The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-09-17

| said Dobson. "The horse will not wif9hs
,ciH not ,oin," he continued, rs If his re;
peating it settled the question; "he will
not win. It may seem 70 you that he will
win. but. assure you, he i0iH not ,0in"
ut will take a rasper to beat him." said
Tom, with smile. Miss Henley's manner
had put him in too pleasant mood to dis
pute with Dobson then. even on that point.
"Thornton," said the Ensign, with some
confIsion,' "the ladies wish to see Lord
Baytokn's borses. l am assured, that at
your request, his trainer will admit them.
HE wilti but how can l leave my
horsei"
"If it is too much trouble, never mind"
said Miss Henley. N"To be sure, Mrs. Dob
son is anxious to seehis lordship's racers"
ut is not the trouble, but leaving the
horse. However, I will send for Joe.
Perhaps Mrs. .Dobson will come in and
look at my horse while we are waiting"
"She has seen him." said Dobson. sand
rs the ladies have no time 10 spare, I will
remain with your horse, If it be absolutely
necessary that some one should be with
him."
Il wouldn'chave him left alone half an
hour this evening for thousand pounds"
said Tom. He hesita,ed rs to leaving him
in charge Of Dobson for few seconds, bu,
a glance at the belle decided him.
Don't leave the stable on any account,
till my return," said he, handing Dobson
the key.
"Make yourself perfectly easy" replied
the Ensign.
When Tenn Thornton returned, Mr.. Dob
son WAS walking up and down outside. The
stable door was locked.
You have been longer than I anticipa
ted" said the Ensign, hurriedly, handing
him the KEY. mo one has been here.
Good night and he was gone before
Thornton could reply. 1t was not true
that no one had been there.
Tom unlocked the door, lit a candle, and
examined the horse. He was apparently
all right. His master thought Of the belle
He resolved to make a formal declaration,
and propose for her hand, rs soon as they
returned hume. At twelve, the groom
came to relieve him. He was 10 be back
"a, four, soon after which hour he expected
his father, jolly, and John Henley.
Each half hour Of his watch, the groom
examined the horse, upon whose strong
lhews and sinews, and unfiinching spirit. SO
much money was bet. or so many hopes de.
pended. Every time he saw him, he be.
came more of the persuasion that all was
not well with Strideaway. lie was ,e,tsss
and uneasy, he was warm and feve,ish,
sweating ~ he stood in his hny. When
the groom handled the water bucket, the
horse turned, and whinnel painfully, crav
ing water.
This amt as it should be-" said the
groom. much alarmed d perplexed. 81
wouldn't have him amiss for a mint Of
money. Tom knows me; but if this hoss
turns out ainiss. aud loses, some folks viii
swear dome it,"
Locking the door, he set off TO the inn nj
which Tom was, ataswift pace. lie called
the young farmer, and desired him TO come
in haste: wa, back at The stable almost di-
recily. Tom drew on his boots, and start
ed with his coat and vest in his hand.
The groom met him a, the stable door
with light.
There may be nothing wrong; but am
afraid there is" said lie. "Whatever comes
ct 1t, he has been watched all night by me,
and nothing bigger than n rat has been in
the stable since you left but myself. You
know me, Master Tom, think"
Il would bet my life upon you doing
the fair thing by me and my horse. joe"
said Tom. "But let US look at him. Is it
so badl"
so you are satisfied that have been
true, | care not q rush what o,her folks say.
But mind, sir, they will talk of me-per-
haps of you. WHO could get at the
horse they'll say, without one of them
knowing?"
"They won't say it Of us, joe"
won't theyi One half of the losers up
on race horses and prize.fghters always
swear it WAS a drop Did you ever hear
offs horse being taken sick tho night before
the start, and his hackers allowing it was
natur! This is natur'; but not one in
hundred will believe it,"
Tom was not quite so sure that il was to
be attributed TO 'natur." lie had thought
of Dobson while Joe had been talking,
and he had been examining the horse; he
thought Of Dobson again, and muitered q
curse. Then lie tried TO dismiss the suspi.
cion of such mean villainy. 1t might be
nature. Why noti
The racer continued restless and excited
till daybreak. when they began to look for
jolly and old Thornton. To break the mat.
ter to them, the young farmer felt would
be difficult.
"Joe," said Tom, "f no ones money but
mine depended on him. shouldn't care SO
much. But much money has teen beta
good deal on the strength Of what said.
| advised Miss Henley's father TO back him."
Hell say it was all fair. Of course-thal
fine old gentleman! He's worth his thou.
sands; and he'll make more Of losing one
pound, than some would about million"
The voice Of Thornton hallooing outside
and The indignant expostula,ions Of the fat
trainer, put an end TO .be conversation
Thornton and John Henley were at the
door when 1t opened, and the punchy train
er was discovered coming up as rapidly ms