Smitty

Foot, Hook, Smitty, Pap, all the guys had stories of guys dying.

“Smitty Valentine and Florence Huyler running neck and neck,” the announcer droned.

But—she squared her shoulders at the thought—Smitty Valentine, her closest opponent, was twenty minutes behind her.

Then, at the crack of a pistol, with a shout and a flourish of the whip, Smitty was away.

Smitty, Mike, Elmer, and Nick snatched stolen siestas there in the rare absences of the manager.

"I'll tell Smitty that Forest's got a fine girl for a daughter," he said, rising.