Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-17
"He has no doubts of Applicants ability,

rather too much for my years, and" (waisper-
ing) that the Captain would have 40 objection
saw the opportunity. Q, must tell you-such
a lark! was out at dinner party with ~ I'M
ma and Gretty when the guv. got to the Hall To-
coat himself and comes to fetch US home, he
said. We tcere hurried OF, can tel! you. And
sent to bed at once. Mamma THINKS he Is
going COINS; round with the keepers and that I'm In
BY this time they had reached the paddock.
The SqutreS arrival was greeted quite as fer-
vently as, If more quietly than, 1t had been by
the crowd outside. He shook hands with Lord
GuleS. expressed his delight at knowing that MS
lo'dship had consented to act as starter, and
then fac ed the CepJain.
"NOw, Captain Dykely, shall we get rea1y?"
"Your jockey, Mr.. Whinridge?'
"ls my son Reginald. Have you any Objection
Every objection, Mr.. Whinrfdge. When I
made this-I don't mind admitting 1t-Stupid
match, it was not with the idea that was going
to have for an opponent mere child"
"Child or not, he rides"
az am no more child than he is, papa!" ex-
claimed the boy "If I can ride, what more
does he want?"
"Lf you can ride" said Captain Dykely, with
"Dykely," interposed Lord Gules 81 must
say that, according to the terms Of the match,
or forfeit"
livery well" retoined Dykely, sullenly, every
well. III the OaOy breaks his 00CK AIN nOU 10
blame, mind. Let us get 1t over"
There was a stampede on the part OF the au
dftors at these words In the direction OF the two
most formidable obstacles In the track-a made
fence at the beginning Of the straight run In,
ard brook on the far side. The boy, giving
up his overcoaJ and hat to Hartbrook, and put
ting on silk cap which he produced from his
fully equipped for action. In default OF silk he
wore thin Jersey, but otherwise 1t would have
been impossible TO find fault with his appear
walked by his side to the starting post, where
Lord Gules was already waiting with the flag.
"Redgy, my DEAR" said the Old fellow, In
voice that was strangely husky, you heard
neck?"
Eyes, pa"
'Weli, Redgby, it made me feel that posi-
l should never forgive myself If anything hap
pened to you, and am sure your mother would
never forgive me. Now, Redge, although you
out mans sense-don't mind me at all. 1t you
have any doubt, Jump of, and I'll throw up the
match"
"Papa, you must let me ride! After what
vented d from showing him up. Never fear. I'll
"Redge your hand"
The boy placed his hand in that OF his father,
who grasped the warm little palm with fervor,
and gently drawing down the lads head, kissed
him. The man and boy understood each other.
It was seldom GustaVuS Whfnrtdge was be-
trayed into such an exhibition Of what he would
have termed feminine weakness; but the boy
knew what this demonstration meant far bet
ter than If it had been expressed In the tender
est words.
Completely out of the view and hearing Of
the people who by this time thronged the stand,
the Squire impaired his final orders.
keep with him, but not too close, for the
first mile, and then come away as hard as you
can pelt. 1t is a splendid mOOn-almost as light
out the least mistake: NOW, Redge, my owa
made OFF,
Captain Dykely to ambie their way to the start
1ng-pOSt, and mounting hack which Grove
had In readiness, canIered across to bit of
rising ground near the brook, where he could
obtain an excellent view of at least three parts
Of 1.-THE country" About the same time
W!dgeon, Captain Dykely's man." "a durable
hand at bet, and one OF the wtn-tie-or-wran-
gle fraternity Uh1s was Hartbrook's unsolicit-
ed testimonial to character,) was deep in an en-
deavor to advise superintendent Pompert OF
the Thornford constabulary in the matter OF
already gathered around the TWO ends OF the
"Yoa SEE, Super, my governor the captln,
so If was you, Super-excuse my making so
bold-I'd pot most OF my men by that there
brook to keep the crowd quiet"
tendent, in freezing tones, II have made my
arrangements"
40, have you, Mr.. Pompey- and Cesar" re-
Joined Widgeoa Il. IN "a. safe whisper as he
devices. Then III bet a pound to sh1llin'
some of those boys there'fl unmake em. Go
along, old turnip-tops; keep that bulls eye
quiet, can't you? That's enough to make any
The remark is addressed to one of the Super
tntendent's most Jealous subOrdinate3 "a young
a the the aS
ton OF disturbing fire. works part OF his duty.
Widgeon takes front place 0y the brook.
Grove does likewise. Behind them and group,
three deep, OF mere spectators, Is Gu5tavu,
Whinridge. prominent object IN the silver
and gray landscape as he stands motionless,
waiting for the shout that is to signal the start.
Squire, his eye-sight made keenly telescope by
the love he bears to his boy, cranes forward
hungrily, and, missing no incident In the battle,
will do, Redgy boy; that win do! Let him
make the running! Now then, wider, wider,
Redge! Keep away from his Wnp.nand HOW
IKE q man! Now THeN! Capital, capital!
All, only just over Redgy. The next Jake-of
must be better judged than that, or you will
be spilled, to certainty. NOW they are out Of
The Squire knew every inch OF the country
over which the two horses were gallOplng,
SO long as the nags remained In view, were
curiously accurate. To the other spectators,
Heckler, the Judge, and Hartbrook perhaps, eX-
CcpUcu. Cuc Vi UUC IdCc Wcfc UuSup-
ported guesS-wOrk Of the toughest description;
the grotesquely shifting shadows which were
cast by the TWO horses rendering obtaining an
exact idea OF the precise positions OF the pair a
matter OF fmpOsSfbtlfty.
"Here they comet" shouted the Squire in a
strangled voice. "Here they come, and 10y boy
is leading! Let him have 1t, Redgy! Lose him.
my dear child! lose him! Good Lad! He Is COM
ing away like steam engineer
AS Applicant approached the brook the eX-
element OF the Squire intensified, especially
when he saw that Captain Dykely was rapidly
lessening the gap between him and the Squire's
horse There was only about length and
half Of moonlight between Applicant and Flue-
faker as the former rose like bird over the
brook and landed in safety.
"Thank God, that's overt" murm lred Whin-
ridge; but he spoke too soon. The youthful
ornament Of the Thornford constabulary
flashed his bulls-eye across the path OF the
foremost horse, which SHE'D, and then, terrified
by the cheering OF the crowd, tore along in q
manner that betokened an early dissolution OF
partnership between him and his jockey.
In voice that was neither shout nor yell,
but frantic blending OF both, Mr.. Whinrfdge
exclaimed:
The horse has bolted! Out Of the way with
you! Redgy, keep him straight, my boy! Good
lad, good la-ad, gO-!"
GLOW much did win by?" asked the boy.
family, as he opened his eyes in hushed apart.
| ment IN the Whinridge Arms. He had not
| spoken since they picked him up and found
| that an arm was broken. GLOW much?
HIS father, Whde eyes were moist and dim,