A SPEEDWAY INCIDENT. 279 



York.) We know what trotters is in my country, and if 

 any stranger should holler loud in that section, that Bill, 

 Pataloosa Bill — by Birdcatcher out of Nest Egg — isn't 

 a trotter, the chances are that there'd be prechin' in his 

 house and he wouldn't hear it, see ? Because we're proud 

 of Bill in Pataloosa.' 



"But somehow the chestnut moustache didn't drop off, 

 and the grey eyes sorter twinkled a smile — a Bill Heiser 

 grin. 



a 



Charley said — I got well acquainted with him after- 

 wards, and his name is Charley Thompson — with a kind 

 of an Independence (Iowa) air about him, 



"It don't make much difference where you nor your 

 horse hails from. I don't say he isn't King of the Speed- 

 way, but let me tell you something: If he is he's 

 greased lightning on a toboggon slide, that's all. Now I 

 have a horse I dreamed last night was entitled to that 

 throne and he don't want to abdicate till he sees some- 

 thing, see? The path is still there and I'll meet you to- 

 morrow, not after, but before the 'sun goes down,' and 

 we will see who is mistakin', you or I." 



"And we did, and Charley made good. I hadn't been 

 long in New York before I found that it was the fashion 

 to get the best of the start all one could, and I am thinkin' 

 that that method has considerable to do with many of the 

 claims of gentlemen about ownin' the 'King of the Speed- 

 way.' So I made up my mind that I'd get the drop on 

 Independence Charley, so I did about six or seven lengths, 

 lookin' back meanwhile and saying come on, I can't hold 

 Bill back. All I saw was a streak of white. He went 

 past me' like the Empire State Express would go past a 

 bow-legged tramp looking for work. Here's to us, have 

 another." 



That white streak was Carlvle Carne. 



