ith a powerful-looking man whom he introduced to me as
Mike Falan. We walked slowly up the track to a point about a quarter of
a mile from the finish. There was a great crowd of people present, the
numbers had gone up for the first race, and most of the horses were
already out and "warming up." Emperor appeared to be in splendid
condition. As he galloped easily up and down in front of the Grand Stand
his great muscles rolled and swelled under the shiny skin, and he looked
and acted like a horse fit to race for his life. He was a prime favorite
at the pools and was selling at two to one against the field.

"I have seen Blake," said Watson, "and he is feeling confident that
Emperor will win. He is somewhat nervous, of course, but he tells me the
horse is in first-class shape, and that Murphy is all right. No signs of
Simms yet and the race will be started in less than ten minutes. It
begins to look as though I have been frightened at a shadow."

At this moment a man touched Watson on the arm and whispered something
to him and then moved quickly away through the crowd. Watson started,
and turning to me said,

"Come this way. Simms is here, he is down the track, below the gate."

He hurried away, Mike and I following, and upon getting clear of the
crowd we saw a man leaning against the picket fence which separated the
track from the carriage drive, watching the horses through a small
field-glass. As we came up, Simms, for it was he, glanced suspiciously
at us, but as we paid no attention to him and talked earnestly together,
apparently arguing as to the relative merits of the horses, he soon
ceased to notice us and turned again to the horses.

Hardly had he done so when he hurriedly put the glass in his pocket, and
a great shout from the Grand Stand and cries of "They're off!" told us
that the great race had commenced.

We could see the horses far off on the opposite side of the track all
running in a bunch, until they neared the half-mile flag, when two were
seen to be well in advance of the others. As they swung round the curve
we could see the red cap worn by Murphy flashing in the sun, and we knew
that Emperor was leading. But another horse, a deep bay, the jockey
dressed completely in blue, was very close to him.

On they came, and Watson and Mike edged closer and closer to Simms,
whose whole attention was fixed on the race. His face was flushed, and
he was actually dancing with excitement. We watched him as a ca