He's three seconds--yes, by Christmas, he's four seconds slower t'day 'n what he's ever run before! What fer sport d' you call that ?" His voice went up and cracked at the question mark like a boy in his early teens.
Jeff stalked forward to Skeeter's side.

"Jake, did you pull Skeeter ?" he demanded sternly.

"I'll swan if this ain't the belly-achiness bunch I ever seen! How about it, Jake?
Did Skeeter do his durndest, or didn't he?
"Shore, he did!" Jake testified warmly.

"I'da beat, too, if he hadn't stumbled right at the last.

Didn't yuh see him purty near go down?
And wasn't he within six inches of beatin'?
I leave it to the crowd!" The crowd was full of argument, and some bets were paid under protest.
But they were paid, just the same.