388 RACEALONG 



Harry worked over the horse, and got him 

 straightened out before his race was called. Then 

 came more trouble, Mitchell would not strike a pace. 

 He continued to score on a trot. The starter asked 

 Harry at what gait his horse was going* to race. 



Before he could answer John Mitchell reared and 

 wrecked a wheel of the sulky. He appealed to the 

 other drivers for the loan of a sulky. None wanted 

 to risk one behind such a horse. But the track 

 superintendent came to the rescue by telhng Harry 

 there was an old sulky behind the barns that he 

 could hitch into. This substitute was sun baked and 

 creaked when Harry mounted — but he was des- 

 perate. 



The first time down for the word after the change 

 found John Mitchell on a trot again and about six 

 lengths back of the field. The starting judge reached 

 for the bell rope to recall the field, when he noticed 

 Harry nod for the word. As "Go !" was given John 

 Mitchell shifted to a pace and at the three-quarter 

 pole had overhauled his field and won by a length. 



As Dunbar rushed up to the horse when Harry 

 had dismounted the latter was pale with excitement 

 and Dunbar muttered, "He's some plug; he's good 

 for part of the money now ; and for God's sake don't 

 let him get behind the flag." 



Harry's hands itched for a few dollars to put on 

 the field, as even with a heat to his credit John Mit- 

 chell was not noticed by the speculators. 



Harry was not entirely friendless, but he did not 

 know it at the time, as a short, red-faced man 



