panion. To-day is the day of two of man's best
friends--the horse and the dog--and Hector will be in his element."

But Hector, wagging and slavering amiably about in the narrow
confines of the little stand to which they climbed, snapped the
Cap'n's leash of self-control ere five minutes passed.

"Say, Mr. Bickford," he growled, after one or two efforts to crowd
past the ubiquitous canine and get to the rail, "either me or your
dog is in the way here."

"Charge, Hector!" commanded Mr. Bickford, taking one eye from the
cheering multitude. The dog "clumped" down reluctantly.

"We might just as well get to an understandin'," said the Cap'n, not
yet placated. "I ain't used to a dog underfoot, I don't like a dog,
and I won't associate with a dog. Next thing I know I'll be makin'
a misstep onto him, and he'll have a hunk out of me."

"Why, my dear captain," oozed Hector's proprietor, "that dog is as
intelligent as a man, as mild as a kitten, and a very--"

"Don't care if he's writ a dictionary and nussed infants," cried the
Cap'n, slatting out his arm defiantly; "it's him or me, here; take
your choice!"

"I--I think your dog would be all right if you let him stay
down-stairs under the stand," ventured President Kitchen,
diplomatically.

"He's a valuable animal," demurred Mr. Bickford, "and--" He caught
the flaming eye of the Cap'n, and added: "But if you'll have a man
sit with him he may go.

"Now we'll settle down for a real nice afternoon," he went on,
conciliatingly. "Let's see: This here is the cord that I pull to
signal the horses to start, is it?"

"No, no!" expostulated President Kitchen, "you pull that bell-cord
to call them back if the field isn't bunched all right at the wire
when they score down for the word. If all the horses are in position
and are all leveled, you shout 'Go!' and start your watch."

"Precisely," said Mr. Bickford.

"It's the custom," went on the president, solicitous for the success
of his strange assortment of judges, yet with heart almost failing
him, "for each judge to have certain horses that he watches during
the mile for breaks or fouls. Then he places them as they come under
the wire. That is so one man won't have too much on his mind."

"Very, very nice!" murmured the Honorable J. Percival. "We are here
to enjoy the beautiful day and the music and the happy throngs, and
we don't want to be too much taken up with our duties." He pushed
himself well out into view over the