussion gradually
merged Into a crusade against racing, led
by the sealoua clergyman. John Porter
viewed thia trend with no little trepida
tion ot feeling.
It waa Mrs. Porter who precipitated mat
ters, by piously attributing Allis's escspo
to Providence.
"Undoubtedly, undoubtedly!" Mr. Dol
man said, putting the points of his lingers
together In front of his lean chest. He
paused a moment, and Porter groaned In
wardly; he knew that attitude. The fin
gers were rapiers, stilettos; presently their
owner would thrust, with cutting phrase
proving that they were all Indeed very
bad lot. Perhaps John Porter would have
resented this angrily, had he not felt that
that the reverend Inquisitor was really
honeat In his beliefs, albeit Intolerably
narrow In his conclusions.
Dolman broke the . temporary silence
"But we ahouldn't tempt Providence by
worshipping false Images. Love of an I
mals Is commendable" he emphasised
this sight concession "but race horses al
ways appeal to ma as Instruments of the
evil one."
"It wasn't ths horse's fault, at all, Mr.
Dolman," Allls Interposed, "but just a de
praved human's. It was the boy, Shandy'
fault."
"I wasn t thinking or one horse, con
tlnued the minister, airily; "I meant race
horses In general."
"I think Mr. Dolman Is right." Mrs. Por
tsr, ventured, hesitatingly. "It's flying In
the fsce of Providence tor a gig to go
amongst those race horses."
"Bad-tempered men ij them vicious,
mother," Allls said; "and I believe that
Shandy's punishment was the visitation of
Providence, It there waa any."
Ksv. Dolman's face took on an austere
look. It was an Insult to the Divine powera
to assert that they had tsken ths part of
racs horse. But he turned the point to his
own ends. "It's quite wrong to abuse the
noble animal, and that's one reason why
hold that racing la contrary to the Creator'
intentions, quite apart from the evil effect
It haa on morale."
"Are all men Immoral who race, Mr. Dol
man?" John Porter asked. His question
forced Dolman to define his position. Por
ter alwaya liked things simplified; racln
waa either wrong In principle or right
Dolman found hla rather a difficult man to
tackle. He had this Irritating way of brush
ing aside generalisation and forcing the
speaker to get back to first principles.
The reverend gentleman proceeded cautl
ously. "I should hsrdly csre to go so tar as
that to maks tbs rule absolute; a vrry
strong man might escspe contamination,
perhaps."
- Mrs. Porter slghsr audibly. Ths minister
was weakening almost lamentably giving
tsr husband a loophole to escape.
"I hardly think racing quite aa bad as It
la generally eupposed to be," Interposed
Crane, feeling that Porter was being pil
loried somewhat. He received a reproachful
look from Mrs. Porter for his palna.
"I have never seen any good some of It,"
retorted Delman. "A Christian man must
feel that hs is encouraging gambling It hs
coununancta racing, for they coutsad that
without betting racing la impossible."
"Everything in life la pretty much ot a
gamble," Porter drawled, lastly ; "there
srec t aay sure things, Ths ships that go
to sa, the farmer's crops everything Is
more or less a matter ot chance. It a man
goes straight hs has a fairly easy time with
his corsclence, no matter what he'a at, but
It he doesn't, well, he'd better go hungry.'
"A great many vrry honorable men are
racing tcday," added Crane; "men who have
built up large fortune through ktoaest deal-
Ing and wouldn't be racing If they felt that
It was either unchristian or dishonorable."
"They can't be Christians If the counte
nance gambling," asserted the minister
oggedly.
It occurred to Mortimer that whenever the
discussion took broader lines. Dolman drew
It back Intw the narrow cell of his own con
viction!. Porter scratched his head perplexedly.
They had been discussing the moral Influ
ence of racing; tbls seemed more like
theology.
"It Is certainly unchristian," commented
Mrs. Porter, severely.
"I haven't aeen much Christian spirit In
ny business," said Porter, quietly; "they
11 seem more a matter of written agree
ments. In fact there's more done on honor
in racing than In any of the business
gambles. A man that's crooked In rsclng Is
sure to come to grief In the long run."
Crane shifted In his chair and Dolman
coughed deprecatlngly.
"For my part," continued Porter, "I've
never found it necessary to do anything I'm
ashamed of In racing."
His wife saw an opening. "But, John,
dear, you were treated moat shamefully last
year a dishonest boy hauled your horse"
"Pulled, mother," Interposed Allls;
pulled father's horse, you mean."
"Perhaps; though I fall to see where the
difference can be. If the horse ran the other
way, and your father lost."
Porter smiled indulgently. "The boy whs
punished, Helen," he said. "Dishonesty Is
not tolerated on the race course."
"Yes, but something Is always happening,"
"ON LAUZANNE SPED AND TO
' a Rnxn OF DELIGHT."
ahe continued In lament. "It's contrary to
the law of the church, John. It seems Just
like a visitation ot Divine wrath the way
things happen. And you're so sanguine,
John; laat year you were going to win big
race with Diablo, when he threw his leg."
"Threw a splint, mother," prompted Allls.
"I thought your father said It. was his leg
had something the matter with It," argued
Mrs. Porter.
"The splint was on his leg, mother dear."
"Well, I'm not familiar with race phrases,
must say, though I ahould be, goodness
knows I hear little elae. . And talk of cru
elty to animals," she turned to Mr; Dolman;
"they burned the poor beast's leg with hot
irons
Th minister held up his hands in horror.
"It didn't give him as much pain as the
doctor gave Mr. Mortimer In setting his
arm," declared Allls.
"But It was racing injured the horse's
leg," Interposed Dolman.
But your horse haa got a ringbone, Mr.
Dolman," said Allls, "and a apavln, too
I've been looking at blm. That'a becauss
you drive him too fast on hard roads. And
his feet are contracted from neglect In
shoeing. It's Just cruel the way that poor
horse has been neglected. Race horses ars
much better taken care ot."
Allls' sudden onslaught switched Mr.
Dolman from the aggressive to the . de
fensive with celerity.
"I confess I know very . little about
horse," he waa forced to apologize; then,
with something of asperity, "the spiritual
welfare of my congregation takes up ny
entire time."
This rebuke caused a momentary silence
end Dolman, turning to Mortimer, said:
"I hope you don't approve ot racing, air."
Mortimer didn't, but a look from Allls'
eyee Inexplicably enough caused 'him to
hedge very considerably In hla reply.
"I know nothing about the race course,"
he aald, "but from what I sse of the thor
oughbreds I believe a man would have to
be of very low order If their noble natures
did not appeal to him. I think that cour
age, and honesty, and gentleness they all
seem to hav It must always have a good
Influence. Why, sir," he continued, with
a touch ot excitement, "I think a man
would be ashamed to feel that be was mak
ing himselt lowsr than ths horses hs had
to do with."
Allls looked grateful. Even Porter turned
half about In his chair and gated with a
touch of wonderment at the battered young
man who had aubstltutsd common sense
for sophistical reasoning.
Ths reverend gentleman frowned. "If
not the horses at all," he said, "it's the
men who. are disreputable."
Mra. Porter gave a little warning cough.
In his tealousness Mr. Dolmsn might anger
her husband; then his logtc would avail
little.
"The men are like the . horses," com
mented Porter; "soms bad and aoms good.
They . average about the eama aa they do
In anything elss, mostly good. I -think. Of
course, when you get a bad one he stands
out, and everybody sees him."
"And sometimes horses and men, too, I
suppose get a bad name when they don t
deserve It." added Allls. "Everybody ssys
Lauzanne Is bad, but I know he's not." -
"That waa a caae of thla dreadful dis
honesty," ssld Mrs. Porter, speaking
hsstily. Shs turned In an explanatory way
to Crane. , "Tou know, Mr. Crane, last
summer a rascally man sold my husband a
crooked horse Now, John, what sre you
laughing at?" for her husband was shaking
In hla chair.
"I was wondering what a crooksd horss
would look like." hs snswsred, and there
were sobs in his voice.
"Why, John, when you brought him horns
you ssld hs was crooked."
As usual Allls ttrslghtened mstters out:
"It was ths msn who was crooksd.. Mother
mesne Lauzanne," ahe continued.
"Yes," proceeded the good wemsn. "a Mr.
Langdon, I remember now. treated my hus
band moat shamefully over this horse."
Crane winced. He would have preferred
thumbscrews Just then.
"John is honest himself," went -on Mrs.
Porter, "sad he believes other men; and
this horse had aoms drug giveo him to makd
alna look nice, so that my husband would,
buy tlm."
"Shameful," protested Dolman. "Are
men allowed to give horses drugs?" Heap
pealed to Mr. Porter.
"No; the racing law la very strict on that
point."
"But evidently It Is done," contended
Dolmsn.
"I think there's very little uis ot It," said
Porter.
The turn of the conversation made Crane
feel very uneasy.
"Do you think, Mr. Porter," he naked,
"that there waa anything of that sort over
Lausanne? Do you think Langdon would?"
he hesitated.
"Mr. Langdon has a tolerable Idea ot
what I think," anawered Porter. "I
shouldn't trust that man too much I I
were you. He's got cunning enough,
though, to run straight with a man like
yourself, who haa a horse or two in his
stable, and doesn't go In for betting very
heavily."
"I know very little about htm," protest
ed Crane; "and, as you ssy, be will prob
ably act quite straightforward with me, at
least."
"Yes," continued Porter, halt wearily, ae
though he wished to finish ths dlstssteful
discussion, "there are black sheep In rac
ing as there are In everything else. My
own opinion Is that the most of the talk
we hear , about crooked racing Is simply
talk. At least nine of ten racea are hon
estly run the best horse wins. I would
rather cut off my right hand than steal a
race, and yet last summer It wss satd that
I had pulled Lucretla."
"I never heard ot that, John," cried Mra.
THE RHYTHM OF HIS BIO, HEAVING
Porter In astonishment.
. "No, you didn't," drily answered her hus
band. Allls smiled; she had settled that part ot
It with her father at th time.
. "If you'll excuse me," began Crane, rising.
"I think Mr. Mortimer Is getting tired. I
believe I'll Jog back to Brookfleld."
Reluctantly the Reverend Dolman rose,
too.' He felt, somehow1, that the atmos
phere ot racing had smothered his expostu
lationthat he had made little headway.
The lntenae honesty that was John Porter's
shielded htm about almost as perfectly aa
a higher form of belief might have done.
But with almost a worldly cunning It
Occurred to the clergyman that he could
turn the drawn battle Into a victory for
the church; and aa they atood for a mlnuto
In the gentle buatle ot leave-taking, he
aald:. '
"The ever-continuing fight that I carry
on against the various forms ot gambling
must necessarily take on at times almost a
personal aspoct" he was addressing Mr.
Porter, ostsnslbly "but In reality It Is not
quite so.. I think I understand your posi
tion, Mr. Porter, and and what aball I
aay? personally feel that the wlckedneas
of racing doesn't appeal to you as a great
contamination; you withstand it, but you
will forgive me ssylng so thousands have
not the same strength of character."
Porter made a deprecating gesture, but
Dolman proceeded. "What I was going to
say Is that you possibly realise this your
self. You have acted ao wisely, with what
I would call Christian forethought. In plao
Ing your son Alsn In a different walk of
life, and" he turned with a grave bow In
Crane' direction "and In good hands,
too."
"Hi mother wished It," Porter said,
Imply.
"Yes. John was vary good about Alan's
future," th mother concurred, "but. hus
band, you quits' agrsed that It waa much I
batter for Alan to be In the bank than
poeslbly drifting Into association with
well, auch dishonorable men aa thla Mr.
Langdon and his friends. He 1 So much
better off," she continued, "with yourfg
men such a Mr. Crane would hav about
him."
The Rev. Dolman smiled meekly, but It
wss In triumph. Hs hsd called attention
to an act which epoke far louder than Mr.
Porter's disclaiming words.
Porter waa not at all deceived by the
minister; In fact he rather admired th
other' cleverness In beating him on the
post. He gsve a little laugh aa hs said:
"I should not have aucceeded very well
In a bank. I am more at home with the
horses than I am with figures, but I ex
pect I would have gone fairly straight and
hope the boy will do the earns. I fancy
one' ot the great troubles about banking
Is to keep the men honest the temptation
of handling a, much money being great.
They seem to have more chancea to steal
than men on the race course."
As usual, Porter seemed to be speaking
out of his thoughts and without malice
no one took offense. It. was simply
strslghtforward answer to Dolman's chargs.
Porter hsd simply summed up the whole
business In very small nutshell that
there waa temptation everywhere and that
honest men and thieves were to be found
on race courses. In banks, in every busi
ness, but that. Ilk horses, a fair ehsre of
them were honest.
"Speaking materially of rao horses,
quits outsids of th moral aspect," said
Crsne ss hs was taking bis lesve, "you'll
have to be mighty careful ot that Diablo,
Mr. Porter, when Mlt A1U is about. Ha
seems vlndtctlv bruts."
"Yes. John, "you'll have te sell him
right away; I'll be frightened to death
while be' about th place."
"I shall never be a bit afraid of him."
remonstrated Allls. Bhandy, who mad all
the mischief, hss been discharged."
"Diablo hat always been mor trouble
thsn hs' worth." said Porter. "I thought
hs was going to be a good horse, but ha
isn't, and If b has Uksn t eating people
I'll give him away cme day. I wouldn't
sell him as a good horse and nobody'd buy
a man eater."
"I'll buy hiss when you make up your
mind, Mr. Porter." exclaimed Crsns, some
what eagerly. "I hav nobody sweet
enough to tempt hU appetite. In the mean
time. Miss Allls, tf I were you I should
keep away from blm."
Then presently, with good nights and
parting words of warning about Diablo, the
guests were gone, and Mortimer, having
declined Porter's proffered help, was some
what awkwardly having but one good
hand preparing to retire in Alan's room.
His mind worked somewhat faster than
his Angers; several new problems hsd been
given to it to labor over within the com
pass ot a single moon. That horse racing
should ever become a disturbing Interest
In his lite bsd seemed very Improbable;
now It wss like a gale la his soul It
swayed him. He was storm-tossed In the
disturbing element he could come to no
satisfactory conclusion. On the one hand,
the thoroughbred h or see were to be ad
mired, they were brave and true creatures
of love. Also Porter wss an honest man,
the one thing he .dmlred above all else.
And Miss Allls! Somehow or other his
eyes flew up to a picture that rested on
msntelplece In the room. He took It down,
looking furtively over his shoulder as he
did so, and, taking It close under the Ismp
that was on the table, sat and gated stead
fastly Into the girlish face.
Even In the photograph, the big, won
drous eyes seemed to say, "What of wrong.
If we are not wrong?" That was the at
mosphere; so thoroughly straightforward
and honeat, that wrong failed of contami
nation. Still "it was unconvincing to Mortimer.
Th horses might be good, the men honest
and the girl pur and aweet, but the life
QUARTERS THE GIRL'S SOUL SANG
Itself was ' distasteful. Reason as one
might, it was allied to gambling.
Mortimer roae with a sigh; the whole
thing wesrled him. Why should he distress
his mind ovsr ths matter? As he put th
photograph back on th mental, he held It
for an Instant, then suddenly, with a ner
vous awkward gesture, brought it to his
Hps and klsssd the eyes that seemed to
command tribute.
The movement twisted hi broken-ribbed
side, and an agony of pain cam to htm
In quick retribution. It wss though th
involuntary kiss had lurched htm forward
into a futurity of misery. The Spsam
loosed bsads of perspiration, which atood
cold on hit forehead. Swift taken from
the stimulant of hit thoughtt, hit nerves,
overtaxed by the evening, Jangled discord
antly, and hs crept Into bed feeling an un
utterable depression, aa though the room
waa filled with evil, threatening spirits.
CHAPTER X.
In coincidence, the two men, Mortimer
and Crane,, hsd similar thoughts the day
after "Mr. Dolman's discussion; and, rather
remarkably, their deductions were alike,
having the aame aubject ot mental retro
spect, Allls Porter.
It was svldent that outaida of her fam
ily, little interested her but horses; cer
tainly, not . a very lofty aspiration. When
the conversation had dealt with broad prin
ciples, men and their shortcomings, ths
previous evening, ,she had centralised It In
Lausanne, pleturlng blm aa aymboltcal of
good acts and evil repute. Patently It waa
difficult to become Interested in such a
young womsn; actually ahe monopolised
their thoughts. Inconsistently the fsir of
fender felt no recoil ot this somewhat dis
tressing situation; her mind busied Itself
chiefly over the reclamation of Lauzanne.
By inheritance all the qualities of a good
horse had come to him, except a submissive
temper. Allls worked on the theory that
bis disposition hsd been set awry by inju
dicious handling; that unlimited patience
would cause him to forget all that. He
could gallop, else hs had not won the race
in which he beat the Dutchman. That he
had needed a atlmulant that day waa be
caus he had been soured, and would not
try with his wits about him.
Prom the time ot coming back to Ring
wood Allls hsd ridden him in all hla ex
ercise gallops and had aaksd Mlk parson-
ally to supervise his stabl sducatlon. It
had taken all her great patience, all her
youthful enthusiasm and faith, for the
chestnut had notions beyond all belief.
At Brat,' missing the abuss, he almost
seemed to thirst for It; tried the gentlo
girl In every way sulked and loafed, and
took little stresks of trying to cut the
course, and maks false breaks, as though
hs were going to run with a full vigor-
even laid hold of the horses with his teeth
when opportunity offered. Thess antics did
not break ths girl' tslth; sbe rode him
with the gentle hand a woman knows, and
a horse soon learns to appreciate; and gave
htm to understand that hs was to have fair
treatment.
Porter viewed tbls contlnuoua perform
ance with silent scepticism. He did not
abuse horses himself, neither did he put up
with .too much nonsense from them. To
him tbey were like children, needing a lot
of tolerant klndneea, but, also, at times, to
be greatly Improved by a sound spanking.
Ones, when be suggested something of this
sort to Allls, saying that Lauzanne was a
spoiled child, she admitted that he was, but
that thoughtless cruelty and not Indulgence
had done the harm, therefore klndneas was
the cure. -
The first sign of regeneration was th
Implicit faith that Lauzanne began to plac
In his young mistress. At first whsn shs
put up a hand to pet him he would Jerk
his head away la afrlght; now he snuggled
her shoulder r nibbled at her glove In
full spirit ot camradsrle. Then one day,
la a gallop, came a stronger manifestation
a brief minute of exhilaration with after
hours of thankfulness and beyond that, alas
for th uncertainty ot a spoiled temper, an
added period of wslloelng In the slough ot
Despond.
It was on a crisp, sparkling morning and
with 8handy It was before bis downfall
on Lucretla,. another etahle lad. Ned Car
ter, on Gam Boy and Alii on Lauzanne,
the three swung oft for a working gsllop ot
a mile or more.
Laussnns was In an Inquisitive mood,
aa the other two raced on In front. What
waa hla light-weighted rider up to, any
way? Why did she always lesve It to him
td do just ss he liked? Wss she really
deceiving him did she wUta him to lie
bark there behind the others always? Hs
fell to wondering what she would do If he
were to take hold of the bit end spresd
bis big muscles In one rushing gallop and
go peat the ethers and get home to the
feedbox first. He rattled the snaffle In his
mouth with nervous Indecision he hsd a
notion to try It.
"Steady, my boy!" ssld Allls, as ahe
slipped the reins bsck through her fingers
till they stretched tight. A dozen time she
hsd sought In vstn to make blm think ahe
did not wish him to gallop, but something
In the crisp sir this morning threw htm off
his gusrd. Why should he be forced to
leg behind? He stretched the srrh of his
neck straight till the bit held hard In h i
mouth; the esrs pltcheJ forward In eager
point; the great frame under the girl quiv
ered and sank clqser to earth; the roar ot
his besting hoofs came up to her ears
muffled by the drive of, the wind that was
now a gale a the chestnut raced Into It
with the apeed of an express.
How her heart ssng! Here was speed
and with such stride strong and straight
and true! Low she crouched. and her call
to Lsuzaine was but a Joyous whisper. Her
smalt hands were framed In steel; strength
to stesdy the big chestnut a be swung
round the course glued to the rail. On
Lauzsnne sped and to the rhythm of his big
heaving quarters the girl's soul sang a
song of delight. At last, at lastt wss com
ing rewsrd; her reward.
And then, just when everything hsd been
achieved, when the greet gallop hsd brought
them halt up the stretch, something came
to Lauzanne perhaps ths memory of ths
whipping finishes. At any rate he curled
up like a dog, threw his ear back Allls
could feel the sudden stiff prop of the fore
legs as he set himself against the rush ot
speed and in a dozen strides he wss Lau
sanne again Lauzanne the Despised.
An so it hsd gone on for weeks, Allls
working out her theory up to the time ot
the trouble over Diablo.
There was something In the girl's quiet
determination that was mssterful; perhaps
that was why she had always bad her own
way at home. Now thla mastery was
spreading out wonderfully. Lauzanne and
Mike and her father and Crane and Morti
mer, all In different degrees of subjection,
but, aa fate knew, all subject.
Mrs. Porter's lament, the night of Dol
man's crusade, hsd given Crane a keynote
tor his line ot action.
It was the day followltng her scoring of
the tolerant husband that Crane revisited
Rlngwood, full of his new Idea.
He had an Impulse to buy back Lau
sanne. For almost the first time In his
life he experienced twinges of remorse;
this waa because of Allls. Porter's affairs
were la a bad way and he would probably
accept eagerly an offer from Crane to
lighten his load. Individually ,he cared lit
tle for Porter's financial tribulations, but
It was a good opportunity to prepare tho
way for a stronger pressing ot his suit
with the girl.
With hit usual fine discrimination he
spuae to Mrs. Porter flrst. Intimating,
never so slightly, that her words hsd won
his entire sympsthy, that If her husband
would aell any of the horses he would buy
them.
There was a strong atmosphere ot sin
cerity about Crane at all times; what he
did he did with the full vigor of a man
believing la its truth. One might almost
have suspected that he deceived himself
that be bad no conception ot the unright
eousness ot his acta. At any rate, he im
posed most successfully upon the mother
of Allls. Quite egotistically she attributed
to herself the trend of his friendship. In
racing phrase Crsns was out for a killing
and playing hla cards with consummate
skill.
With ths master of Rlngwood he went
very straight to the point. This was pos
sible, aa Porter could not hesitate to dis
cuss his financial condition with his
banker.'
Crane offered to buy Lucretla this, with
him, was purely a speculation but Porter
would not part with the little mare. Then
the banker spoke ot Lauzanne, saying thai
he felt somewhat guilty since learning the
previous evening that the horse had been
doped.
Porter failed to see where Crsne hsd
anything to do with It. But the latter In
sisted that he had unwittingly helped
Langdon by speaking of Lauzanne as a
good horse. He hsd known nothing of the
matter beyond that hla trainer had as
sured him the horse would win; In fact
he had backed him.
Porter laughed at the Idea that responsi
bility could attach to Crane. Aa to the
chestnut, he waa not worth a tenth of the
three thousand he had coat that was well
known; and If Crane, or any other man
sought to buy him at that price It would
ssvor too much ot charity., At any rate,
Lauzanne belonged to Allls and Crane would
have to bargain with her.
Then there was Diablo, Crane said; his
presence wss a menace to Miss Porter.
"I've nursed him for a good while," Por
ter replied, "and he's a bad betting proposi
tion he's too uncertain. You don't want
such a horae aa that nobody does. I'll
keep him a bit longer and put him In a
handicap or two, where the puree will be
worth running for and I won't have to back
fctm; he'll get In with a featherweight and
aome day may take It into bis head to
gallop, though he's a rank bad one."
Crsne did not press ths point; hs under
stood Porter's motives throughout. He
knew the master of Rlngwood was an un
changing man, vary set In his wsys, ad
hering closely to bis plsns and opinions.
So Crane went back to Brookfleld without
purchasing a horse, saying as he left:
"I claim flrst privilege when ' you wish
to sell." .
He hsd talked to Porter In the stable,
and Mike, busy nesrby, heard that part
of their conversation referring . to the
horses.
"Tbey haven't got money enough in the
bank to take the little mare from us yet,
hsvs they Mike?" Porter said to Oaynor,
full of bis pride In Lucretla.
"That they haven't sor," replied Mike
proudly. "But, faith. I wish th' glnt
hsdn't come s-tryln' to buy her; it's bsd
luck to turn down a big offer fer any
horse."
Porter smiled Indulgently. Tbls stable
superstition did not appeal to him.
"It would a broke the bad luck, sor, to
have let blm took the black."
"It would have broken his bank, you
mesn, Mike."
"Well, he'll break some man'a bank here
yet, an' I'm a telltn' you that sthralght.
They ssy a black cat's full av ths dlvll,
but Dlablo's ould Nick himself, though I'm
say In' It waa th' b'y Shandy's fault sp'llin'
him. An' If It wasn't fer M as Allls It's
a pity you couldn't a sold him tba chestnut.
He's a saw horse he' as hesvy In th'
hesd at a bag ot talt: he'll never do no
good to nobody. Them's the kind as kspe
a man poor, eat In' their heads off, ao' wan
horse, or maybe two, in the stable earnln'
the oata fer them. It's ch'sper to cut th'
treats av such cattle."
"I believe you're right, Mike." Porter
answered, quietly, as hs left ths stable.
Crsne, driving to Brookfleld, turned over
la hi mind ths matter of his mission- Hs
was satisfied. He had sucreedrd !n the
main ebjectlve point.
It would have been a good move to have
acquired Lucretla to have templed her
Vi,' ft - 2TSJy - '
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tit O.tiea ul beue. ocirtcuibcr d. Stta, Ivtu
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va.U, )' 4Mtakgf
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PrfMl VasrBBa DlUpt W I ll r-ell 4)
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t rl Jf fr-oksM. MU4.
R.P.Emmet. N-40 51 Ood lilk. Denver, Col
owner to part with her for ready money in
sight. . The money would soon have dis
appeared; then Porter, with a loi vf tad
horaea on bis bands, would certainly hav
come more firmly Into the grasp of Crane.
The offer to buy Lauzanne bad been a bit
of aavlog grace a faint, generoua Impulse
begot of Allls' regenerating Influence.
Crsne had discovered tbst Porter did not
st all suspect blm of Interest In th fraud
that was a gre-st something. lis bad also
ssisblUbfd himself firmly In Mrs. Porter's
good graces, he could see. It would L In
1eed strsngc tf In the end be did not suc
ceed completely.
(To Be Continued )
(MlteTii
k. "tat
mm
TFITJ
