Newspaper Page Text
BLACK
ROCK
By
RALPH
CONNOR
■••♦♦♦♦a
AlitH now tile struggle Is for the
bridge over the ravine. The bay* In
front, running with mouths wide o|>eti,
are evidently doing their best. Behind
them and every moment nearing them,
but nt the limit or their speed, too.
come the lighter and fleeter citizens*
team, while opposite their driver are
the plutos. pulling hard, eager and
fresh. Their temper is too uncertain
to send them to the front. They run
well following, but when leading can
not be trusted, and. besides, a broncho
hates a bridge, so Sandy holds them
where they are. waiting and hoping for
his chance after the bridge Is crossed
Foot by foot the citizen/*' team creep
up upon tin' flank of the bays, with the
plutos In turn iniggiug them closely, till
It seems us if the three, if none shw k-
ens, must strike the bridge together,
and this will mean destruction to one
nt least. This danger Sandy perceives,
but be dare not check bit leaders. Sud
denly within a few yards of the bridge
Baptiste throws himself upon the lines,
wrenches them out of Sandy's hands
and, with a quick swing, faces the plu
tos down the steep side of the ravine,
which Is almost sheer lee with a thin
coat of snow. It Js a daring comae to
take, for the ravine, though not deep..
Is full of undergrowth and is partially
closed up by a brush heap at the far
ther end. Rut. with a yell, Baptiste
hurls his four horses down the slope
and Into-the undergrowth. “Allons,
noes enfant*! Courage! Vlte! Viter
cries their driver, and nobly do the pin-
tos respond.
Regardless of bushes and brush
heaps, they tear their way through,
but ns they emerge the high bob sleigh
catches a root, and, with a crash, the
sleigh is hurled in the air. Baptiste's
cries ring out high nud shrill as
encouraging his team, and never cease
till, with a plunge and n scramble, they
clear the brush heap lying
mouth of the ravine and are out on the
Ice ou the river, with Baptiste standing
on the front bob, the box trailing be
hind and Sandy nowhere to be seen.
Three hundred yards of the course re
main. The boys, perfectly handled,
have gained nt the bridge and In the
descent to the Ice and ore leading the
citizens’ team by half a dozen lengths.
Behind both comes Baptiste. It Is now
or uever for the plntos. The rattle of
the trailing box, together with the
wild yelling of the crowd rushing
down the bank* excites the bronchos
to madness, and, takipg the bits in
their teeth, they do their first free run
ning that day. Past the citizens’ team
like a whirlwind they dash, clear the
intervening space and gain the flanks
of the bays. Can the bays hold them?
Over them leans their driver, plying
for the first time tie hissing lash.
Only fifty yards more. The miners be
gin to yell. But Baptiste, waving his
lines high In one baud, seizes his toque
with the other, whirls it about his head
and flings It with a fiercer yell than
ever at the bronchos. Like the burst
ing of a hurricane the pintos leap for-
ward. and with a splendid rush cross
the scratch, winuers by their own
length.
There was a wild quarter of an hour.
The shanty men had torn off their
coots and were waving them wildly
and tossing them high, while the
ranchers added to the uproar by emp
tying their revolvers iuto the air in a
way that made one nervous.
When the crowd was somewhat
quieted, Sandy's stiff figure appeared,
slowly making toward them. A dozen
lumbermen ran to him, eagerly inquir
ing if he were hurt But Sandy could
only curse the little Frenchman for
losing the race.
“Lostl Why, man, we've won it!"
■boated a voice, at which Sandy’s rage
vanished, and be allowed himself to
be carried in upon the shoulders of his
admirers.
“Where’s the lad?" was his first ques
tion.
“The bronchos are off with him. He’s
down at the rapids like enough."
“Let me gof shouted Sandy, setting
off at a run in the track of the sleigh.
He bad not gone far before he met
Baptist* coming back with his team
foaming, the roans going quietly, but
the bronchos dancing and eager to be
at it again.
“Volla! Bully boy I Tank the bon
Dieu, Sandy. You not keel, eh? Ah,
yon are one grand chevalier!’’ exclaim
ed Baptiste, bauliug Sandy In and
thrusting the lines Into his hands. And
go they came back, the sleighbox still
dragging behind, the plntos executing
fantastic figures on their kind legs and
Sandy bolding them down. The little
Frenchman struck a dramatic attitude
and, called out:
"Voile f What’s the matter wls San
dy, hehr
The roar that answered set tho bron
chos off again plunging and kicking,
*aad only when Baptiste got them by
the heads could they be induced to
stand long enough to allow Sandy to be
proclaimed wiuner of the race. Sever
al of the lumbermen sprang iuto the
sleighbox with Sandy and Baptiste,
among them Keefe, followed by Nel-
eon, and the first part of the great day
•was over. Riavln could not understand
the new ottlcr of things. That a great
event like the four horse race should
not be followed by drinks all round
was to him at ones disgusting and in
comprehensible, and, realizing bis de-
fsat for the moment, be fell Into the
orowcf anddisapjen rSaf. But he left Tie.
hind him hi* runners. He h*4 not yet
thrown up the game.
Mr. Craig meantime came to me and,
looking after Sandy in his sleigh, with
Ills frantic crowd of yelling admirers,
said In a gloomy voice:
“Poor Sandy! He Is easily caught,
i-mi Keefe has the devil's cunning.”
“He won’t touch Slavin'* whisky to
day,” I nuKwercd confidently.
"Tl'ere-U to Iwratj bottle. wilting j ^~ t o *ad"tk7mm~la to dlMtt "M
CHAPTER lit (
WATERLOO—OUB FJOBT, HW VICTORT.
HE sports were over, and there
remained still an hour to*be
filled In before dlndeT^It
was an hour full of danger
to Craig’s hopes of victory, for the teen
were wll<l with excitement andgpdy
for the md*t reckless means of **Uns-
log their dust” I could not but ad
mire the skill wltlr which Hr. Craig
caught their attention.
“Gentlemen.” he called out “we’ve
forgotten the judge of the great race.
Three cheers for Mr. Connor!"
Two of the shanty men picked me
up and hoisted me on to their sbdtiHera
while the cheers were given.
“Aunounce the Punch and Judy,"
lie entreated me In a low voice.
I did so In a little speech and tras
forthwith borne aloft through the street
to the booth, followed by the whole
crowd, cheering like mad.
The excitement of the crowd cafigbt
me. and for an hour I squeaked spd
worked the wires of the Immortal fnd
unhappy family In a manner hltHerto
uuupproaclied, by me at least.
! glad enough when Graeme came touch
him in the stable.” be replied bitterly,
“and 1 can’t go following him up. lie
won't stand that. No man would. God.
help u* all!”
1 could linrdly recognize myself, for
I found In my heart an earnest echo to
Hint prayer as 1 watched him go to
ward the erowd again, bis face set In
. strong determination. He looked like
the captain of a forlorn hope, and I
was proud to be following him.
manner, and again wltb cheers fur
Punch's master they trooped turnultti
ously iuto the tent.
We had only begun when Baptiste
came la quietly, but hurriedly, and
whispered to me:
”M’sleu Craig, he’s gone to Slavln’s
and would lak you and M’sleu Graeme
would follow queck. Sandy, he's take
one leel drink up at de stable* andhe^s
go mad lak one dlabl*. 1
I sent him for
siding at d'uuei
The Best Guaranteed
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or. a Policy
. Cheaper and Better^
*“*— Id every way than
Assessment or Term Insurance
Is issued by
The Traders Life Insurance Co.
Assets over £37,000,000.
Surplus “ 5.300,000.
Age '• 40 years.
A. L. HITCH ELL,
Special Agent.
ATHENS, GEORGIA.
/SEE THE
PEERING.
HARVESTERS,
;delight.
$75 Rock Hill Buggv Given Away.
GRIFFETH IMPLEMENT COMPANY,
238,240 BroadJStrcct, Athens, 6a. —
Don’t Put Off
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you are alone In the world you must
LEAVE ENOUGHMONEY_
to defrav neceeeary expense*. If others r *
Impendent upon) mi, the responsibility 1*|T
roster, and you .-hoald not hesitate a tlo/\
instant in taking out a policy in the]
Mutual Life of Ga.
for KortherTnfiinn.Uon Addre.'
JOHN A. DARWIN,
Athene, Ga.'
The Jute Horse
Collar-
SEE THEM.
Price 50 cent*.
It need* no Pad.
It Is a Collar and pad combined.
It will not gall your horse,* shoulder.
It will last longer than any'collar sold
tor lea* than #1,00,
It U cheaper than any collar on earth
with which you have tojuie a pad.
It is for sale by*
GRIFFETH IMPLEMENT CO.
DDUE L0AN Ctt ~
HELP
FOR THE POOR/
We are enabled to give the best values
for the Money than ever before. We
have just received over
Men^omen snd Caldrons
SHOES,
Made by the best Manutacters in
United State* and at
PRICES
That will astonish you, Come and
see for yourself. _
New and Second head Furniture
Always on hand at Bottom Prices
Will buy or trade you new Fur
niture lor old. You haven’t seen
Athens. Ga., until you've Io« k ti
tli much «
Wilson’* Auction House.
Auction every Saturday for Live
Stock, Vehicles, etc,'Will tell
an\thing fr« m a n.othpltk to a
Mansion. To save money
must first4£ct our price**..
WILSON A PITTMAN,
C:BROAD S7,,ATH£HS, Ci.
News, Glorious News
The liquor habit permanently cured
It U m much a ditoaro u fever
end small-pox. If it is hereditary,
habitual, pcrcodical and occasional.
For forthnr information apply at
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HOW TO GET RICH!
The First Step
15 TO
SAVE Miff!
Here is where you can save it.
Window Shades.
25c
Tlie so-called Linen, worth 35c
lo 50c
Ladies’ Undervests.
10c
Pink and Blue Vests 5c. For what
other stores ask loo and 20c
we oak
Spectacles.
Lace.
To fit old and voting
10c to
Mirrors.
Beautiful line White Enamel
Mirrors 5c to
25c
25c
Gotton Torchon. We have the strongest line
lOcperyd
Overalls.
Easels.
Of every description.
26o to...
$1.00
White Enamels 5 ft 68c
Pocket Knives.
ove
Boys* knife with chain.
Neck-Wear.
Our Spring line leads the town. See^g
our specials at &0C
All the boys can be suited 6c to 86o. 5c
A foil line from lOo 59c
Buggy Whips.
from lOo
Fruit Jars.
The celebrated masons
Porcelain Lined, at a cut Price.
Enamelware.
A large Shipment of Gray, Blue and Whits
and Green and White at ^g,,
Ooto I Ok
Straw Hats.
6000 Men’e Straw Hats, Children’! Sailors
and Ladies dress hats and d* 1 FA
shapes, all Ihe latest IOc to ^tJ.uU
( Brass Curtain Rods.
10c
e sizes—with
Rugs
Here is a 52.60 Rug. We
have a few to go at
$1.69
Mens Underwear
Our Summer line is the best to AP
be had—We have a leader at <faOC
Dry Goods
A beautiful lins of dainties—Be sure and see
thwp.
NICHOLES’
Oil Me Stores.
The Globe Racket Store.