“So I would like to suggest a match between Cyclone and Sun Raider to be held in Chicago the middle of next month. I’m sending letters to each of the owners today. There are no big races at that time in which the horses are entered. Both horses will have the same distance to travel for the race, so neither will have any advantage over the other.

“Once and for all the question of which horse is the faster will be settled.…”

Henry looked up from the paper. “It will be a great race if they let ’em run,” he said.

The stallion stood quietly beside Alec, his big teeth crunching on the sugar the boy had just given him.

Two days later as Alec walked home from school, he passed a newsstand. The headline of a morning paper leaped up at him—CYCLONE AND SUN RAIDER TO RUN MATCH RACE JUNE 26! he read. Eagerly he bought a paper and turned to Jim Neville’s column.

The owners of the two champions had accepted his proposal—the race was on! “Mr. Volence and Mr. Hurst even went me one better,” Jim Neville wrote. “They have offered to give over their share of the purse money to a worthwhile charity! I owe them both an apology, for they are true sportsmen in every sense of the word.…”

Alec couldn’t get home and through lunch fast enough to hear what Henry thought about it. When he reached the barn, he saw Henry already had a paper and was reading it. He looked up as Alec approached. “Well, they’ve gone and done it!” he said.

“Boy, and I’d give a lot to see it!” answered Alec.

A car turned into the driveway. “Wonder who this is?” asked Henry.

“It’s Joe Russo—haven’t seen him since he gave us that write-up the day we got home!” Alec exclaimed as the car neared them.

Joe jumped out. “Hello, Alec. Hello, Mr. Dailey. I was over this way covering a story and thought I’d drop in and see how you were doin’ with that wild stallion of yours.”

“He’s okay now.” Alec grinned proudly.

“Still keeps us on our toes, though,” Henry said. “There he is out in the field now.” He pointed to the Black.

Alec whistled. “I’ll give you a closeup of him, Joe,” he said.

The stallion ran toward them. He reared when he saw Joe, and rushed down the field again. “Guess he’s forgotten me.” Joe laughed.

Alec whistled again and the Black whirled and came back. Alec grabbed him by the halter.

“Boy! I knew I wasn’t seeing things that night—he sure is the biggest horse I’ve ever seen!” Joe whistled admiringly.

“Fastest horse you’ve ever seen, too,” said Alec proudly.

“Faster than Sun Raider and Cyclone?” kidded Joe.

“Beat both of ’em,” Henry said.

Joe laughed. “Say, you guys sound serious! Here people all over the country are arguing about who’s the fastest horse in the country—Sun Raider or Cyclone, and you say your horse can beat them both. Better not let anyone hear you say it!”