Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-09-26
NO. 232.
Gales ano Skettbss.
BY the LIGHT OF THE NOOK.
Continued from Yesterday. }

Continued from Yesterday
WE'LL although he was not Jack Myt-
ton. he was game to see the thing through
idiotic as it looked. The match was pay
or play, and the Thornford Hunt Cup
should never adorn the Whinridge side
board if he could help. There was one
element in the affair that favored him-he
knew the line of country, and if the moon
behaved herself, there was no danger Of
his going on the wrong side Of the flag.
Squire Whinridge was comforting with
lIartbrook in "a private room.
"Now, Mark, attend me. shall want
you to help me through with this business.
What are you smiling ut, you knave? l
suppose you think your old master has lost
his head again. No, no; mean to show
you all that know what l am about.
Where is Grove? ?''
Awaiting your orders"
"And Applicant ? q, can guess. With
his mouth in the manger." He rang. the
bell peremptorily. Tell Crowe." he
said to neat-handed Phillis who obeyed
the summons, "to tie up Applicants head
at once, and then come to me-
"Why, sir, you surely don't"
''Have care or you'll head the fox.
you are aiming at. He was Rad third
to-day. but his Jockey did not ride him out
for a place, or else think he might be
second. However, we'll discover tonight
whether the weights won't just bring the
pair together"
"But, sir-the jockey?'
'.Ha! that's where you are, is it?
Well, own that the jockey is rather an
important feature in the case. Tell me-
what do you think of me for the mOuntp"
"You, SIR" replied Hartbrook. with an
expression of horror. "Why, you would
be done by the length of street. You
ride fifteen stone If you ride an ounce"
"No, no, no! Not as bad as that, Mark.
However, wait. The jockey will be ready.
never fear. The moon rises at eleven, and
we therefore have nearly six hours to
look about us. BY this time Grove will
have abridged Applicants supper. Look
in, and then send here"
Mark was nonplussed, as he told his
wife when he returned to the snuggery.
Squire Whnridge playing the very deuce
and destroying things he could understand
but Squire Whinridge going about his
work in that business-like manner, he
could not understand.
"lie must have his knife pretty deep in
to this Capt Dykely, Jenny. or he would
not take so much trouble to get the better
of him. They bar professional jockeys;
and where he is going to pick up feather
among the amateurs hereabOuts puzzles
me. All our good performers are on the
meaty side And feather he must be,
Jenny, to make the match a certainty"
| The news of the novel match spread
rapidly through the town and attracted to
the recognized centre of operations, the
Whinridge Arms, crowds of sportsmen
and idlers of all classes, anxious to hear
1.-The rights of it, Upon the simple facts
of the case there arose, as the moments
sped, an airy superstructure Of fiction,
chiefly referring to the conditions Of the
forthcoming struggle. which would have
done credit to the inventive powers OF an
american interviewer. If the NEON did
not rise the match was to be ridden by
torchlight. Each jockey was to carry a
light like a locomotive engines in order
that the Judges might see that neither OF
them went outside the track These, with
other statements equally picturesque,
sufliced to divert the steadily-increasing
company during the time which interviewed
before that appointed for dropping the
flag. Hartbrook profi,ed hugely by the
excitement. Every drop Of the remarka-
BILE beverage which had been specially
provided for the races was ungrumbling-
ly consumed ''on the PREMISES" source
of deep commercial consolation to the
mind of Mrs, Hartbrook, albeit she did
not by any means relish the idea Of serv-
ing such customers with the best ale at
the price Of the singular fluid just men,
toned.
Both Grove and the Captains mana
taciturn person named WidgeOn- were
made much of by Il company laudably de-
sirous of obtaining what is known in sport
ing circles MS the straight tip. but neither
of the persistently- servitOrs at
forded the inquirers any substantial salts.
faction in the shape of answers. Grove
and Widgeon either knew nothing or they
were acting, reticently, under orders
The moon rose precisely at the time ap-
pointed by the local almanac circum-
stance that did not escape the admiring
notice of those natives of ThorntOrd who
rather looked upon the placid orb itself US
local property--and a movement was there
upon made toward the race course. But
where was the Squire? From the moment
he, Hartbrook. Capt. Dykely. and William
Heckler, the starter, who was on this oc-
casion t. act as Judge. had arraigned the
modus operandi he had been missing. His
last words were:
IL don't care who starts them. Appoint
whom you please. Mark, you tell Grove
to walk the horse up to the course in time.
| shall be with you an hour after moonrise
by Heckler's watch and if l am not, !
forfeit"
He thereupon strode down stairs at a
rapid rate, leaped into the waiting saddle
and rode OH. lie was gone before any Of
the few spectators of his departure had
given his probable destination thought.
Mark. however. who observed the proceed
ing from one Of the bar windows. smote
his thigh with energy. and exclaimed: y.
Jenny. Jenny, my girl, can see it all !"
"Can you9" replied that estimable lady.
in tones of cool cynicism. II am delighted.
Only the next time you see it all. whatever
that may be. oblige me by doing so in =
ouieter manner. You have broken one Of
our best jugs"
"Da-that is, never mind the jug. Squire
l