'I never thought it of you! But we're
much obliged to you just the same.'
"There's eight starters in the handicap besides Hamilton. One of 'em's
a big clumsy colt named Hellespont. The bunch calls him the Elephant,
'n' he's sour as lemons. I see his eyes a-rollin' in the paddock, 'n'
I know he's hopped. Just as the parade starts he begins to cut the
mustard. He rears 'n' tries to come down all spraddled out on the colt
ahead of him in the line, but the jock runs him into a stall 'n' they
take hold of him till the rest is out on the track.
"Micky ain't had no experience at the post. I've borrowed a pair of
glasses 'n' I'm watchin' the get-a-way pretty anxious. Hamilton's
actin' fine, but the Elephant is holdin' up the start. All of a sudden
he rears clear up 'n' comes down across Hamilton. The colt does a flop
'n' I see the Elephant rear 'n' stamp him a couple a times before the
assistant drives him off with the bull whip."
[Illustration: "I see the Elefant stamp him."]
"'Good-by, three hundred!' I says to myself, I can't see good fur the
dust, but they pulls Micky out from under the colt, 'n' when I gets
another slant, Hamilton's on his feet 'n' the starter's talkin' at
Micky. I can see Micky shakin' his head. It ain't long till they puts
him up again.
"'That's the good game kid!' I says out loud. 'Oh, you 'Micky boy!'
also out loud.
"They get off to a nice start. When they hit the stretch I throws my
hat away.
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