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

ton andst5 Henley Piled hasty questions, he
| threw himself before them, exclaiming. Isl
lence! silshce eSerybodyls Let me speak,
or won't answer for the consequences"
Having by this means quieted the others,
and got the course to himself. Mr.. Jolly
asked, in half fearful, half threatening
tone, "Now what does this meant"
ut means that Strideaway is not well,
sir"
"Not we'll! not welll" said the trainer,
with sort of gasp; and with blotchy
countenance, in which sorrow and alarm
painfully struggled with the fiercest indig.
nation. why, what have you been doing
to hima You have done something, with.
out asking me! You Joe, you v;llain! (col.
laring the groom) what have you been and
done TO that hoss, siri"
"No,hing at all! Let me 60, say! My
money is bet upon the boss as we'll as
yours"
"And mighty pretty speculation it's 90
ing to he! Now, stand back every body,
and let me see the hoss!" said Mr.. jolly.
With lantern in hand, lie surveyed the RI
Ger, and felt his chest and his ears. He
then retired backwards. and seated himself
upon the corn bin, the image of obstinate
despair. Melt Egypt into Niie! and
KINDLY creatures turn to serpents aHi" Mr..
Jolly didn't say this, Cor his knowledge of
the beauties Of Shakespeare was not Of the
largest; but he did say, Somebody's done
something without asking mel"
Old Thornton and John Henley, now
thoroughly cowed, watched the trainer with
fear and trembling.
ale can't start, you know" said Mr. Jol.
ly, with the air of the captain Of wreck,
coolly announcing to the passengers-"we
shall go 10 the bottom, gentlemen, in ten
minutes by the watch. This may be un
welcome intelligence but you have no lpht
to grunble. | shall 60 down with you
you will drown in exceeding good cqmpa
ny! Gentlemen. look at mel"
There's good deal of money bet upon
him." said Henley.
lie can't start" said Jolly, tersely.
He shall starll If he breaks his heart
and dies on the course, he shall. said Old
Thornton.
You had better start before the news is
hlowed and lay all the bets you can agin
him." said jolly, with some contempt.
Tom, what do you think!" said Mr..
Henley.
81 would like to see the Squire and DR..
Ryder"
at will be of no use" said jolly. to
Thornton and Henley. "But 90 and tell
them. When did this come on hint" he
inquired, after the other, i,ad left,
After l2 o'clock, while | had charge of
him." replied the groom.
|
You didn't happen to have anybody call
in friendly way. to ask you to obIege 'em
10y drinking matter OF II pin: of ale or "a
glass OF of brandy, did YOU"
! Nobody"
Nor no female u>ins. nor sweeti,ra,,S.
lersl"
Nobody at all. Not a soul"
Joe may be depended on" observed
Young Thornton.
why, know he may, and that's what
boihers me-" replied Mr. Jolly. "If
hadn't had my eye on him, aud seen him
bet his money Oh the horse, on Tie square,
could explain the business in two words
Mr.. Tom Thornton resolved TO say moth
ing TO the trainer, or to his father and
John Henley, respecting having left the
horse with Dobson To charge the latter
with having drugged the racer was verv
serious matter. lie could prove nothing;
but had he limited that he had intrust,d
the horse 10 the care Of Mr.. Dobson. the
only result would have been, tha, he would
nave been denounced as fool, and the
other as rogue. Still. thought Tom
Thornton, 1t is suspicious and unaccounta.
Hna -
lion, and in the very highest state Of health
and strength, Is suddenly seized. n few
hours after person Tom thought his enc.
my had been with him alone. Truly. it
was suspicious; and Tom Thornton re
solved to tell :he Squire and the Rector all
about it,
When those gentlemen reached the sta
bic, Mr.. jolly took them aside, with an air
OF much mystery aud importance, first to
impress upon them the iutility of starting
the horse, and second, to inform them with
due gravity and emphasis that somebody
had done something without asking him."
"He's beeu made safe, you know aud
that's all there is about it," said he, laying
hand upon the arm of DIR. Ryder, and
taking the Squire by the button. Hes
been made safe and can't start. lie may
lie well enough in week, but he's made
safe for this time."
Telling jolly and Thornton and Mr.. Hen.
ley TO go up to ehs inn, the Rector came
forward with the Squire, and both nodded
Kindly to Tom. Mr.. Hampton was tall,
thin and gentlemanly, with dash of pride
IN his manner. DR.. Ryder, WAS also tall,
heavily built, Of large bone, and not much
liesh. He stopped somewhat. and carried
his head forward His counlenance was
broad. and his chin massive; his complexion
dark, and his cheek veny, as il with the
t'ngo of rich old port. His black hair had
turned to nearly the color of his full, un
ii'nchlng eye-a dark iron grey. He
looked like a man Of great irmness, per
baps obslinacy; aud Of strong hard sense, if
of hriII,apt al a.