Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 5, 1902)
10 THE OMAIIA DAILY JlEEi SUNDAY. OCTOHEK 5, 1002. ' . fhoroughbrecjs. 67 W. A. FRASEK Author of "The Outciit," ''Mooiwi," and Other Storiei. 1 1 (Copyright, 12. by McClure. Phillip Co.) CHAPTER XXI. The next flay, Intent on persuading Porter to accept the money won over Diablo, Crane took a run down to the Ringwood farm. Crane stated tho facta very plausibly, very seductively, to John Porter. Porter almost unreasonably scented charity In Crane's proposal. He believed that the bet was a myth: Crane wai trying to preaent him with this sum aa a com pensatlon for having loat Diablo. It wasn't even a loan. It wn a gift, pure and simple. His very helplessness, his poverty, made hira decline the offer with unnecessary fierceness. If Alltl had re fused It, If ehe were strong enough to stand without this charity, surely he. a man, battered though he was, could pass It by. He had received a hopeful mes sage from Allls as to Lucretia's chances llr the Derby; they felt confident of win ning. That win would relieve him cf all 'obligations. "I can't take It." eatd Porter to Crane. "Allls Is more familiar with the circum stances of the bet if there was one than I. It must just rest with her; she's a man now, you know," he added, plain tively; "I'm but a broken wreck; and what aha aays, goes." "But there's a payment on Ringwood falling due in a few days," Crane remon atated. even aa he had to Mrs. Porter. Porter collapsed fretfully. He could stand out against prospective financial :atrlngency, but actual obligations for which he had no meana quite broke down bis weakened encrgv. He had forgotten about this liability, that Is, had thought the time of payment more distant. He would be forced to recall the money be had given Dixon to bet on Lucretla for ,the Derby, to meet this payment to the bank. Quite despondently he answered the t'other man. "I had forgotten a!" about It! this shake-up has tangled my memory. I can pay the money, though," he added, half defiantly; "it will hamper me, but I can do It." A sudden thought came to Crane, an In spiration. "I've got it f he exclaimed. Porter brightened up; there was such a world of confidence In the other'a manner. "We'll Just let this Diablo money stand against the payment which is about due on Ringwood; put it In the bank to cover It, so to speak later we can settle to whom It belongs. At present It seems to be nobody's money; it's seldom one sees a few thousand going a-begging for an owner," he added, jocularly. "You say it Isn't yours; I know it Isn't mine, and most certainly it doesn't belong to the bookmaker, for he's lost it 'fair and square. We can't let him keep It; they win enough of the public's money." Reluctantly, Porter gave a half-hearted " acquiescence. He would have sacrificed tangible interests to leave the money that was In Dixon's bands with him to bet on Xurretia. It would be like not taking the tide at its flood to let her run unbacked when her chances of winning were so good and the odds against ber great enough to Insure a big return. It was after banking hours, quite toward Evening, by the time Crane had obtained this concession. He had brought the win nings tor John Porter's acceptance, should the latter prove amenable to reason. Now 1t occurred to him that be might leave the money With one of the bank staff, who could deposit It the next day. Crans drove back to the. village and went at once to the cashier's (Mr. Lane's) houae. He was not at home; bis wife thought per haps he was still In the bank. Crane went there In search of him. He found only Mortimer, who had remained late over his accounts. From the latter Crane learned that the cashier had driven ever to a neigh boring town. "It doesn't matter," remarked Crane; "I can leave this money wltb you. It's to meet a payment of three thousand due from John Porter about the middle of June. Ton can put It In a safe place In the vault till the note falls due and then transfer It to Porter's credit." "I'll attend to It. sir." replied Mortimer. I "I'll attach the money to the note and put them away together." Ou bi way to the ststlon Ciane met Alan Porter. "I suppose you'd like a holiday to see your fatber'a mare run for the Derby, wouldn't you, Alan?" he said. "I should very much, sir; but Mr. Lane Is set agalnat racing." "Oh. I think he'll let you off that day. I'll tell him he may. But, like your mother, I don't approve of young men betting I know what It means." He was thinking with bitterness of his own youthful Indiscretions. "It you go, don't bet. You might bs tempted, naturally, to back your father's mare, Lucretla. but you would stand a very good chance of losing." "Don't you think she ll win, sir?" Alan asked, emboldened by his employer's free dom of speech. ' "I do not. My hcrse. the Dutchman, Is almost certain to win, my trainer tells me." Then he added, apologetic of bis confidential tnoods: "I tell yen this, lest through loyalty to your own people you should lose your money. Racing, I fancy, Is very uncertain, even when It aeems most certain." Again Crane had cause to congratulate himself upon the somewhat clever manipu lation of a difficult situation. He had scored again In hla diplomatic love en deavor. He knew quite well that Allls' determined stand was only made possible by ber expectation of gaining financial re lief for ber father through Lucretia's win- The maintaining of that high degree of excellence that won for "Blata" ita enviable repa tattoa 'way back la tha fort lea. haa required underrating care la the selectioa of materiala, aad the constant attention of the moat skilled masters of the brewer's art. DLATZ MALT VI VINE (Non-Intoxteant) Tsule. All Lrvs(tU sr Di rect. U 1AU. aUUi OniWIRtt bUn BjirflUlM U.I Blipuiiuil Uil 1 ouaua anANtii, LI, ita ie !. at. tl loei. '''"''jliilL os erltloal "'''TVvySiii! epleureeoula desire I ij I j MILW AU atg B I The maintaining of that high degree of excellence that won R 1 1 nlng the Derby. Should the fall, they would be almost forced to turn to him In their difficulties. That was whst be wanted. He knew that the money won over Diablo, if accepted, must always be considered as coming from him. The gradual persistent dropping of water would wear away the hardest stone; he would attain to his wishes yet. He was no bungler to attempt other than the most gently delicate methods. Encouraged by Jockey Redpath's ex planation of his ride on Lucretla. Allls was anxious that Dixon should take the money her rather had set aside for that purpose and back their mare for the Brooklyn Derby. "We bad better wait a day or two," Dixon had advised, "until we see the effect the hard gallop In the handicap has had on tho little mare. She ain't cleanln' up her oats as well as she might, ehe's a bit off her feed, but it's only natural, though; a gallop like that takes it out of them a bit." It was the day after Crane's visit to Ringwood that Dixon advised Allls that Lucretla seemed none the worse for her exertion. "Perhaps we'd better put the money on right away," he said; "she's sure to keep well and we'll be forced to take a much shorter price race day." "Back the stable." advised Allls. "then If anything happens Lucretla we can start Lausanne." The trainer laughed In good natured derision. "That wouldn't do much good; we'd be out of the frying pan Into the fire; we'd be Just that much more money out for Jockey an' startln' fees." "If Lauzanne would only try, something tells me he'd win," contended the girl. "And somethln' tells me he wouldn't try a yard," answered Dixon, In good humored opposition. ''But I dont think It'll make no difference In the odds we get whether we back the stable or Lu cretla alone; they won't take no stock In the chestnut's prospects." ' So Dixon made a little pilgrimage amongst the pencllers. He found Faust and asked It blm a quotation against Por ter's stable. "Twelve Is the best I can do," answered the Cberub. "I'll take fifteen to one," declared Dixon. "Can't lay it; some of the talent men as doesn't make no mistake. Is takln' twelve to one In my book fast as I open my mouth." "I want fifteens," replied Dixon dog gedly. "Surely the owner is entitled to a shade the best of It." "Well, I'll stretch a point for you, Dixon. Your boss le up agin' a frost, good and hard. I'll lay you fifteen thousand to one agin the stable an' If Lauzanne wins you'll buy me a nice tie pin." The trainer told Allls of what be bad done. He even spoke of bis distrust at finding Faust laying longer odds against their mare than the other bookmakers. "But I don't see what they can do," he said reflectively, studying the grass at his feet, bis brow quite wrinkled In deep thought. "The mare's well and we can trust the boy this time, I think." "Yes, you can trust Redpath." affirmed Allls decisively. "If Faust Is In with Langdon, as you say. It Just means that they're going on their luck and think their colt, the Dutchman, can't lose." Allls gave Jockey Redpath the benefit of her knowledge of Lauzanne's peculiari ties. The chestnut waa a slow beginner; that was a trait which even Allls' seductive handling bad failed to eradicate. When the starter sent Iauzsnne off, trailing behind the other seven runners in the race that afternoon Redpath made a faint essay, experimentally, to hold to Allls' orders, by patiently nestling over tho chestnut's strong withers In a vain hope that his mount would speedily seek to overtake the leaders. But evidently Lauzanne had no such Intention; he seemed quite satisfied with things as tbey were. That the horses galloping so frantically in front Interested him slightly wsa evi denced by his cocked e.irs, but beyond that he might as well have been the starter's hack, bringing that gentleman along plac idly In the rear. "Just as I thought," muttered the boy; "this skate's kiddln' me Just as he does the gal. He's a lazy brute It's the bud be wants." Convinced that he was right and that his orders were all wrong the Jockey as serted himself. He proceeded to ride Lauzanne most energetically. In the horse's mind this sort of thing was as sociated with unlimited punishment. Red path felt the unmistakable sign of his horse sulking and he promptly had recourse to the Jockey's usual argument. Sitting In the stand. Allls saw. with a cry of dismay. Redpath'a whip hand go up. Tbat Lauzanne had been trailing six lengths behind the others bad not bothered her in the slightest it was his true method; bis work would be done In the stretch, when the others were tiring. If at all. "If the boy will only sit still only have patience." she bad been saying to herself Just before she saw the flash of the whip in the sunlight; and then she Just moaned: "It's all over: we are beaten again. Everything la against us every, bedv Is agalnnt us," she cried, bitterly "will good fortune never come father's way?" By the time the horse had swung Into the stretch and Lauzanne bad not In the slightest Improved his position It dawned upon Redpath that bis efforts were pro ductiv of no good, ao he desisted. But h') move had cost the Porters whatever chance they might have had. Left to him self Lauzanne undertook an Investigating gallop on his own account. Too much ground had been lost to be mads up at that late stage, but be came up to the straight in gallant style, wearing down the leaders until he finished close up amongst the unplaced horses. Allls allowed no word of reproach to es cape her when Redpath spoke of Lau zanne's aulkey temper. She still felt that If Redpath had followed bar advice and allowed Lauzanne to run bis own race be would bavs won. The race did not shake her confidence In the Lorse so much aa In the possibility of getting any Jockey to ride him In a quiescent manner. When It was of Impossible of Redpath who was eager to please her who else could they look to? The next morning brought them fresh disaster; all that had gone before was as nothing compared with this new development In their run of thwarted ee deavor. deavor. Ned Carter bad given Lucretla a vigor ous axerctse gallop over the Derby course. As Dlxoa led tbe mare through the pad dock to a stall, ha suddenly bent down bis bead and took a sharp look at ber nos trils, another stride sad tbey were In the stall. Tbe trainer felt Lucretla' throat and ears; he put his hand over her heart, a look of anxtoua dismay over bis usually stolid face. , "She coughed a little sir, wbea I Bulled ber up." volunteered Carter, seeing Dixon's Investigation. "I'm afraid shs'a took cold," muttered Dixon. "Have you had her near any horses thats got the Influenza?" he asked, looking Inquiringly at Carter. "She ain't been near nothing; I kept her away from everything for fear ahe'd get a kick or get run Into." A sickening conviction came to Dixon that It was the dreaded Influenza. The trainer pursued his Investigation amongst the stable lads. When he asked Boh Nast If he had noticed anything unusual about the mare the boy declared most em phatically that he had not. Then, sud denly remembering an Incident he bad taken at the time to be of little Import, he said: "Two mornln'a ago, when I opened her stall and sbe poked her head out I noticed a little scum In her nose, but I thought It wee dust. I wiped It out and there was nuthln' more come that I could sec." "What's the row," asked Mike Osynor, as he Joined Dixon. When the details were explained to blra Mike declared emphatically that some one had got at the mare. Taking Dixon to one side, he said: "Its that dlvll on wheels, Shandy: you ran bet yer sweet lolfe on that. I've been layln' for that crook; he cut Dlabolo's bridle an' t'rew th' owld man an he done this Job, too.' Dixon worked over In hie mind many contorted waye of breaking the news to Allls and had finished up by blurting out, "The mares coughln' this mornln', miss. I hope It ain't nothing', but I'm afraid she's "BY JIMINY! IF In for a sick spell.' Coming to the course the girl had al lowed rosy hope to tint the gray gloom of tbeir many deteatts until sbe bad worked herself Into a happy mood. Lu cretia's win would put everything right: even her father, relieved of financial worry, would Improve. The bright morning aeemed to whisper of victory. Lucretia would aurely win. It was not within the lawa of fate that they should go on forever and ever having bad luck. She had come to have a reassuring look at .the grand little mare that was to turn the tide of all their 111 fortunes. Tho trainer's words. "The mare's coughln'," struck a chill to her heart. She could not speak, the misery was too great, but stood dejectedly listen ing while Dixon epoke of his suspicions of foul play. What villains there were In the world, the girl thought, for a man to lay them odds against their horse, knowing that she had been poiaoned, was a hundred times worse than stealing the money from their pockets. "I don't suppose we'll ever be able to prove It." declared Dixon, regretfully, "but that doesn't matter bo much as the mare being done for; we're out of It now, good and strong. If we d known It two days ago we might a saved the money, but we've burned up a thousand." "We'll have to start Lausanne," aald Allls, taking a brave pull at herself and speaking with decision. "We might send him to tbe post, but tbata all the good It'll do us. I'm feared." "I've seen him do a great gallop,' con tended Allls. "He did It for you. but he wont do it for nobody else. There ain't no boy rldin' can make blm go fast enough for a live funeral. But we'll start blm and I'll speak to Redpath about takln' the mount." Allls was thinking very fast; her bead, with Its great wealth of black hair, d roped low In heavy meditation. "Don't engage blm Just yet. Dixon," she said, looking up suddenly, tbe shadow of a new resolve in her gray eyes. I'll talk it over with you when we get back to the house. I'm thinking of something, but I don't went to speak of It Just now let me think It over a little." Dixon waa deep In thought, too, aa he went back to his own stables. "Wo haven't got a million to one chance," be waa muttering; "the money's burned up an' tbe race Is desd to the world as far as we're concerned." That Allls could evolve any plan to lift them out of the slough of despond he felt wsa quite impossible, but at any rate he got a distinct shock when, a little later, a alight-formed girl with gray eyes set large and full in a dark face declared to him that she was going to ride Lauzanne In the Derby herself. CHAPTER XXII. Allls' visit to Ringwood waa a flying one. Filial devotion to her father had been one motive, but not the sole one. Her brother Alan's wardrobe received a visitation from hands not too well acquainted with tha Intricacies of its makeup. A couple of coats and sundry other garments were looted with a cheerful disregard of their owner's possible requirements. John Porter waa undoubtedly brightened by the daughter's visit. Lucretia's defeat In the handicap had Increased his despondency. To gradually prepare blm for further reverses Allls intimated rather than asserted that Lucretla might possibly have a alight cold, Dixon wasn't sure, but they were going to run Lauzanne also, Like the trainer, ber father had but a very poor opinion of the cheatnut'a powers In any other hands but In that of the girl's "Who'll ride htm?" he asked petulantly. "It seems you can't trust any of the boya nowadays. If they're not plnheaded they're crooked as a corksrrew. Crane tells me that Redpath didn't ride Lucretla out In the handicap and whether be rides the mare Or Lausanne It aeems all one we'll get beat anyway." rri I lMu I, I HPS! "Another boy will have the mount of Lausanne." Allls answered. "What difference will that make? You can't trust blm." "You ran trust this boy, father, ae you might your own son Alan." "I don't know about that. Alan In the bank la all right, but Alan Is a Jockey would be a different thing." "Father! you would trust me, wouldn't you?" "I guess I would. In the tightest corner ever wss chiseled out." "Well, you can trust the Jockey that's going to ride Lauzanne' Just as much. I know blm and he's all right. He's been riding Lauzanne some and the horse likes blm." "It's all Lauzanne." objected Porter; the discussion having thrown him Into a petu lant mood. "Is Lucretla that bad Is she alck?" "She galloped today," answered the girl, evasively, "but If anything happens her we're going to win with the horse. Just think of that, father and cheer up. Dixon has backed the stable to win a lot of money, enough to enough to well, to wipe out all these little things that are bothering you, dad." She leaned over and kissed her father In a hopeful, pretty way. Tho contact of her brave lips drove a magnetic flow of con fidence Into the man. "You're a brick, little woman, If there ever was one. Just a tiny little bunch of pluck, ain't you girl? And Allls," be continued, "if you don't win tho Derby, come and tell me about It yourself, won't you? Your aure to have some other IT ISN'T WELL, I GIVB IN, MISS ALLIS, scheme for bracing me up. I'm just a worthless bulk, sitting here in the house a orlpple, while you fight the battles. Per haps Providence, as your mother says, will see you through your hard task." "I won't come and tell you that we've lost, dad; I'll come and tell you that we've won; and then we'll all have the biggest ; kind of a blow-out right here In the house. We'll have a champagne supper, with elder : for champagne, eh, dad? Alan, and Dixon, and old Mike, and perhaps we'll even bring Lauzanne In for the nuts and raisins for dessert." i 'And the Rev. Dolman, you've left him out," added the father. They were both laughing. Just a tiny little ray of sunshine had dispelled all the ! gloom for a minute. "Now I must go back to my horses," de clared Allls with anothor kiss. "Good-bye dad; cheer up," and as she went up to her room a smile of hope vanlahed from her Hps, and in Its place came one of firm, I dogged resolve. Allls needed much deter mination before she had accomplished the task she had set herself before she stood In front of a mirror, arrayed In the purple and fine linen of ber brother. She bad thought Alan small, and he was for a boy, but his clothes bore a terribly suggestive Impression of misfit, they bung loose. Mentally thanking the fashion which con doned it, ahe turned the pants up at the bot tom. "I'll use my scissors and needle on them tonight," she said, ruthlessly. "Thank goodness the Jockeys are all little rhaps, and the racing clothes will fit better." The coat was of summer wear, therefore somewhat close-fitting for Alan; but why did It hang so loosely on her? She was sure ber brother wss not so much bigger. The mirror declared tbe was a passabls coun terfeit of her brother: all but the glorious crown of luxuriant hair. Twice she took up a pair of scissors, and each time laid thera dowa again, wondering if It were little abort of a madcap freak; then, shrink ing from the grinding hiss of the cutting blades, she clipped wltb feverish baste tho hair that had been her pride. Now she wss ready to pass ber mother as Allls in ber own long cloak, and appear before Dixon Ithout it, as a boy. That was her clever little scheme. Some hours later Dixon, sitting In his cottage, oppressed by the misfortune that had come to bis stable, heard a knock at tbe door. When he opened it a neatly dressed, slim youth stepped Into the un certain light that stretched out reluctantly from a rather unfit lamp on the center table. "Ia this Mr. Dixon?" tbe boy's voice piped modestly. "Yea. lad. it is. Will you sit down." The boy removed his cap, took the proffered chair and said somewhat hesi tatingly, "I heard you wanted a riding boy." "Well, I do an' I dgn't. I don't know as I said I did, but" and he scanned the figure closely If I could get a decent light weight that hadn't the hands of a black amlth an' the moral of a burglar I might give him a trial. Did you ever do any ridln' what atable was you In?" "I've rode a good deal," answered the little visitor. Ignoring the second half of the question. "What's your name?" "Al Mayne," the othtr replied. The boy's face appealed to Dixon as being an honest one. Evidently the lad wss not a street gamin, a tough. If he had hands the head promlaed well and could sit a horse he might be a find. A good boy was rarer than a good horse and of more actual value. "I guess I'll stay here tonight so as to be ready for the mornln' " said the caller te Dixon's astonishment and then the little fellow broke Into a silvery laugh. "By Jlminy! f " --'--veil. I give In, Miss Allls, you fooled me." "Can I ride U... ?" the lrl asked and her voice choked a little It might have been the nervous excitement, or thankfulness at the success cl her elan U this, Us flrit stage. at home?" the trainer aoked. "No. nobody is to know Dixon you and Mrs. Dixon. but you, Mr. This suggested a thought to the trainer. "The good wife's at her work In the kitchen: I'll bring her In. Perhars ahe'd like to hire a help," and he rhuckled as ht opened the door and called, "Come here for a minute. This Is a boy" He turned his head away I'm takln' on for Lnuzanne." "Oh," said Mrs Dixon. Then with se vere pollteucsa, "Good evenln", young man." The two figures In male attire broke Into a laugh simultaneously. The good woman, oblivious to the humorous side of her greeting, flushed In anger. "Appears to be mighty funny," she said. "What's the Joke?" I "Oh. nuthln'," replied the husband, speak ing hastily. "Can you give the lad a bed? j He wants to bulk here." ' "Why, Andy, you know I can't. There's only Miss Allls' room." "Give her him that." j "Are you crazy, Andy?" "It's too bad. Mrs. Dixon. I shan't let your husband tease you any more. I am I Allls, but I'm glad you didn't know." ! "Oh, Miss Allls, where's your beautiful ' hair gone? Surely you didn't cut that off Juat for Joke?" Then she was taken fully Into their con- ! ftdence, and before Allls retired Dixon had been quite won over to the plan of Allls' endeavor. I In the morning the trainer asked the girl whether the would ride Lauzanne a walking ' gallop to get accustomed to the new order YOU FOOLED ME." of things or would she Just wait until race day and take her placa In the saddle then. "I'm afraid Mike '11 spot you," be said; "even Carter may." "I'll ride today," declared AJlls; "I mustn't take any chsnces of losing this race through my Inexperience. Even Lauzanne will hardly know me, I'm afraid. Mike and Carter needn't see much of me; I can slip away ae soon ss I've ridden the gallop." "A new boy I'm tryln'," Dixon explained to Gaynor after he had lifted a little lad to Lauzanne's bsck at tbe paddock gate and they stood watching the big chestnut awing along with his usual sluggish stride. "He's got good bands," said Mike, critically, "though he seems a bit awkward in tbe aaddle. You couldn't have a better trial horse fer a new b'y; If Lauzanne's satisfied with him he can roide onythin'." When Allia, who was now Al Mayne, the boy, came around and back to the paddock she slipped quietly from the horse, loitered carelessly about for a few minutes and then made her way batk to Dixon's quarters. Nobody bad paid any attention to the modest little boy. Riding lads were aa plentiful as sparrows; one more or less called for no comment, no Investigation. Even Mike lost Interest In the new boy In wondering why Miss Allls had not made her usual appearance. "How did the horse like It?" Dixon asked of the girl when be returned home. "Oh, he knew. I whispered In his ear aa we cantered along and he'll be all right; he'll keep my secret." "Well, I think he's due to a pipe opener tomorrow. It's Just three days to the derby, an' we've got to give blm a strong workout. Besides, It'll put you up next what you've got to do In tbe race. To morrow mornln' you had better ranter blm Just slow around once, an' then send them the full mlle-an'.-a-quarter aa though there waa money hung up for It. I'll catch hla time, an' wt'll get wise to what he can do." Thla program was carried out, and at Dixon lokcd thrice at bis watch after the gallop to make sure tbat he was not mis taken In the time, 2:11, be began to wonder If, after all, the girl waa not uearly right In her prophetlo hope that the despised Lauzanne would win the Brooklyn Derby. "He can move; be surprised me," the trainer said to Allls as she dismounted. "He's not blown, either; he's as fresh as a daisy. Gad! we'll do those blackguards up yet, I believe." CHAPTER XXIV. The news that Lucretla wat tick bad got about. The Porter's stable traveled out In the betting for the Brooklyn Derby until a backer If there had been one eould have written his own price, and got it. Langdon bad informed Crane of this change In their favor, though he said ncth ing about the deal with Shandy which had brought about the poisoning of the mare. "I'm sorry that Porter's mare has gone wrong." Crane taid. "I think we would have won, anyway, but it'll Just about ruin them." Figuratively. Langdon closed one eye and winked to himself. Crane must know that It was bis Implied desire tbat had led up te the wrecking of Lucretla. Langdon thought Crane Just about the most com plete hypocrite he'd ever met; that prescber fsce of his could look honorably pious while Its owner raked in a cool ninety thousand over the trainer's dirty work. However, that cut no figure; it waa the $10,000 Langdon was after. Just as they thought they had destroyed ine cnances or their strongest opponent came a new disturbing feature. Other eyes thsn Dixon's had seen Lau. zanne's strong gallop, other watches than bis bad ticked oil the extraordinary good time; Z ll for tbe mile and a quarter, with tbe horse seemingly running well within himself, never urged a foot of the Journey and finishing strong, wss certainly almost good enough to warrant his winning. This Information had been brought to Langdon, hut he also bad observed the gal ' Do they know lop. And the same boy was to ride Lau zanne In the race, he understood, for Red rath had been released, and was looking for another mount. It warn't in the natural order of things that one small stable would have In It two horses good enough to win the Derby, espe cially when one of them was a cast-off, but there was the gallop; time, like figures, didn't lie, not often; and as he thought of It, Langdon admitted that ho had never seen such an Improvement In a horse as had been made In lauzanne. Shandy hud told him that It was Miss Porter's doing, that she had cured him of his sulky moods; the gallop Langdon had witnessed seemed to bear out the truth of this. What wss he to do? They rouldn't re peat the trlik thry had played on Lurretla. The Dutchman might win, he had worked the distance In 20!, but then he was all out at the finish, and there wat $10,000 at slake. He tried to find out who the boy was that had ridden Iauranne, but nobody seemed to know; he was a new boy that Dixon had picked up somewhere. Perhaps he might be got at. If this could be managed It would simplify matters somewhat remove an un pleasant contingency. The morning after her fast work on Lau zanne. Allls, draped as the wss Into the personification of Al Muyne, arrived at the course before their horses. As she was leaning over the paddock rail waiting for Lauzanne to come, Langdon, who had evi dently determined upon a course of action, sauntered up carelessly to the girl and com menced to talk. After a few preliminary observations he said. "You're tho boy that'a ridin' for Andy Dixon, alu't you?" The small figure nodded its head. "I seen you gallop that chestnut yester dsy. Where you been rldln' you're a stranger here. I reckon?" "Out west." answered Allls, at a hazard. "Oh, San Francisco, eh? Are you engaged to Dixou?" "I'm Just on trial." "Coin" to ride the chestnut In the race?" Again the boy nodded; under the circum stances It was not wise to trust too much to speech. "He ain't no good he's a bad horse, I guess. I've got the winner of that race In my stable. If he wins I'd like to sign you for a year. I like the way you ride. I ain't got no good lightweight. I might give you a thousand for a contract, an' losln' and wlnnln' mounts when you had a leg up. How do you like rldin' for Dixon?" he continued, the little chap not answering his observations. "I ain't goln' to rldo no more for him after this race," answered the other, quite truthfully enough, but possessed of a curi osity to discover the exlent of the other's villainy. "I don't blame you. He'anogood; he don't never give his boys a chance. If you win on the chestnut like as not they'll just give you the wlnnln' mount. That ain't no good to a boy. They ain't got no money, that's why. The owner of my candidate, tha Dutchman, he's a rich man, an' won't think nothln' of givln' you a retainer of a thou sand If we won this race. That'll mean the Dutchman's a good horse, an' we'll want a good, light boy to ride him see?" Allls did see. Langdon was diplomatically giving her, as Al Mayne, to understand that If she threw ihe race on Lauzanne she would gel the place In their stable at a retainer of a thousand dollars. "We can afford It if we win the race," he continued, "for we stand a big stake. Come and see me any time you like to talk this over." After he bad gone, Juat as Allls was leav ing the rail, she was again accosted; this time by Shandy. She trembled an Instant, fearing tbat the small, red-lidded, ferret eyes would discover her Identity, but the boy was too Intent on trying to secure his ill-earned five bundred dollars to think of anything else. "Good mornln', boy," be said, 'cheerily, "I used to be In Dixon's stable. It's b 1; and he's a swipe. I see my boss talkln' to you Just now. Did he put jrou next a good thing?" Allls nodded her head knowingly. "He's all right. So's the other one the guy as has got the mun; he's got a bank full of it. I'm on to him his name's Crsne " Allls started. "You don't know blm," continued the Imp; "he's too slick to go messin' about. But if the old man promised you anything, see, God blast me! you'll git it. Not like that other skinflint hole where you don't git nothln'. I stand in five hundred If our horse wins the Derby. "Do you ride blm?" asked Al Mayne. "Ride nothln'. I don't have to. I've got my Job already." "I don't believe they'll give you five hun dred for nothln'," said Allia, doubttngly, knowing that the boy's obstinate nature. It he were crossed, would probably drive blm into further explanation. "Say, you're a stiff. What'd the old man want you to do pull Lauzanne?" Allls nodded. "I knowed It. What was the use of stop pin' the maro an' let the chestnut spoil the Job?" "Is that what you get tbe five hundred for?" aaked Allls, a sudden suspicion forc ing Itself upon ber. "Say, what'd you take me for, a flat car? But she's sick, ain't she? An' you Jes' take care of the chestnut now, an' I'll give you a hundred out of my five, God bit' me, if I don't." As be spoke Shandy looked hastily about to see that no one was 'listening, then be continued. "If you give me the double cross an' peacb. 1 11 spilt yer head open." His ALL WRONG Most people make tbe same mistake, Try to cure a bad back without reaching the cause. Many means to relieve a backache, But relief is not cure The ache in the back returns. Cure the cause to cure ache. DOAN'S KIDNEY PILLS Relieve the aching back and cure it. And they don't stop there. They cure every trouble of the kidneys. Omaha proof here that this is so. Mr. R. L. Rows. Mil Bristol a mttters between Chloago, St. Louis Union Telegraph Co.'S offlcs, saya: Pills at Kuhu ft Co.'B Drug Store, e tried several wall known proprlet aure-eure tor any form of kidney t me temporary relief. Finally I g aa my back ached and thera was t secretions, It struck me If Dosn'a they promised they might help me bss apparently oured me, for up t torn of a recurrence." All Drasr Store acats. Poster mm TAHSY. PILLS Sold by 8 8. W. Cur. lik ! r 7nlh omj r u rili,:f W B BSS SIMM m . Vzrr:z7'z: RUEI!uATIQriCURED or hr crir.. a . for i lllssafaff-l llJlsJPRCr wotD.B'iH.f.,u.ps wuroiM..t. 1 i h... s,y,,.i . V.r7 w",srntts leml 4 o.. - K. w Bl.. 1 fc khli! E 1J?" T" r t will hrrnioii. Mi'C'onne II Lima Co.. KualiM. I u ttmli ... i'.r'lIs'ITMP. ''4 and Dodije. Oiuahs, NU 1 " ,l"",ia. entered the rldock with his With the horses also came Mike Onynor. While their blankets were '" and eaddles odju.ted. became over u, AMU. There was a suppressed twtnkl. i, of sub verted knowledge In his weather-beaten ""Good mornln'. Al." he said, nodding In very dignified manner, and putting a strong accent on the name. Now. Mike had determined to keep from the girl tbe fact that he had penetrated ber disguise. With rroper Irish gallantry, cruda as It might be In Its expression, but del -cate In Its motive, he reasoned that knowledge might make ber uncomfortable. "I see tbat fly-by-nlght dlvll 8hendr talkln' to you as I come In. What new mis chief is he up to now?" "He wants me to pull Lauzanne." "He ain't got no gall, has he? That coma (mm ke.rinimrtcra: it s LkngdOO put blm Up to that." I "He was talkln to me, too." i "I fought he would be. But he dlda t know you, Miss Allls" j Heavens! It waa out. Mlka'a sun tanned face turned brick red; he could have j bitten off his unruly Irish tongue. The gin siarea at nira neipiBij, "ri that were scarlot, tingling under the hot rush of blood. "There you are, an', believe me, I didn't mean it. I was goln' to keep me mouth shut, but I never could do that." "You knew, then, yesterday?" "Indade I didn't; an' that'a a good sign to ycu nobody'll know. But whin I fought wit' meself. I knowed tbat Alan couldn't ride Lauzanne the way you did, an' you didn't deny you was him, an' if you wasn't him you must be yourself, see?" which more or less lucid explanation teemed to relieve Mike's mind mightily. "I think you're Jos doln' right, miss Al. I mean; I must get used to the name; s' help me, I belave you'll win on the chestnut that gallop wat good enough." "Do you think I can do it, Mike, amongst all those Jockeys?" "Pure thing, you can, A Al, me b'y; he won't need no rldln' In your hands; all you'll have to do is sit still an' k'eep blm atralgbt. He'll win the race In the stretch, an' there won't be many there to bother; they'll all bo brat off. Now. it's a good thing that I do know about this, for I'll Just kape close to you an' kape anywan that's likely to spot you away, if I have to knock blm down." Mike had worked himself up to a fine frenzy of projected endeavor; he cast about for further services he could render his ad mired mistress. "An. you know Carson, the starter; he's Jest' the lovllest Irishman; there Isn't a b'y on earth could get an Inch tbe best of It from him on a start, not If they were to give hira gold enough to we'ght a horse down. But I'll tip him the wink that yer a gurl. and" "Mike! What are you saying? Do you mean to ruin everything?" i The rosy hue of eager Joyousness tbat had crept Into Oaynor's sun-tanned face vanished; bis jaw drooped like the man s with the hoe; a pathetic look of sheepish apology followed. "That's so." he ejaculated, mournfully. "Bof Cumbs up! but It's a pity. Carson'a an Irish glntleman, on' If I could till him you was a gurl he'd knock the head plumb off any b'y that 'ud bother you. You'd git away well, too." Then the girl told Mike all that Shandy and Langdon had aald. It only, confirmed Mike's opinion that, between them, they hod poisoned Lucretia, He felt that, with a little more evidence, they -would be able to prove both crimes, the one with Diablo and the one with Lucretia. The Brooklyn Derby waa to run the next day. Allis was glad that It waa ao near; she dreaded discovery. She was like a hunted hare, dodging every one ahe fancied might discover her Identity. She would have to run the gauntlet of many eyes while weighing for the race and at the time of going out; even when abe returned especially if she won. But In the excite ment over the race people would not have time to devote to a strange Jockey's visage. She could quite smear her face with dirt! for that seemed a natural condition where' boys were riding perhaps several racea In one afternoon. The Jockey cap with Its big peak. 'well pulled down over her bead, would add materially to her disguise. Mike would fetch and carry for her. so that aba would be in evidence for very few minutes at most. Dixon, even, opposed to tbe idea as ho had been at first, now assured ber quite confidently that nobody would make her out. "It's the horses they look at," he aald, "and the colors. An apprentice boy doesn't cut much Ice, I can tell you. Why, I've been raeln' for years," he went on, with the Intent of giving her confidence, "an" many a time I see a boy up on a horse that must have rode on these traoka over a hundred times, an' I can't name him to save my neck." At any rate, there was nothing more to do until sbe neude the great endeavor, until she went to the track at the time Bet for the Brooklyn Derby, dressed In tbe blue Jacket with the white stars of ber fatheile Taclng colors; that was the plan adopted. A buggy, with Mike driving, would take her straight to the paddock, quite In time for the race. (To be Continued.) treet, who hai charge of tbe trena- ana California, in the Western "Before I erocursd Doaa'a rii... orner 16th and Douglaa atrsets. t ary medlotnet guaranteed te be rouble, but at best they only gave up searching tor a remsdr. but oo frequent action of tbe kidney money nna performed half what ever the difficulty. Th rn.t o date I have not noticed a symp- -Mllbara Ce , y. f
