Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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 |a Life Insurance 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 The Insurance Man oa cannot tell at whafmoment you may be called from this life, and you cannot afffV to leave certain obligations unattended to, J.‘ 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 this office. 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.