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WINNING UNDER DIFFICULTIES. "Do you remember the fast sprinter I had named Chinaman Y" asked George Van Gordea of one of bla old time friends at Loo Angeles recently. "Yea, rery well," replied the friend. "Well, the most exciting time of my life was over a match race 1 bad on with this horse," said Mr. Van Cordon. "I niatehed Chinaman attainst I luarc btlnagfag t a lot f Mexleaaa for ,500 ■ side, a thousand dollar* was up on o.irh side, and Hie re-mi fal if |300 was O be put np in Ike stakeholders hands the day of the race. Bach side picked a Judge and the two judges picked a third -an utter stranger. The Mexicans seemed to be holding off to the last minute, tar! that was only a blind. They put np all right, Two separate trarks had l»een built for the horses to run over — the old-time style, side by side ami the rare was to ne run on the top-ami hot-torn plan. The l. teasers had dug four or five holes in Chinamans track the Bight before, filled them with water ami put grass over the top. so thai it looked all riht. The mare got away about ■ font in advance of my horse, which ran past her in a twinkling, bat •-tumbled in one of the holes anil dropped bark. Hed -it up to the mare agahl and make another stumble. Finally they pel near the finish, and I thought the mare beat Chinaman about half a neck, but the ju. lues derided they had passed the winning post on even tonus, and as the mare of the Mexicans bad BOt tea away I toot in front. I was given tile lace. Immediately guns and knives were drawn, and it looked bad fat us Atnerieans. for are were greatly outnumbered. "I shall never forget how a big Texan git up and shouted that lie wasnt afraid Of all the Mexican* they eouhl paek in Hie valley, and his brave air ■eeated to Mare the barkers of the mare and all their friends, fir they put up their cannons and toothpicks, and bloodshed was averted. Chinaman, given a fair deal, would have beaten the mare with e;:s — in fart, lie was Die fastest hOTM at sprinting ■ •ti the eoast in those days. That third judge, the Stranger, was certainly a trump and. strange to -ay. I have never learned his name nor eangbl siuht of him since. " __
