"I got--one--bad--start--me! He--pull--me back!" panted La Belle to his
backers who were holding him up.
"Who pulled you back?" indignantly cried the thin-faced man, looking for
blood.
"That sacre startair!"
"You ran a fine race, La Belle!" said Cameron, coming up.
"Non! Peste! I mak heem in ten and one feeft," replied the disgusted La
Belle.
"I have made it in ten," said Cameron quietly.
"Aha!" exclaimed La Belle. "You are one black horse, eh? So! I race no
more to-day!"
"Then no more do I!" said Cameron firmly. "Why, La Belle, you will beat
me in the next race sure. I have no wind."
Under pressure La Belle changed his mind, and well for him he did; for
in the two hundred and twenty yards and in the quarter mile Cameron's
lack of condition told against him, so that in the one he ran second to
La Belle and in the other third to La Belle and Fullerton.
The Maplehill folk were gloriously satisfied, and Fatty in an ecstasy of
delight radiated good cheer everywhere. Throughout the various contests
the interest continued to deepen, the secretary, with able generalship,
reserving the hammer-throwing as the most thrilling event to the last
place. For, more than anything in the world, men, and especially women,
love strong men and love to see them in conflict.
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