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He had backed the Jack against Fango. He was sore now, and ordered a new race. An hour's rest was the best Mickey could get for him. Then he went as before, with Fango and Minkie in pursuit.
"Wonder if old Dignam is going to enter Minkie this year?" "Faix, an' if he does I bet the Little Warhorse will take the gimp out av her an' her runnin' mate." "I'll bet three to one that my old Jen will pick the Warhorse up before he passes the grand stand," growled a dog-man.
The Warhorse steaming away low and lightly, his ears up and the breezes whistling through his thirteen stars. Minkie with Fango, the new Dog, bounded in eager pursuit, but, to the surprise of the starters, the gap grew smaller. The Warhorse was losing ground, and right before the Grand Stand old Minkie turned him, and a cheer went up from the dog-men, for all knew the runners.
Mickey had done his work satisfactorily; a fair slip had been given to every leash. He was still in command as slipper. Now came the final for the cup the cup and the large stakes. There were the slim and elegant Dogs awaiting their turn. Minkie and her rival were first. Everything had been fair so far, and who can say that what followed was unfair? Mickey could turn out which Jack he pleased.
He seemed less stiff now he ran more like himself; but a little past the Stand he was turned by Fango and again by Minkie, and back and across, and here and there, leaping frantically and barely eluding his foes. For several minutes it lasted. Mickey could see that Jack's ears were sinking. The new Dog leaped.
This was a tie, since neither had scored, and Minkie and her rival were allowed to run again; but that half-mile had been too hot, and they had no show for the cup. Mickey met "Diamonds" next day, by chance. "Have a cigar, Mickey." "Oi will thot, sor. Faix, thim's so foine; I'd loike two thank ye, sor." From that time the Little Warhorse became the pride of the Irish boy.
Then a word: "If you wuz slipper to-morrow and it so came about that Dignam's Minkie gets done, wall, it means another cigar." "Faix, an' if I wuz slipper I could load the dice so Minkie would flyer score a p'int, but her runnin' mate would have the same bad luck." "That so?" The diamond man looked interested. "All right fix it so; it means two cigars."
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