CRESCEUS, 2:02V4 



best way to show my appreciation of the magnifi- 

 cent crowd is to go out and do the best I can. The 

 track and weather are perfect, and I never saw a better 

 crowd in my hfe. All that I can say is that it's up to 

 Cresceus and me." 



Around on the other side of the track Alike The 

 Tramp, with Tim Alurnen up behind him, was com- 

 ing on a gallop. Ketcham jogged Cresceus a hundred 

 yards down the track and waited for him. As the 

 beat of the pace-maker's hoofs sounded near, Cresceus 

 grew impatient. He seemed to know he was out to 

 beat a record. He wanted to "show" the Alissourians 

 there. 



The galloping runner came alongside, and the cham- 

 pion shot forward. Up past the judge's stand they 

 came neck and neck, ]\Iike The Tramp, with his gal- 

 loping lope, looking awkward and ungainly beside the 

 smooth-going trotter. 



But Ketcham shook his head at the judges. The 

 champion had not caught his stride. Back to the start- 

 ing- point they went again. Down the stretch they 

 came once more, neck and neck. This time as Cres- 

 ceus came under the shadow of the judge's stand, 

 Ketcham nodded his head and the word was given. 

 Cresceus 's legs were moving like clockwork with that 

 long far-reaching stride that carries him over the 

 ground so swiftly. They were off. ''They're oft"!" 

 every one shouted ; and every one stood on tiptoe. 



Round to the eighth pole they went. Cresceus did 



173 



