Other patrons at the Café stopped their activities to listen to Mr. McHenry, “Manager, fastest two-year-old pacing record 2:16 ½; Cricket, fastest five-year-old pacing record, for a five- year old 2:10.” He stopped reading for a second, “That sounds funny, of course he is a five- year old.” Then he continued to read from the paper once again. “Attorney Jr. fastest five-year-old pacing record for a stallion, 2:13; Roy Wilkes fastest stallion record for a pacer 2:08 1/4. There were forty seven heats trotted in 2:20 or better, the average was 2:16 3/4. There were thirty four heats paced in less than 2:20 and better for an average of 2:16 ½. Of the seventeen two-year-old’s to enter the 2:20 list in1890 so far this year, eight of them did it on the Independence track during the August meeting. The last thing is that one eighth of all the horses entering the 2:30 list in 1890 did it on Mr. Williams great new track. Independence can lay claim on the fact they are the, ‘Lexington Of The North’.”
Mr. Byron Tabor added, “I read in another print, I don’t remember which one, that they considered this track to be very kind to the horses physically. They say the owners felt their horses suffered less muscle soreness and less stress on the their legs. It was concluded the owners appreciated the great integrity abounded at the track, paying the purses off and the judging was fair and impartial. Not only that, they seemed to get the impression the town was the friendliest they have ever experienced.”
“Well,” Mr. Leytze added, “I guess we have got ourselves into something here, haven’t we?”
“Yeah,” said Mr. Hussey like he was jokingly looking to lay blame on someone, “It’s all that Charles Williams’s fault. He’s already starting to plan next year’s meeting for a week and $90,000 in purse and stake money.”
“We still have to get through the seven-day October races.” Mr. McHenry said.
Gilbert didn’t have to wait long as he noticed Clara leaving the Café through the back door. He hurried around the side to catch up to the fleeing attempt.
She was walking slowly down Main Street until she saw Gilbert, then she started a brisk walk. He quickly ran and caught up to her. He was frustrated by her attitude, but he couldn’t show anger toward her.
“Clara,” he addressed quietly, but firmly, “what are you talking about? I haven’t done anything. You’re the only one I have ever wanted.”
“What about that other woman?” she said again.
He shook his head with frustration and suppressed his shaking voice so as not to appear he was yelling at her. “What other woman?”
“Don’t yell at me.” She spouted back, suppressing her shaking voice so as not to appear to be yelling at him. Mrs. Lynch was approaching the two as they walked along Main Street. She looked at them suspiciously. Clara addressed her calmly as if nothing was upsetting her. “Good morning, Mrs. Lynch.”
“Good morning, Clara,” she responded, still looking strangely at the two.
Gilbert nodded politely, “Ma’am.” Mrs. Lynch simply forced out a smile and nodded to him. He directed his comments back to Clara and softly said. “I wasn’t yelling.”
“It was an angry, quiet yell,” she explained. “It just didn’t have the volume generally associated with an angry yell.”
This explanation confused him a bit.
“Well, yeah,” he said taking a deep breath to calm himself, “All right. I am not angry. I am very calm. I would just like to know, if you would please tell me what woman you are talking about.”
“All right,” she said cooly, “now that you have calmed down I will tell you.”
He was happy to hear she was going to explain. They walked nearly two blocks and were approaching the wishing tree. He gestured for her to go to the wishing tree, then pulled back a curtain of branches so she may pass.
As soon as they were under the tree she turned to him. “That woman you showed around the grounds, like you did me. You probably showed her your apartment.” He laughed, but quickly learned that you never laugh at a woman’s wrath. She slapped him hard across the face. “Don’t laugh at me, I’m serious.”
“Sweetheart,” he explained, “that was Miss Timms, a reporter from Minneapolis. She wanted to see the grounds. I told you about her before.” Clara felt a great relief and humility, but did not change her expression.
“Oh,” she spoke while a smile creased her face, “why didn’t you say that in the first place, instead of allowing me to feel this way for so long.”
Gilbert didn’t want to be blamed for this misunderstanding, but he calmly explained, “I was too stupid to realize it would upset you so much.”
“I wasn’t upset,” she said. “You’re not worth getting upset about.” She then smiled at him, “I’m sorry, I should have trusted you and talked to you about it right away. I wasted a whole week being mad at you, didn’t I?”
“We wouldn’t have had much time together anyway.” Gilbert eased her guilt, “At least we won’t be angry with each other all winter.”
“Yes,” Clara said as she leaned toward him, looking for an embrace and maybe a kiss. Gilbert lovingly put his arms around her kinked back and stretched his head slightly, so he could reach her lips. She knelt down slightly to meet his romantic makeup kiss.
She left later that day on the train to Dubuque. He watched from a bench just as he had years earlier.
Allerton participated in a race in Terre Haute, Indiana in the 2:16 race. He was able to take the field in three straight heats, while still showing some lameness. He trotted in times of 2:20, 2:17 ½, 2:15 ½ for the $1,000.00 purse.
The next meet was in Lexington, Kentucky to race in the 2:19 class race for a $5,000.00 purse. There were several horses entered, but there were only two expected to battle for the top spot. The competing horses were Hendrix, Keno F, Stevie, Walter E., Diamond, Henrieta, and the two favorites McDoel and Allerton. McDoel and his top driver Budd Doble had won twenty-one heats with an average time under 2:20.
Both horses were capable of breaking 2:15 for the mile. McDoel had a strong brush, but was he conditioned well enough to stay with Allerton who has always shown great stamina? Allerton was not in great condition having been held back by injury and having just raced a few days earlier in Terra Haute. The favorite was McDoel with Allerton close behind.
The first heat was taken by McDoel easily in a time of 2:19 1/4. Hendryx was second in the first heat, Stevie was third and Allerton a disappointing fourth. The second heat was much closer with Allerton at McDoel’s heels from the half mile mark with McDoel winning in a time of 2:17 ½. The crowd felt the next heat would be a hard fought race to the finish.
As they scored for this heat the crowd was silent for each of the five scores needed to get the race started. When the word was finally given the crowd cut loose with exuberant cheers of excitement. Budd Doble allowed Allerton to take a solid lead at the beginning, counting on McDoel to brush at the end to win. Allerton remained in the lead at the half in a time of 1:07 ½. He remained in the lead to the three quarter mark,1:42 ½.
Doble brought on the great speed of McDoel to creep up on Allerton. They were neck and neck at the distance mark when Allerton broke and dropped behind. The crowd sighed with disappointment, but quickly they were re-energized when Mr. Williams snapped a subtle whip. Allerton responded grandly and began to gain on McDoel with each stride. Fifty yards from the finish he was at McDoel’s wheel and gaining. As Allerton passed the wire he had won the race by a full length in a time of 2:15 ½.
The crowd was treated to a grand race and they were excited for the next heat to begin. Darkness had moved in and the fourth heat was postponed until the next morning. It may have been to the benefit of Allerton to race again for McDoel may not have had the stamina to go again. But with the nights rest he was able to come out and trot a fine race. McDoel won the fourth heat and the race, but was forced by Allerton trot the mile in 2:15 ½. Allerton finished second in this great race in a ti
me of 2:16. Allerton then was retired until the fall races in Independence.
The October meeting drew many participants and a lower entry fee for the spectators to fifty cents at the gate. The lateness of the season did not hurt the meeting’s success. Nearly four hundred horses entered the meet, that was intended to be a meet to beat time. The purses offered were $300 if you can beat a record or make a new personal best time on the mile track. The track was in great condition for racing.
There were representatives from some of the top magazines around the country. There were reporters from the, ‘Kentucky Stock Farm’, Dutton’s, ‘Spirit of the Turf’, ‘Iowa Farmer and Breeder’, and the ‘Des Moines Northwest’.
There were several featured events in the October meeting. Allerton was trotted to lower his personal record of 2:15 ½ on October 23rd. He trotted a very clean strong race to the finish to beat his personnel best and make his mark at 2:14. On October 28th he attempted to improve his time once again. He was able to trot an excellent time of, 2:15.
On October 30th Allerton was given another chance to beat his personal best time. The day was crisp, Allerton was in fine shape. He was strong to start the race, doing the first half mile in, 1:07 ½. He was able to finish the race strong to lower his personal best time at 2:13 3/4. This not only lowered his own record, but also the world four year old stallion record. Two days later on November 1st, he tried it again and successfully lowered his mark to 2:13 ½.
Another horse of great respect was the pacer, Guy, that was trying to lower the record from his own 2:10 3/4. He earned himself the reputation of inconsistency and was given the unofficial title of ‘Champion equine crank of the world’.
There was a seventy-six year old owner, C. J. Hamlin from Buffalo, New York, who had a team of fine trotters to attempt a new record for a team in the mile. He had two outstanding mares, Belle Hamlin and Justina. He had personally raised and trained the two mares together.
They made their attempt to beat a time of 2:15 on a day that was damp and cool. The stands were packed with anxious spectators as Mr. Andrews drove the team around the track once the wrong direction. Then pulled up to allow the grey haired Mr. Hamlin to get aboard the light wagon his team would pull for the race.
He started Justina and Belle Hamlin around the small loop hoping for the word from the judge. Word was given and off the three went. The team of horse whisked down the track in perfect harmony making it look easy, as if they were trotting as one. The quarter mile was reached and the time revealed to be :32 ½. This excited the crowd and with impatience they stood up. Enthusiastic shouts began to break through the cold air spurring on the team. They made the half mile in an amazing 1:04 ½. Their pace would certainly beat the record unless disaster were to strike.
Until that time, they had been going with the stiff wind and as they turned for the final stretch they faced the cool breeze. Excitement was diminished when the team seemed to slow as the wind caught them. The team powered through the wind and at the three quarter mark they had a great time of 1:39 1/4. The crowd renewed their shouts and cheers, but at the distance mark Justina broke and sad sighs filled the stands. She caught herself quickly and the gait for home was at a 2:00 pace. The cheers grew stronger as they realized the record could still be broken.
The cheers were deafening as the three crossed the line. When the time was announced at 2:13 1/4, the roar from the excited crowd shook the city.
Mr. Hamlin dismounted the wagon, went up to the judges stand and tipped his hat to the crowd’s cheers, “Hamlin! Hamlin! Hamlin!” filled the crisp air.
Chapter Eleven
A Mother’s Mystery
Before the year was out, there was great joy for the birth of Etholeen Reynolds Williams on December 17th 1890. After giving birth to three boys, Mrs. Williams, and Mr. Williams, were excited to finally have a daughter.
Clara and Gilbert had solved the letter problem of communicating through the winter. They used Clara’s good friend from work, Katie Miller, as their mailman or mailwoman that Clara preferred. Katie had a bubbly, loving personality everyone enjoyed. She had long black hair normally tucked up under her bonnet. Katie agreed to receive and send letters from Gilbert to Clara and from Clara to Gilbert. She would write the address and return address on an envelope. She would rewrite the letter to make it sound like it was something she would write to Clara. Clara was always laughing at the letters strange content. Gilbert found it difficult to write romantic stuff in any of the letters, because Katie might laugh. They would exchange the letters at school, at the café, and sometimes Katie would come out to Rush Park.
Things settled down at Rush Park over the winter months. Gilbert and the others had their hands full caring for the horses. It was a mild winter and the horses were often taken out to jog around the track or nearby country roads.
In late March, on an extremely warm day, Katie decided to enjoy the nice weather and walk out to Rush Park. She was looking for Gilbert to give him a letter from Clara. She went to the big barn but Gilbert was not there. She did find Barney Temple cleaning stalls. Barney and Katie had met before but never had a real conversation. Barney did not want to talk much around her because he was self-conscious of his stuttering.
“Hi, Barney,” she said in her normal joyful tone.
Barney shyly replied, just to be polite, “Hhhi.” His head looked down and away from her.
Katie was always such a friendly person and understood why Barney was shy. She wanted so much to get him to talk to her. “Barney,” she looked at him, hoping to get eye contact, “Do you know where I can find Gilbert?”
“He is in the no-no-north ba-ba-barn,” he said slowly, trying not to stutter. He liked Katie, she was always nice to him and talked to him, even when he didn’t talk back. Katie knew he was too embarrassed to talk.
“I see,” Katie said, “What is he doing there?” She wished she had restrained herself from making him talk again, but it was too late. “You don’t have to answer that.”
Barney looked briefly up at her before he looked back down, “Y-y-y-you don’t wa-wa-want me to ta-ta-ta-,” he stopped to take a breath, “talk?”
Katie felt badly about letting Barney’s speech problem affect her thought. She thought quickly how to salvage the situation. “I just thought you don’t like to talk much and I didn’t want to make you talk if you didn’t want to.” Barney looked at her as if searching for the truth. “The north barn, right?” Katie pointed to the south, not sure which direction north was.
“N-no,” he pointed the correct direction. “I c-c-can show you.” Katie was very pleased with the offer to escort her.
“I would love that.” As they walked Katie began to talk and would not stop. She rattled on about the weather and her dog Waggles. Barney laughed when she told him the name of her dog. They soon entered the north barn and Gilbert was at the far west end. “Gilbert!” She called out.
Gilbert walked toward them. “I was going to town in a bit to find you. I have a letter to send to Clara.”
“You might want to re-write your letter once you read the one I have from her.”
Gilbert looked at her inquisitively as he reached her. “Do you read the letters?”
“No!” She said sternly.
“I’m sorry. You just made it sound like you read the letters.” She handed him the sealed letter. He quickly opened it and began to read. Gilbert slowly walked toward the big barn as he continued to read. It was getting darker, which made it a strain for him to read. Katie and Barney followed him as he strolled slowly across the yard. Katie was just about to yell out to him to watch out for a water pump in his path. Without looking away from the letter, Gilbert shifted his path to the right slightly, just enough to miss the pump.
“Barney,” Katie said excitedly, “Do you like to read? I have been reading a book about the war of the rebellion that is very informative.”
Barn
ey seemed reluctant to reply, “I d-d-d-don’t read mu-mu-muuuuch.”
“You should read. Reading can take you places all over the world. Places that you will never be able to visit in real life.” Katie was getting more excited. Gilbert looked back at her. “I can bring you some books. You can read them if you like.”
Barney broke in, “I gotta go.” He bolted out of the barn.
“Goodbye, Barney,” Katie said lightheartedly.
She ran up a few steps to walk with Gilbert. “Anything you can share with me?”
“No, pretty much personal stuff. She has got to be more careful what she writes. Her father,” He shook his head.
They went up the steps to his apartment. He opened the door and gestured for her to enter ahead of him. He turned the light switch on the wall and two lights lit up. One of the lights was on the wall next to a small desk and the other in the middle of the ceiling. He was a bit uncomfortable having Katie in his apartment, so he left the door open. Katie, unknowingly, went back and shut the door, thinking he had left it open by mistake. Gilbert noticed that she closed the door, but didn’t say anything. He sat down at his desk and began to write. Katie studied the switch that had turned on the lights so effectively.
“Electricity,” she said with great excitement in her eyes, “it is so amazing.” She began to turn the switch. Click, the lights went off, ‘click’ they went back on. This irritated Gilbert as he tried to rewrite the letter to Clara at his desk. She studied the switch, ‘click’ the lights went back off, ‘click’ they were back on.
“Katie,” Gilbert spoke, “the electric light is really fun, but if you don’t mind.”
“Sorry,” She made her way over to Gilbert at his desk. Gilbert continued to add to his already written letter. Katie looked over his shoulder and placed her chin on his shoulder. Gilbert cleared his throat, Katie moved her head from his shoulder and sat at a small table. She looked at the papers on the table. She noticed a paper that had little pictures and what appeared to be a variety of symbols’.
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