Lyndon State College - Northern Lights Yearbook (Lyndonville, VT)

Page 25 text:

January - 1938 Hurry now!” Earl went off looking very skeptical about the whole plan. Soon he return- ed with Tom’s coat and cap. ‘‘Here, give it to me, then get me your navy blue suit. Don’t stand and gape! Hurry! Bring your white shoes, too. You shall have more clothes— don’t look so worried.” Earl produced the articles. “Now hurry and get Lucky ready for warm up. I’m warm- ing him up. A new driver has to get used to his horse, you know.” With the aid of numerous cosmetics, Jean was transformed into a nice look- ing young man, slightly sunburned from his trip. After warming Lucky up, she pro- ceeded to wait for race time. At last the voice in the judges stand rang out, ‘‘All ready for the free-for-all horses, all ready.” Earl brought Lucky out and started to help Jean on as he always did. She whispered hoarsely ‘‘Get away!” and shook her head violently. She was thankful that the bystanders were gaz- ing with rapture at the beautiful build of Lucky just then. ‘‘Good luck,” called Earl, and Jean raised her hand to her cap in a mascu- line manner, hoping she looked as mas- culine as she had intended to be. In the first heat Lucky Guy got off to an excellent start and in a few sec- onds had the “pole”—inside lead of the track. During the last half of the heat, however, Gertrude Homestead began to overtake Lucky. Jean was expecting this and spoke to Lucky, who shot ahead at a terrific speed. Down the stretch they thundered, Gertrude Homestead creeping up all the time. Jean spoke again to Lucky, and he be- gan leaving Gertrude Homestead in the dust. Under the wire they went, Lucky in the lead. Jean gave Earl the reins and walked along behind, as the other drivers did, because she didn’t want to attract at- tention even if her knees were trem- bling. Sam Davis, who had driven Gert- rude Homestead, came along and slap- ped her on the back. “Williams,” he said, “You drove good!” “Thank you,” said Jean before she thought. He had surprised her so that she spoke in her natural voice. Sam grabbed her. “Say, what is this? Do you think you’re doin’ somethin’ smart, endangerin’ everybody’s lives? I thought it was you all the time, but I wasn’t sure. You had better make up your mind not to race that four- legged piece of horse-flesh any more!” With that he turned and headed for the judges’ stand. Jean walked on thoughtfully. She had been found out, her father would know it, and she might even be compelled to leave the Grand Circuit Driver's Association with her horse for five years. That would please her dad! How he hated to have her go “galivantin’ ” — as he called it — around to the meets. She had no sooner reached the stables when the judge’s voice called her to the stand. Well, she’d put up a good fight, anyway. When she reached the stand Sam Davis and his friends were there. She ignored them and faced the judges. She was asked to be seated and Mr. Keyes began with no preliminaries. “Miss Sherman, you realize that you have committed a crime in the eyes [21]

Page 24 text:

V E R L Y N They’re Off! By EVELYN ROGERS Jean was attractive — yes, very at- tractive in her green riding breeches, white shirt and brown sleeveless sweater. She sat under the awning before “Lucky Guy’s” stables, watch- ing Earl, Lucky’s care-taker, polish the outfit Lucky was to wear in the Free- for-All that afternoon. At her trimly booted feet lay Pal, her Scotch-terrier. “Jean.” Jean turned to see Billie Cope coming towards her. “Jean, I got bad news for ya’.” “Bad news? What is it?” asked Jean, somewhat startled. “ ‘Home Spun’, Mack’s horse, jest kicked Jimmie plumb in the leg and hurt him somethin’ awful! I betcha ya' have to scratch Lucky Guy.” The ten year old youth was excited and talked very rapidly. “Jimmie is hurt? When did it hap- pen?’ queried Jean. “Jest a little time ago. He said t’ be sure t’ get word t’ ya’ so that ya’ could get another driver, but I betcha ya’ can’t get nobody t’ drive.” “You don’t think I can, Billie? What nr'kes you think that?” Jean question- ed laughingly. The boy grinned back, showing where a front tooth had been extracted. His freckled face did not beam as ra- diantly as it usually did when he smiled. One could easily see that Billie was worried. “Well, Jean,” he began hesitantly, “T’ tell the truth, I was listenin’ t’ some of the men right after Jimmie was hurt. They was actin’ too happy over his bein’ hurt t’ suit me. They are tickled ’cause they say you can’t get nobody t’ drive and they can win easier. They are all ’fraid of him. They think he is still a mean horse an’ a man- killer.” While Billie talked, Jean became more determined than ever that he should race. No one had wanted her to enter him in the first place and had tried to keep her from it. Now she would race him at any cost. She rose and with a short, “Thanks, Billie”, started off with Pal at her heels. She asked many men to drive but they all answered the same — not in words but in ways. They said “I’m too young t’ die.” “Nope, not drivin’ t’-day.” or, “I guess not!” She walked back to her stables very disappointed. It was plain to be seen that Lucky Guy wasn’t wanted in the race. What should she do? Of course, it wasn’t a matter of life and death, but just the same she wanted Lucky to race. Sud- denly an idea struck her. She, herself, would drive in that race! She called Earl and told him of her plan. “I’m going to drive, — no, don’t interrupt me. I know that Dad told you to keep me out of trouble and you are doing very nicely, but this is my own business! I shall dress like a man, look like a man and drive like a man. No one will be the wiser if you don’t tell them—not even Dad. Now go get Tom Allard’s driver’s coat and cap. We have found a driver. A man from New York State, but he hasn’t any driver's uniform. His name is --------- let me see, his name is Hal Williams. [20]

Page 26 text:

V E R L Y N of the Grand Circuit Drivers’ Associa- tion? You have driven one of the most savage race horses on the tracks of America in company. Also you have driven without permission and under a false name. Now what have you to say for yourself?” “Mr Keyes, and friends, I realize that I have driven my own horse in a race for the simple reason that I could get no one to drive him for me. They were all afraid of him. I have never, since I have had him, seen him do a mean thing. If I had thought that he would cause an accident I would never have attempted to drive him, but after I found out the cause of his mean disposition and removed that cause, I found that I had removed the disposi- tion, itself. As for driving without per- mission, I knew that you would never permit me to drive if I asked you, be- cause Lucky has such a bad reputa- tion. So I simply changed my appear - ance and drove, and I don’t see why I didn’t do it all right, if I may say so.” “You drove well enough, Miss Sher- man, but that is not the point. The point is this, you are not a man, you are driving a horse that should not be on the track, and the other drivers do not like to drive with this horse.” “Well, my gosh! If all that is wor- rying you is whether I can handle the horse or not, just try me. Tell me what you want me to do to prove that I can handle him,” exclaimed Jean. “All right, score your horse down thirty times. He was always the mean- est about scoring. If you can still handle him, you may finish the race,” Keyes told her, and winked at Davis. “O. K., I’ll do that!” She shook hands with Keyes and started for the stables. As the 2: 25 horses came back to the stables Jean went out with Lucky, praying inwardly that Lucky would be himself to-day. After she had brought him to the starting position twenty-five times without mishap, the crowd was wild! They were cheering for her, she knew. She wondered what the judges were thinking. When the thirty scores were completed, Earl was there with a blanket and a piece of sugar for Lucky. “Boy! You sure showed ’em!” he exclaimed as he took the reins. “Thanks, Earl,” she cried gleefully. ‘I’m just dying to see their faces up there! I’ll be right over.” She climbed the stairs to the stand and stood before the judges. “Well?” she queried as they did not speak. “If this horse is allowed to race, 1 draw my horse!” said Sam. “Me too!” “Same here!” from his friends. The crowd in the grand stand hoot- ed. Those in the Judges stand looked up amazed and realized that they were too close to the microphone and that the crowd had heard. The judges look- ed at each other, at Sam and his friends and then at Jean. “Well, I might consider racing,” said one of the drivers sulkily. The crowd roared again. “Do I race?” queried Jean. “No, your horse does,” said Keyes and grinned sheepishly. “Thanks a lot! Is that all?” cried Jean. “Yes, I believe so. Thank you,” muttered Keyes. “Oh, Miss Sherman,” ventured the youngest of the three judges, as Jean [22]