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〃I didn't care。 No； I was thinkin' that the ways o' the Lord are curi…us。 That lady used to be married to George Spellman。〃
〃An' Curly shot him； down at Sonora； last year！〃
〃Ye…aw。〃
〃Well； I'll be … 。〃
The Race of the Shoestring Gamblers
VIII
〃Judge not too idly that our toils are mean； Though no new levies marshall on our green； Nor deem too rashly that our gains are small； Weighed with the prizes for which heroes fall。〃
… Bret Harte。
If dancing was the first form of amusement to emanate from prehistoric savagery； then racing must surely have come next。 It may possibly have come first。 However； we shall leave the 〃theorizin〃' to be settled by the lips of the first mummy whose centuries…old tissues shall be roused to full life by modern science。 What has science not achieved？ We have gone beyond wonder。 We can only believe； and become blase！
Meantime there is still enough red blood in the modern effete productions of humans to enjoy a contest of stress and strain； and brain and brawn； and to gamble upon the outcome。
In the '49 days； racing was one of the most popular forms of chance； and it often reverted in bizarre tangents。 This； then； is what happened at a golden fiesta during the week of races：
〃Sweet Lady； are all my importunities to be in vain？〃
〃I must confess that I can not bring my mind to a decision； Mr。 Saul；〃 answered Mistress Patty Laughton； blushing and curtsying prettily。
〃It is surely not for your lack of worldly goods that you hesitate；〃 persisted Slick…heels Saul。 〃As for what your father is owing me； it shall； at the moment of your acceptance； be wiped entirely from the books。〃
Patty was incensed at the hint of insolence in the gambler's allusion to her improvident father's financial condition。
〃Believe me； Mr。 Saul；〃 she said； with spirit； 〃no ulterior motive for worldly advancement has the power to coerce my afflections。〃
〃But you will consider my proposition of marriage？〃
Patty's honest gaze encountered the appraising glint in the coot grey eyes of the foppish scape…grace before her。 She lowered her own eys quickly to hid a hunted look in their dark depths as she answered：
〃Sir； after the week of races； you shall have your answer。〃
〃And then I shall give up my present means of gaining a livelihood； and； repairing to San Francisco； shall enter into a profession more fitting the social station of the lady who is to become my wife。〃 He bowed deeply and withdrew； leaving Patty with a sad face and tearfilled eyes。
At last she straightened her tall figure resolutely。 〃I must not give way to tears。 I can not！ I will not！ There must be some way to pay my father's debts beside this extremity； to which death is almost preferable。 There is still a week's time。 A week … only a week。〃 Panic overwhelmed her； and when someone gently took her hand； she cried aloud in terror。
〃Why； Sweetheart； do I frighten you so？ I waited long upon the mesa near the speed…track at the spot we had agreed upon； and when you did not come I fared forth to meet you。〃
〃Eric； it is Saul again。 What can I do？〃
〃Dear； I have about 2000 which I am resolved to play on the races。 I will win。 I must。 Old Irish Mike has brought over his whole stableful of saddle horses and I was raised in Kentucky。 Do not despair； we shall beat the gambler at his own game。 Here is Mike； now。 Perhaps … Mike； it's a fine string of horses you've picked up。
〃It is so。 Many a thoroughbred I've bought that came all the way from Kentucky or Missouri。 All that had the stamina to get to Californy； the one thing left that many of the poor devils could sell when they reached the coast。〃
〃Mike； some of them are faster than others； I suppose。〃
〃'Tis what half the shoe…string gamblers in the camp have tried to find out。 I may have me own opinion； but it's to meself I'll kape it till afther the races are run。 I will not spile sport。 Have ye seen the last cayuse that's bein' put in？
〃You mean the cow pony that came in with the bunch of cattle from the Napa Valley yesterday？〃
〃The same。 The auld boy； whilst in his cups； is bettin' she can beat anythin' on four legs； even jack rabbits an' antelope。 The precious gamblin' riff…raff are fillin' him up with tanglefoot； proper。〃
〃Why； Mike？〃 Mike glanced at the silent girl and then down into the gulch below。
〃Miss Patty； have ye visited the claims？〃
〃No； but I should like to。〃
〃Come； then； if ye will so pleasure an old man。 The men will not be workin' tomorrow。 They will be that pleased to show a lady how to wash a pan o' dirt； they will be saltin' ivery pan wit' nuggets for ye！ Eric； lad；〃 he called back to the tall young man； 〃ye might look the cow horse over。 She has not been curried for long； yet； whisper； beauty is but skin deep an' the finest rapier is often encased in a rusty scabbard。〃
〃There is something going forward that Mike wishes me to see；〃 though Eric； as he hurried off to the livery stable。 〃That is why he took Patty away。〃
A crowd of gamblers were just putting up a pair of riders on two horses。
〃Hey； Eric Tallman； you used to own this horse。 Can he beat this rat…tailed kyoodle that runs after steers？〃
Eric laid a hand fondly on the magnificent black 〃half breed；〃 who had just enough mustang to give him the stamina and spirit and wildness characteristic of the Spanish…bred horse。
〃Keep him on a steady rein and he'll beat anything in the mountains。 I'd never have sold him except … 。〃 He sighed； turning to the cattle horse。 She was long necked； long legged； long haired； wall…eyed； lean； and badly in need of currying； and yet Irish Mike was no fool； and Mike knew Eric's extremity … his and the girl's whom he loved。
He noted the deep； broad chest； the tapering barrel and the tremendous driving power in the steel muscles of the hind quarters； but she drooped； spiritless。 He turned again to the satin…coated half…breed。
〃Any dust up yet？〃
〃Ye…aw； about ten thousand。 Old fool seems to be well heeled。 We've got 'im full to the eyes； down at String…halt Eddie's place； an' the boys are goin' to try the plugs out before they put up any more。〃 Two trial races were ridden and the sad cow horse was outrun with apparent ease。
The next morning as Patty went on her daily stroll to 〃take the air；〃 her way was blocked by a clamoring crowd of undesirables who were baiting a miserable old cattle man。
〃I tell ye； gentlemen； I was indisposed。 'Twas the liquor talking。 Surely you would not take advantage of a poor old man and his honest； hard…working little mount。 Every day of her life she works。 Gentlemen； I beg you … 〃
〃Begging will get you nothing better than a good drubbing； you filthy cattle lout！ If you don't pay up your bets； we'll take it out of your hide。 I； for one； have a special use for my money at the week's end。〃
It was Slick…heels Saul。 Patty turned aside； sick at heart。 This was the creature in whose power she was 〃like to fall。〃
Upon her return she found the old cowboy sitting dejectedly under a liveoak bush。 〃Sir；〃 she began timidly； 〃you are in trouble。 I should like to express my sympathy。〃
He rose with suspicious nimbleness。 〃Now； bless your kind heart； Miss； to stop to console a sad