12 Sports Aces, January 1943 — page 84: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

82 12 SPORTS ACES five hundred more than anybody else would. I’m thinking of the girl. She de- serves a break.” He looked sharply at Curley. “And don’t say anything. This will work out right,” Curley said glumly, “You’re acting like a guy that needs six marbles to be even. Dames are poison.” He didn’t say any more. Even Curley could say too much to Willie. They were back at the colonel’s stall three mornings later. Willie put a watch on Melody Lane’s workout. He looked at the watch, then walked tewards the horse. Curley watehed him earefully go over the animal, “He’s sound,’ Willie announced, straightening up. “The Raleigh Cup goes in twe weeks. Is he entered? Okay. I’ have your money in the morning.” The colonel led the horse away. Willie said, “There’s twenty-five hundred to the winner in the Raleigh. Winning a bet will make up the difference. It’s a nice deal, Curley.” Willie picked up the horse the next morning and led him over to old man Rodgers’ stalls. “Take care of him, Mac. He’s going in the Raleigh. He’s ready. We'll cut a fat hog.” He walked away, whistling. Willie felt pretty good. Three days later old man Rodgers set Melody Lane down for a mile. Curley han- dled the rein work, and he knew without asking that the time was slow. Old man Rodgers murmured, “He don’t look so sharp, Willie.” Willie’s eyes clouded. “He doesn’t. He shouldn’t have tailed off this quick, Try him again in a couple of days.” They tried the herse again, and again Melody Lane turned in a poor perform- ance. “He’s eatin’ good,” old man Rodgers said. “Hie acts perky in his stall. But out here he runs like he don’t give a good darn. What de you think, Willie?” Curley watched Willie. Willie was per- turbed. “‘I don’t know, Mac, Rest him a few days.” Curley turned the horse over to old man Rodgers. He fellowed Willie. He wished he had an idea, but he didn’t. They turned a corner and ran into | Cap’n. “Ah heah you done bought Melody Lane,” Cap’n said. “Ah handled dat ani- mal when he was a three-yeah-old. Can Ah see him, Willie?” Willie took Cap’n baek to the stall. “Dat’s ole Melody Lane all right,” Cap‘’n chortled. “Dat’s muh baby. WHiyuh, ole . horse. Don’t you knew old Cap’n?” The horse looked Cap’n over indifferent- ly, then turned to his manager. “Ah didn’t think you'd ever forget ole Cap’n,” the darky said serrowfully. “How he doin’, Willie?” “Bad,” Willie said tersely. “He doesn’t care about running.” “Dat don’t sound like Melody Lane. He was the runningest horse Ah ever seed.” Willie’s head snapped up. “Is there a way you can be positive this is Melody Lane?” Cap’n lowered his voice. “Ah never told dis before. When Ah was muckin’ out his stall a long time age Ah stuck him with a pitchfork. I sho sweat waitin’ for dat hole to heal up.” “It left a scar?” Willie's voice was tense. Cap’n nodded. Willie dragged him into the stall. “Find that scar,” Willie ordered. Cap'n lifted Melody Lane’s off foreleg. He examined it minutely, then lowered it carefully. “No scah,” he said in an awed voice, “Dis sho ain’t Melody Lane.” Old man Rodgers said, “Paint job, Wil- lie. They fixed up another horse toe leok like Melody Lane.” ILULIE ran his hands over the ani- mal’s eoat. “No paint job,” he said positively. “This horse is the absolute twin of Melody Lane. All except for that sear.” He stepped back and Curley could see the thought strike him. “Twin brother,” Willie said in a flat voice. “There’s been twin foals before. I want to talk to Colonel Kumpy.” Colenel Kumpy was gone and had left no trace. Curley heard Widlie swear then one of the few times in their association. “Melody Lane was foaled at the Royal Qak Stock Fatm,” Wilke said grimly. “That’s near here. Let’s talk to the breeder.” Maddux, the breeder, talked freely. comicbook Eon