Evening Star Newspaper, July 10, 1921, Page 54

SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTO ONKEY CROUCH ssanit [ A story of the racetrack when Tod Sloan was still | riding a broomstick around Kokomo, Ind., and another | boy, according to Kentucky tradition, originated thel American OMIN' through!” running head and head to the wir shivered. They knew what that ¢ meant. Jud flung a scared back over his shoulder, and looked quickly mers of his eyes. instant they relaxed heads of their mounts. “Gangway!" xcreamed C son, wildest rider the turf. head of Wastrel, a crazy lon. and literaily jammed the big horse into the 100 mall spuce baiwarn in - velled again rture, smashed 1 Thunble in.o Thimbl aller ho een pulled Thim ambled out_of harm Jud son had no recourse with Little Jumbo. He called on the horse for an extra ounce of speed Little Jumbo had not enough o ape the stallion. Wastrel side-swi the hon little fellow. Little Jumbo went the fence, despite Jud's desperate effort to hold him up. There was a s crash, a wild scattering of railbirds, and Jumbo. caromed then Wastrel. swinging clear, pounded on to nose out the wavering Thimble at, the wire. Cracker Johnson did not look back When Little Jumbo went down on the rail. Jud was thrown thirty feet through | the air like a pebble from a siing shot. | does scarlet is neck | fur as any hoss. A black-headed ball of fire in h: silks, the little darky landed on d shoulders, in the infield back (;{) the | o' th crowd. swarme He layv quite still. The r: about the fallen Little Jumb now a piece of uiterly ruined horseflesh. . but what was one | day, A horse was a ho biack jockey. more or less? ferson did not rise senaes by a pistol Then he sh bed his eves in a clambered to his Jud Jef- ot and He daze. eet Judd Jef- ferson, black jock on Lit- tle Jumbo. at the rail, and Whitey Green, on Thimble, glance Green round out of the cor- For one fleeting grips on the cker John- of wild days on He clawed and tore at the black stal- | | Jeffer- t-going into ickening k his bullet head. rub- slowly seat.” -, BY JONATHAN BROOKS. starve to death, hunchbeck or no hunchback." The little darky revived at his wortl By Ah ain’ no humpback,” he said weakly. If'n y* ain’ no humpback, then Ah nevuh see one,” declared Lindy, from over her coffes pot. * " uin’ humpback. nigguh. then what is yuth ‘Got_th’owed off'n a hoss,” said the little fellow, vainly trying to Hft a hand to his shoulders, by way of ex- planatio “Whut! At N demanded Nub. st fall, In a race. y'all show up aroun " asked Lindy. thrusting & cup of hot coffee at the boy. s "at? with his towe! and pan of celd water, to iet the boy seald his throat with the coffee. “Fust y'all get th'owed oft'n a hoss, nen y'all git th'owed off'n a freight train. Call yo'se’f a jockey. but whut kin yo' ride?” * ok kX TUDSON JEFFERSON was too busy with the coffee to reply, and Judge Parker smiled behind his hand. “Let's give the boy 2 chance, Nub, he said. “Lindy, suppose you fix up a bed or a cot for him to sleep on. He needs to get filled up with sieep and food and rest. Nub, we'll go out and look at those colts mow. We won't worry ovah this thing_of hoodoos.” Judge Parker and Nub left the | shack and went to the barns. | “Longboy looks good to you now, he?" ‘Sutny ‘At colt kin gallop as an’ men run the rest e way as fast as anybody wants Jus' like old Longfellow hisse'f, do. | Jeage. Looks mo’ like the old hoss every too. Nub, Sume head, ssme long | barrel and big lung box. If he's got intil startled to his | tne_same cournge and speed. we'll win | th Kentucky Colonel Stakes this yea Sit this snow off'n the groun’, so's we kin wuhk ‘im plenty. and that race's stood good as in right now, jedg e quiet a moment, trying to understand | After an hour's inspection trip through JUDGE PARKER ENTERI ED INTO SWI € CONTROVERSY WITH | no |of his tobaceo crop on the outcome of the Colonel Stakes. A few days | later Colonel Taylor repad his_visit | and there was further raillery. When | he departed they agreed to stack each his own colt on the result of the irace. As the weather opened up and raining got under way their spirit boy a&s against the merits of Ten Brush. y wagers were lald. some and friendehip for the owners of the colts, more from keen jJudgment of breeding and speed. i The race is the thing. There is a romance in the preparation of a runner for a big stake. is trainers #nd riders. They eat, slesp and drink over questions of weight, of pace, of food, shoes and saddles, and ponder vital decisions from to day for weeks before the day of the race it- sef brings two minutes in which all their judgment I8 put to the final test Tils in & romance all their own, but the race they share with the rest of us. About ten days before the annual re- of ithe Kentucky Colonel at La- when the racing world was ching dally for news of the event, a story sppeared in the Louisville and Cincinnati papers that roused the re- sentment of all Kentucky. It noted the purchase by Wilson T. Willough- by, weslthy gambler and horseman of Chicago and Baltimore. of the cnuntry estate and stock farm of Col. John Taylor of Kentucky. Included in the sale H the bred and owned by Col among them Ten Brush. a fi for the Kemtucky Colonel Stakes. Willoughby, the story said, had an ambition to win the Kentucky Col- onel. a wstake he had never won, although he had entered colts each year for several years. “Good sports- man,” thought that part of the turf world that did net Rnow him. LR .BL’T Kentucky was first horrified and then resentful at the Intru- fon of an outsider. Col. Taylor, sick at heart, drove over to Park- hurst the same day the item ap- peared to recite a sorrowful tale to Judge Parker. “We made the deal several days ago, judge, and 1 have sutny been in- tending to come ovuh and talk to y about jt. But, suh, 1 have been done. 1 have been ha'd pressed fo' month: and I had to sell to be able to meet my bankers. It's been coming on 1ong time, but I sald mothing about it thinking maybe I could find some cthuh solution. But, ahem.” and the old fellow cleared his throat and wiped his eyes. Judge Parker poured him out a heart warmer. “A man from Loo'vl came down sev. eral days ago.” place and the stud and all. dreamed it was not a Leo'vl man. did not tell me the name, but let me think his client was one of ou’ people heah in the siate. Well, suh, the first thing I knew of this Mistuh Willoughby was this mawnin' when 1 picked up the uh. And 1 drove right ovul feel as if I had done yo' 'y, judge, it hu'ts me, ev my old prope’ty. “John,” and J arm about the hope you will col me a while bef And I'm sutny hopin toni the the I t protest. ‘But_T'd like to have You go. wouldn't heah of yo' goin' any oth way than s my Own pussonal guest {insisted the judge. It was settied in that way. Like the man and wife who turned to and berated a third party for an effort at peace making, Ken- tuckians got together in whole-souled resentment of Wileon T. Willoughby for stepping in between the old rivals. Unable to visit their wrath upon his head, they took it out in conbolidation of their loyalty and support behind Judge ricer the colt bo; Pa: and Lo Y. OM Nub Shanks found advice and sug- €OL. TAVLOR OVER THE MERITS OF TEN BRUSH AND LONGBOY.|gestions galore with regard to the con- _— the queer numbness that had seized his bead and shoulds dragged himself, broken-hearted. ae the track toward the barns at the head of the stretch. * ok ok K HIS was at New Orleans when Tod Sloan was still riding a broom- stick furiously through the streets of Kokomo, before that young Indi- ana town had dreamed of automobiles and before Tod himself had heard of such a thing as a floral horseshoe or the Suburban Handicap. It was in the days when racing was the sport of kings. country gentlemen, colonels and judges. $ather than ihe business of cap- tains of industry impelled to cash in even on their avocations. The breed was still being improved for lts own sake. And wagering was for the pur- pose_ ot subsiantiating judgment _of horseflesh and grati g pride, rather than for the feel of dollars won. Such men as Judge Breckenridge B. Parker still were the rule on the turf. Such men as W Cracker Johnson’ ceptions. Willoughby was of the world, worldly. Judge Parker was of Ken- tucky, A hoss. suh. he was wont to say, “is the noblest wuhk of God." One morning in early spring. before u vagrant snowstorm had picked up its gkirts and taken itself away from the Pluegrass, Judge Parker stepped out of his house at Parkhurst and started Jeigurely for the barns to look over some colts. A hubbub rattled against his ears, and he hurried to the little shack that served as home and headquarters for his trainer, old Nub Shanks. The shrill_voice of Nub's fat wife, Lindy, <ut the chilly air. Reinforcing it came the boom of Nulb's deep hass. “Git away f'm heah, nigguh.” Lindy. “Don’ yo' come around heal bringin’ no bad luck. “Kain't have no hoodoo round this tock fa'm,” explained old Nub, heavily. ust y'all g'long int' town now and leave us be screamed h in't y'Il got jus' a bite o' po'k an’ a Ii'l ish?" came a third and strange voice, plaintively. “Ah'm powe'ful hungry and Ah'm turble cold.™ P [JUDGE PARKER rounded the cor- ner of the first barn in time to see old Nub thrusting a ragged and woe- begone little darky off the small lean- to porch and threatening him with the stock of a worn-out buggy whip. “Wait a minute, Nub the judge called. “What's the trouble heah”” The little darky, turning at the sound of the judge’s voice, sank down against the edge of the little porch and lay_with his head on the icy planks. Lindy viewed him with alarm popping out of the whites of her eyes @s Nub answered his boss. “Why, jedge,” Nub explained, “they's & knock at the doah, and when Lindy opens it dis yere humpback wants t’ come in. Says he's hungry, says he's cold, says kain't we let him m. But, 3edge, he's a hoodoo—' “Ain’t never no hoodoo like a hump- ‘back, jedge,” interrupted Lindy. Judge Parker startled and horrified «ald couple by stooping over, pick- the little darky and them, them aside, carrying him in- the house, to deposit him befors the the barns. during which the big black jand Nub left the stables. “You might bring the other colt: along. Nub, as fast as you can when the | weathuh opens up. but Tithink we'll pin our check on Longboy. You'd bettuh staht exercisin’ him on the roads and on the sod the best you can, withysome sharp shoes on him. I wouldn't' wait al longer.” essuh, vessuh, AN'Il do \that, suh. “Tell Gallagher, as soon me you can et hold of him, that he'd be@uh come out here and stay from now yon. But |tell him if T fina him pushin’.the colt and_bringin’ him g too wring his young IHsheneck. too fast quick T' “Yessuh. Halfway back to the Iouse ?‘fi Parker stopped and called o the' o ar ‘Oh, Nub! Have the teami hitched to the light buggy fo' me in If _an houah. Give them a bit to rm goin’ to drive ovuh to Tayluh' “Yessuh, yessuh." replied Nub. chuckled fo himself as he shuffledinto his own little shack. “Ol boss up t' somepin _now. Gwine ovuh _to\ see Kuhnel Tayluh and fin' out wha kuhnel's gwine staht in the bigéstal he mused, thinking gloud. A few 'minutes later he came out again, followed by Jud Jefferson. 7the little fellow insisted on going alooE with him to help get the team rea 3y for the judge. Jud wol as 1\e walked, but he went eagerly, grateful t! the judge for giving him haven froma fireless, foodless world. * k ox % UDGE PARKER spent a long)| pleasant afternoon before the fireside of his old friend and neighbor, Col John Taylor. Pipe and bowl assisted turf memories in beguilement of the hours. Good-natured ralllery over their respective prospects for the Kentucky Colonel lent spice to the conversation. Col. Taylor allowed the merits of ‘Longboy. The colt had shown fairly well as a two-year-old, he admitted, 1 and all the Longfellow tribe had a habit ot coming on as three and four-year: olds. But for his part, he preferred = wiry, flery colt of his own, a rampageous sorrel he called Ten Brush, combining the names and racing traits of two il- lustrious old familles of the turf. ““This colt Ten Brush, suh,” he de- ;clared, standing before the fireplace with his back and palms of his handw to the blaze, “is the runnin’est fool evuh dropped in this county. When othuh hosses are lookin’ fo' soft places to llay theah halds, this Ten Brush is ready to sprint to the wire. Without Brush, the fleld in the Kuhnel would a down and die befo’ yo' o 4 Brush_stahtin’, as but with Ten . Pahkhuhst will have to wait anothul yeah befo’ claimin’ the Kuhnel stakes.’ “Optimism,” quoth Judge Parker, smiling, “is a jewel. Optimism, hope, but the greatest of these ‘Withon and charity, three is optimism. the human race about like slugs in the mud. see a man possessed of o] kuhnel, but it takes mo' tham win hoss Tem | sho'ly will staht, I sutnly fesh that| ditioning of Longboy rolling in upon him from trainers, ex-jockeys and others that had never failed to derldalh!l Dest coit Longhoy was let put of his stall and carefully appraised, Judge ?.rkm‘"""’ e s erratic and Irish, bubbled over wit] thusiasm and other volatile stuff as new friends offered him tips on the best way to ride to beat Ten Brush. Little Jud Jefferson, in fact, was the only person on the Parkhurst premises that was not affected in some manner by the shift in the situation that was leading up to the grent Colonel Stakes. Jud had made friends with Gallagher, and, thanks to a regular diet of Lindy’s pork chops and gravy, was regaining his strength. Now a - er had been out late the night be- fore in town, imbibing advice and cheap liquids among friends, lttle Jud had done some early-morning riding for the white boy. But the little darky with the sadly twisted shoukiers seemed en- tirely unmoved by the turmoll over the | forthcoming race. He etill carried his 1 Gazed manner. { The day before Parkhurst moved up to Yatonia, which was three days be- fore the renewal of the big stake, Col. ‘aylor came back from a visit to Loufs- ville, where he had been concluding the details of his sale. “It is & sad business, judge,” he sald. “I took the libe’ty to inquiah among my friends in Loo'vl, and I am infawmed that one who races against this Mistuh Willoughby ‘must watch all the corners. He must be prepa’sd to look aftuh his own interests at all times. Tt seemed to me I could not do less than make what amends T could fo' havin' with- drawn from the race as I was fo'ced do.” “Kuhnel,” replied the judge., “T am suahly obliged. I shall do the best I ‘an to take ca’e of myself. But you (ust quit thinking you have done me a damage.” tal 4Tt is as if,” rejoined Col. Taylor, “T hey\ knowingly precipitated my best and 't friend into a lon's den.” He ‘gho his Read sadly. |to *xx % Em\bY the next morning Parkhurst w\'s abustle with preparation to get away for Latonia. Moving a racing :\table is almost as bad as ship- 'ping a c\'rcus, for the horses must be hamdted \V'ith even more care than the giraffes :\1d laughing hyenas. The lightest 1%-uise may ruin the career of & potent W1 star of the turf. Colored ran hYher and yon among the bams, shout 'glndh hing as _they worked. ©ld\Nub kept them all busy, after @ fashiol1. and Judge Taylor did not come out 80 the barns during the morning, in fad't, except on one occa- sion when Hh& heard Nubd's voice pitched even h.\Ther and more shrill tl han 5 “Talke yall 'Xo.\I' to Latonia”" Nub almost screnmed. ' "AIn’ it enough we feed y'uil \1nd ded yo' ‘thout ¥'all 1\'nE to the .races?” Puriter \strode out of the heuse he saw old Nul\' brandishing his #t 1ittle Jud Jefferson. odoo | nyhow, R yo' brung ti ed Nub &nd y should be tracl jockeyn the day before the race, but huddled about ‘the Parker Gallagher, on the other hand, was out. among the boys at every opportunity. In the forenoon he fell into a crap game and | won' thirty-eight dolla; When he {left the game he left with Cracker iJohnson, who was bewailing his own (A1 Juck. “lverything’s goin' against me, said the Cracker. “Had a bad winter down south, and first day I light ! heve 1 lose my money on the bones. Boss sald yesterday If 1 couldn’t win a race tomorrow, he'd fire me cold. @ontract or no contract, he says, I'm through.” “What race y' in?" asked Gallagher, sympathetically. “Them Kuhnel Stales. ridin' Ten Rrush.” replied the Cracke “No chance.” Gallagher said posi- T'm in that race on the win- This TLongboy's in already. Might as well leave vour horse in the barn_for all the good he'll do you “Well. on the other hand. it might do you a lot of good if Longboy didn't win." said Cracker Johnson pointedy. taking a new tack and dropping the sympathy gag. “Don’'t Interest me a-tal Gallagher, pulling awa He reported the incident to Judge Park whose wrath bolled over mightily. Colonel Taylor was for re- porting to the stewards Immediately, but this Judge Parker refused ‘o do. Fudwe. lat me tell the stewn'ds of is mMAttuh. begged Colonel Taylor. The judges ought to know it, regahd less of the outrome of the race. handle it without embarrassment declared “Not fo' a minute, i thi Sodng. e. kuhnel” replied He declared he wnould count on Longboy's legs and lungs to beat Willoughby and Ten Brush. He warned Gallagher to sta: the other fockevs. and especially to avoM Cracker Johnson and the others in _the Willoughby ~utfit, Gallagher agreed. but thnt night he fell from grace. Out amonz the boys again. he drank several drinks, more drinks than he could assimilate. The next morning his head was pounding as hard as the wheels of the locked freight car that wes carryl him in the direction of Norfolk. V Galla- gher was kidnapped. clean, with no evidence left behind him. Pickling and kidnapping a jockey 18 one of the anclent and dishonorable tricks of the track. Among metro- politan stables it is not of great effect, but when worked ngainst a_country owner who In all likelihood has only one jockey, it usually gets the desired result. Johnson and the Willoughby outfit must have thought Judge Park- er had no other jockey. They prob- ably thought. too. that no other boy than Gallagher had ever had a leg up on the colt Longhoy. ** % % \\'HEN 10 o'clock of the morning of the race rolled around, and Gal- lagher had not appeared. old Nub Shanks became worrled. He sent out scouts to look for the Irish jockey. They brought back no news, except that Gallagher had been drinking the night before. At eleven o'clock Judge Parker and Colonel Taylor arrived. Old Nub broke the news in the center of a swarm of Parkhurst hangers-on, agape with excitement and suspense. Judge Parker hit the sky. “By the etuhnal” he exclaime wrathfully, “they have kidnapped the I'll make them pay fo' this. pay through the nose. Damned rascals' Those people shall be ruled off the tu'f. kuhnel, o' I shall withdraw from the spo’ “It_ makes a man wish fo' a little lynch law. suh” replied the colonel. “Why can't we go to the stewa'ds right now. judge? Let's lay this mat- tuh_befo’ them promptly.” . suh,” declared the judge. 11 lick them fust and make them like it aftuhwa'ds. We'll win this race, kuhnel, it it essuh. jedge.” interrupted old Nub. “But whut we gwine do ‘bout somebody to ride ouah colt, suh?" “That's the worst paht of it snap- ped the judge. “Mistuh Willoughb: al got the best jockey in the land, by all accounts. in this Crackuh Johnson, to ride Ten Brush. Yet they feel they've ot to kidnap ou’ po’ little Galleguh n order to hold an advantage. We must find some one who can outride this Crackuh boy.’ Little Jud Jefferson, on the outer rim of the excited circle, turned al most cream white when Johnson's me was mentioned. A flush swept “«COMIN® THROUGE! the last thing we | D. C, JULY 10, 1921—PART strong. He's a big, strapping colt, with a heavy head. The boy that rides him hax got to be on top of im all the time. What makes you think you can ride him?" “Wh jedge, Ah's rid him befo’, the time. Mo'nin's when Galla- !many" He runs fo' me, guh wasn't aroun’. jedge, he sho' d ¥ that right, Nub?" “Well, jedge. Ah reckom it i grudgingly replied Sh scratching his woolly head. he’s hump- back, this yere boy handles 'im 'bout as well as anybody. But Ah still says he’s beat have you got to A the Crackuh Johnson?' demanded ignoring Nub's superstition. he jock whut broke mah Jammed my hoss Killed him. Most nigh killed me.” The boy wiped tears | from his eves with one hand and rub- bed a shoulder with the other. “But, boy. we can't have this good big colt in a jum! If we let you ride Ihim. will you give us your word you'll | tick to running and not try smushing | this Johnson? You won't be out theah | gettin’ even?" asked the judge. “Jedge, Ah don’ wanna huht tihs Crackuh, Ah dom’ wanna huht nobody, | Jedge. Ah wouldn't do t' nobody. suh. what he done ' me. All 1 wants is fo beat him, suh. an’ beat him right. des, y'all gimme somepin t eat an’ « wahm place t' sleep when 1 wuz sick. An'd sutny like to he'p yall, t' pay fo' it THE judge and Col. Taylor left the stalls on their way to the stands Old "Nub began to prepare Longboy for the race, and a row arose. It had to do with the manner of placing a sad- dle on big Longboy's back. Nub talked as long, loud and Irascibly as he ever had to the little darky, but this time Jud was talking back. “Mo' weight yuh put on his back- bone,” declared Jud, vehemently, “less * * * ¥ OF THE RAIL GANGWAY!® SCREAMED CRAUKER JOHNSON, LASHING TEN BRUS JUD GLANCED QUICKLY OVER HIS SHOULDER, THEN SWUNG LONGBOY EVER SO SLIGETLY TOWARD THE FENCE. over his pudgy black face, followed by s stiffening of the lips and a gleaming of the eyes that marked a firm_resolve. “Whut, whut, whut—oh, please suh, please suh, . boy mmered and stuttered as he pushed through the crowd to get to the judge’ all's gwine ride “Crackuh Johnson, boy. mattuh with you?” “Jet please gh. Jedge. ride 'at big_Longboy. ‘im, jedge; I'll Jam him ‘long home *haid o' that Johnson. Lemme—" The little darky had seized the judge’'s hand, snd was literally beg- ging. The favor might have meant Tite, he was s0 much in earnest. “Bless Parker. my soul!” exclalmed Judge ‘What is this?" ‘With the rest of the astonished by little Ju nate words. shown any living in fimlflrfl. Itwas as if & P A kin ride, Jedge. AlNs rid bettuh hosses ‘n 'at Longboy, jedge. Lemme t & hold of 'im. Ab’s gotta beat ‘st kuh_man, This last remark caught Judge gazed long he's gwine run. Ah's gwine ride ’'at colt, an' Ah's gwine hab the saddle tht where Ah rides.” Taylor suddenly left the judge’'s side. He had found a friend from New Orleans among the officials. ‘When he rejoined Judge Parker, this official and all the others knew of the effort to bribe er, which failed, and the effort to kid: him, which suc- ceeded. The colonel did not tell Judge Parker what he had done. In those days the Kentucky Colonel graced the program on the opening day of the Latonia spring meeting. It was the big feature event 0f the meeting, and the first important colt stake of the early semson. All Kentucky and southern Indiana and Ohlo turned out for it. Chicago, New York and Baiti- more sent their contingents of horse lovers and race followers. Telegraph operators, in numbers sufficient to give the standing army of the United States battle, marshaled forces, ready to \AI} | | barrfer, | for Longboy. “JED6E,” SPUTTERED JUD, “THAT JOCK THREW ME AT N'YAWL’'NS. AND BEAT HIM RIGHT.” 1 There was a momentary lull as the sixth horse came 1n sight. After him a demge of wild o cheers, rebel yells, and han clapping enguifed the sedate, slow- moving, black Longboy. The crowd, especiaily that part of it that lived in Kentucky, went wild. Cracker Johnson, turning Ten Brush for the trip back up the stretch to the saw the demonstration was He saw little Jud sit- ting like a plaster cast of a jockey. not_moving a muscle nor turning his head wo much 28 an inch to the right or left. He Swore a jealous oath at the sight. The cheering continued until Judd swung the colt about and followed the procession up the stretch. 1t was not until then that the crowds began to murmur with astonishment The littie darky was sitting on the colt’s shoulders. Why was that sad- dle up against the shoulder blades? How could the colt Tun with a boy hanging to his head? What was his trainer thinking about? Isn't that boy a hunchback? These questions fleeted through the crowd an instant before they were given voice. Then ribald comment broke loose and ran riot. nigguh, bit yelled mouth and all's a gone coon, shouted an- " ready t' lead him home?” Don’t Stop there—g'wan an’ ride the next hoss in fromt!" * % % % IN these days, when Tod Sloan is a tradition and his seat up in the horse’s mane 15 established turf cus- tom, little Jud would not be noticed. But Tod was still the terror of his neighborhood in Kokomo, winning races with a hoop. Judge Parker turned to Colonel Taylor, up in the stands. “The boy has to sit up thesh.” he remarked. “Otherwise he could not hold the colt's head. That fall at N'yaw!'ns shortened his back and his reach.” “It doesn't mattuh if he sits be- tween the colt's ears, judge, so long he gets the best the colt has in * replied the colonel e makes the othuh boys look like they are ridin’ hobby howses, with the saddles in the middle of theah backs.” There was some ralllery in the stands at the expense of the judge, who took It good-humoredly. More eyes were on the track, however, than upon him. Ranging before the barrler. with the seven colts moving restlessly about, Cracker Johnson tried once more to upset Jud's grip on himself. F 1 dlda't kill yuh at N'yawl'ns” he eald as Ten Brush backed and plunged alongside the placid Longboy, “T1l get yuh up here, nigger. We've gotta lotta money up on this race, and we're gonna win it. Bee?’ Jud, paying no heed whatever, kept &n eye on the starter. . “They’re off,” screamed that part of the orowd that took In the race with its lunga rather than its eyes. More observant _enthusiasts noted that Longboy. with the crouching little darky hunched out over his shoulders and mane, had broken well up to the front and was already In full stride one jump behind a nervous little bay They raced this way to the first ‘with the other five bunching be- fairly close up. udge,” remarked Colonel Taylor as they fled past the stands, “I won. duh if the boy don't actually help the big colt, sittin’ up front that way?" The judge was too intent on the race to answer. Through his glasse he saw that Longboy was running easily, with the great, free swing that ad Longfellow tribe con- ront of “Lady Friend, she's called,” replied the judge without taking his eyes from the track. “A fllly by Oid Friend, m Mo'gan’s hoss, ovuh by Mo'san- eld.” ““Theah nevuh was a Friend could carry that speed all the way, jedge. ‘Why do yo' reckon that boy broke sprintin’_with the filly in a race this distance?’ The_ judg: stant to his old comrade “The hound that done yo' lace, John, has uvnl:;l e i o *Try] vad B 'en Brush, the skunk.” said Colonel Taylor, clenching his fists. “Will the oolt hold up all the way, judge?” “Johm, T ll‘il" know, but if breed- can prevalil ovuh foul | ¢ LR Gonva around the turn, Longboy's long, powerful stride cut down the filly's lead. Lady Friend's jockey nd went to the whip as they headed down | " stretch. And 'the Aflly, lowered his glasses and |tD ALL AH WANTS IS TO BEAT HIM, stop watch,” he said. “The pace out theah Is terrific. The real race will begin in & min vhen Longboy shakes this replied Judge Parker. “John- on’s a finish rider. He's got yo' colt p in his 1ap. kuhnel, and Ten Brash won't know he’s in the race until he hits the stretch. Longboy's steady, incessant pound- ing broke the filly's heart on the far turn, and Lady Friend blew up. She Liad served her purpose, for she had carried Longboy to the three-quarters in record-breaking time. Pointing into the stretch toward home, when Longboy should have had a breathing spell. Jud seemed to come to life. He got ready to ride. It was well he did, for Longboy was a weary, heavy-legged colt by this time. Jud tightened his grip on the reins, slid a little farther along the great colt’s shoulders and mane, and clung a little cloger. From the stands it seemed he must be whispering in the colt's ear. Longboy, under urging lcngthened his stride and swung little faster. Coming into the straight- away, he was drawing off from the field stightly, but the advantage lasted only an instant. “There he comes,” said Judge Park- er nervously to Colonel Taylor. “Longboy 7" 'No, “The colt h “And Longboy is tizh'd, John. n speed, judge.” ome &p! jud e reached, an 2 Cracker Johnson began his ride on Ten Brush. The sorrel colt shot out from the weary group that trailed Longboy in the dust. Under a cut of the whip, Ten Brush flew after the big black halfway to the wire, he needed two lengths to gain _even terms. Four jumps more, and Long- boy's lead was down to one length Little Jud was still sitting tight. He heard Ten Brush pounding up behind. Then came a familiar cry. “Comin’ through” screamed Cracker Johneon, Klashing the already frantic Ten Brush with a barbed whip. “On the rail, gangwa: Jud Jefferson, cool as a mint julep, glanced quickly over one shoulder to make Bure it was the rail the Cracker wanted. Then, with one flick of a light whip, and a word in the failing Longboy’s ear, he Swung ever 80 over toward the fen Johason, furious. * % % % HIS volee struck no terror in the INttle fellow's heart. Too late, the Cracker pulled to the outside, jumped on Ten Brush heel and toe. tooth and nail, and jammed the sorrel out toward the middle of the track. The game Ten Brush took the punish- ment and gave the best he had. His wild burst of speed gave the Cracker hope, and he flailed the colt's ribs in = last terrific dash. He reckoned without the little darky. Jud gave him a lesson in fin- ish riding without the whip. “Longboy, Longboy," crooned the colored lad to the big black's ear. “C'm along home.” Out on Longboy’s neck he cronched, his own kinky head weaving and lift- ing Wwith the colt's. Twd jumps from the wire Ten Brush's red nose showed side by side with Longboy's black nostrils. But on the last strides little Jud seemed fairly to leap from Long- boy's shoulders and jerk him home. Hurtling toward the wire, the boy freed the weary colt of his weight for an instant. Then with an effort worthy a giant, little Jud literally dragged and flung the faltering Long- boy under the wire, inches to the good. As little Jud jogged the leg- weary black colt back to the judges’ stand before dismounting, the great throng rocked the stands. Enthu jasm over a record-breaking mile, by the ungainly colt and the freak, monkeylike rider, broke like thunder. Almost before the demonstration |y, ended, Jockey Cracker Johnson jump- ed up the steps to the ju stand. Not far behind him was Wilson T. loser of some thousands and a very bitter lose) t to see the judges,” declared e Cr the little inclosure that houl ! © sir, 1_claim a foul. little nigger pufled out in front of when 1 was coming up on the rail I yelled. You heard me yell, sir, an he pulled right #n front and cut me off. If these niggers are gonna work that kind of trigks. T'll get “Wait a minute’’ interposed ons of the officials, & friemd-of Colonel lor, from New Orheans. You'll g the white boys together and boycott the track—is that §?" He turned to other officials, and paid no af tention to the entrance of Wilson T. ‘Willos . eptical words he me sir. a hl “Those were the id: used at New Orleans, jgentlemen.” Crack asped in astonishment. ymembered the threat he d ma The other s nodded. . Willou nsed &nother losing situation such riding hat do 1fttle darky: It ought to be fllegal to ce @ saddle on the withers, and ‘with the welght suspenited over a horse’s neck. I monkeyshines.™ 't that 2 jockey 11ding on 'the Hp of & hoss's noge, suh, If he j?u Willoughby look|ad at the Cracker, and Johnson look:}d back at his em- pigyer. Downcast) the turned and left the inclosure. ' At the foot of the steps. glowering (it the crowd as- sembled in the trguwck, they met Cpl- onel Taylor, who had rotinded up Judge Parker andi little Judson Jef- ferson, to have them handy in case of any emergency in the judges' stand. * Colonel T a¥lor hoted the ex. pression on WIllpughby's face. and turned to Judge! Parker, snubbing Willoughby cold, “Judge, he sald| in a firm tone, ‘the thing that interesks me most i what yo' boy whispuh'd| hat coit's eah “What did you kay, boy?" asked the judge, smiling. “Ah_nevuh sald rothin'” replied little Jud, grinnipg broadly at John- Zon as the Crack br shook a dirty fi and snarled at hi in passing, jus’ once, comin’ ome.” a tha |7 ‘What wi “Lon gboy, Git} out like ;a white folk’'s hoss.” (Oopyriizht, 1921.) —_— The Age: of a Fish. ) A FISH tells itm age by its scales, just as & tree /does by the growth rings in its wood. The fish scale per- sists, in geagral, throughout the life of the fish and grows in proportion with the rest of the fiwh, principally by ad- ditions around its{ border. At interval: there is produced 4t the growing edge delicate ridge upola the sutface of tm scale. During !?\a period of rapi growth in the fishjthe ridges are wide! separated, while during the slow growti: in fall and winter fhe ridges are crowdc:! close tozether, forming a dense band. The bureau of {fisheries says that certain method of determining Ahe ag: of salmon has been developed in re- cent years through the mdaptation bs American scientists of the discovery b European investigators that the ridgey observed on the scales of certain fishc« of wth of 1h. Dr. Charles H. Gilbert University applied this method to the determination of the ag of the varfous #pecies of cific salmor He sald that while the method as regatds Pacific salmon, it has been experimentally tested and fully approved by the fisheries board of Bcotland in the case of the Atlantic salmon, ani is now universally accepted as furnish ing reffable data as to the age and any other facts in the life history of that fish. It has also been shown to b appiicable to various species of trout, and its value has been s!mnn!ll‘llfld in fishes as widely divergent as the carp the eel, the bass, the flounder and the cod. 1t I8 £ald that the surface of the scal- is mapped out in definite succession of areas, a band of widely spaced rings always followed by @ band of closels crowded ri the two together con Stuting & mmgle years growth. Tiha: irregularities occuf will not be denifd and this is natural_fnasmuch as growth may be checked by other causes than the purely seasonal one. Also a con- siderable _experience is requisite for the correct interpretation in many cases The+Color Foods. THE color <of the plumage of ca- naries mmy be changed by feeding The yellow may be deepened or in- e ed by certain color foods dur- ing the “molt’* and the Department of Agriculture once issued a bulletin on this subject. It was prepared Alexander Wetmore, assistant blolo- gist of the biological survey, and sét forth that many of the so-called color foods, such as tumeric. marigold flowers. saffron. cochineal. annatto, port wine and mustard seed, though very rich in color, seemed to exert but Ilitile influence on the plumage «f the birds. He wroté that so far = known all successful color foods for canaries have red pepper as the base. by " {but caution and experience are necded i ;mngen o the birds. Color feeding should begin as soon as the birds are ready to molt and must be confinued? until no more pin feathers can be see on the body. when the feathers a carefully blown aside. The usual supply of seed must be kept in the cage, for canaries cannot subsist on color food alone. The department has said that a stand- ard color food may be prep: in this 'rlo the ordinary egg food cracker crumbs) add a teaspoonful of ground sweét red pepper. Mix until the food shows an even reddish tint throughout. Each bird to be experi- mented upon should receive one small teaspoonful daily, The quantity of pei r is increased two eaping teaspoonful . Addi- tion of a few drops of pure ollve oll and a little brown sugar is beneficial, and small quantity of hot red pepper giv a better flavor. The food should be pre- red fresh every . In mixing. al- jowance should be made for varlation In In color feed ing some breeders of canaries incre the proportion of sweét red pepper until four teaspoonfuls are added to the usual quantity of egg food. Half a teaspoon- ful of this concentrated food Is allowed to each bird. This method should be used during a short, quick molt. Strange Delicacies. THIS is the way an Eskimo lady sits at the head of her table and dis- penses hospitality, and these are the delicate items on her bill of fare. They were tested at first hand by an American, when In crossing Sibe: at the north he had to accept native customs with what grace he might. No matter how early one may awaken in the morning, he will al- ways find the mistress of the house already up ;thet is, her position has changed from reclining to sitting. But as soon a8 she observes that v ere really awake she hands you ' small plece of meat to steady your nerves until breakfast time. Then she goes into the next apart- ment, which is merely an inclosure for keeping the dogs away from the stores, and after fifteen minutes of pounding and chopping, returns with the breakfast. A large, flat wooden tray is placed on the floor, and the hostess takes her position at one end, in the attitude usually described as squatting. Th family and their guests gather roun the on either side, lying flat on thelr stomachs with their heads to- ward the breakfast and their feet out. The first course consists of some frozen weeds mixed with seal ofl and eaten with small rtions of fresh bber, which the lady of the house cuts with a large chopping knife. The next course is walrus meat. This is also cut up by the presiding lady and is served with no stinting hand. At this portion of the meal the one who can swallow the largest piece without chewing has the ad van! and the only way to get eve with him is to k|rep one :l!:d! in your mouth and two in your hand. After lhhtfinlnt hi bee.n ’tll;'or.o 1{ jscussed, there comes plec -‘}: ‘walru® hide, which has a small ttion of blubber attache d_the ::Ir still on the outside. It is about an inch thick and very tough, so that it is impossible to affect it by chewing. It is, therefore, out int9 very small pieces by the hostess, and finishes the meal Really, it is the most palatable dish of all. Keats Famous in Spite of Name. From the Westminster Gasetta. At the moment when we have all been paying homage to the memory of Keats and his achievements in “the realms of gold,” it Is curious to recall Russell Lowell thought the poet's name stood In the way of his o adequate appreciation in hir own day. “Men,” wrote Lowell, “Sudge the cur- rent ooin by the ring and are readier to take without question whatever i Baconian, Newtonian, Jo! sonian, Jeffersonian, Washi; nikn. c, and all the rest. You cannot make a good adjective out of) he more pity—and o suy & ng is “Kea is ‘to condemn it. Mo