Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-21

coach horse into ''the Smiths" box, and
the officers not being deeply skilled in
| horsefesh, had put him down as Maryland
| Smith" And the news had been wired up
and down and all over the country that
/ the Smith" had been seized by the Sheriff
and could not possibly run for the Jubilee
Stakes.
George chuckled nightly over this last
piece of news, and its inspiriting nature
kept up his spirits into the still hours of
the night. His master, on leaving, had
babe him look out and listen for any COM
munication from outside; but midnight
was chimed forth from the old church
tower before he heard sound. Then there
was dull thud and shaking at the further
end of the crypt. Soon hole appeared,
and the light of Il lantern shone through it.
"All right, George" said the masters
voice; we'll dig you out in no time"
Half a dozen spades were at work, and
the soil was light sand, so that in less
than half an hour there was an opening
through which George and his horse could
| march.
Bless me-" said the voice of veteran
digger, = if this baint Wayland Smith
coming out of his tomb"
Very pleasant indeed was the scene as
the hour approached for the decision of
the great race. Here was no dust, no
crowding, no hurly-burly, although all the
stands and Enclosures were well filled and
the course was thrOnged with an eager
crowd OF well-dressed spectators. Among
| these last, every now and then, 4 ring
would be formed, not for pugilistic pur-
| poses but around some vociferating tipster
who, hoarse with the continued practice of
| his oratory, bleated out boasts Of previous
| successes, and promises of still greater re-
suits on the present occasion. On similar
| pretenses impromptu lotteries were formed
| here and there, fourishing for a time, and
then shouldered out of existence by burly
| policemen. Wherever little knot of peo-
pie were gathered the purse-trick men were
at work, and stealthily pickpockets wormed
| their way here and there-the pariah dogs
| of civilization, to whom no man accords
| willingly anything better than kick or
curse.
Meantime, well-appointed drags ratified
softly over the turf, and were drawn up in
long lines in front of the stands, while gay
costumes and killing combinations of col
ors huttered down from the roofs, and with
! their wearers glided away to form fresh
groups on the lawns or about the balconies
of the club inclcsure. A military band
struck up, and its music added to the sug-
gestion of gayety and light-hearted enjoy
ment but at a little distance its music was
| drowned in the clamor of the betting in
closure, where the hundreds congregated
meant business and nothing else
A bell rings, the police are clearing the
course, and an elderly gentleman on a lad
! dor = bo 80 h.
about to start, as they stand upon the "cor-
| Jockeys name. Number five on the card
is "Wayland Smith" and having stuck up
number four, the elderly gentleman pauses
and looks down. There is a general cram
| ing of heads and leveling of glasses, for
rumor had it that number five was, in sport
ing language, I" a dead un." Number five,
George White, now appeared in as glaring
| white and black as paint pots could man
age; and cheer range out from the spec
| tators, for ''the Smith" had been a popular
| favorite. The roar in the betting ring
gathered force and volume. Paddock
pushed his way here and there, burly and
confident, backing his own horse freely on
every side. Charlie stood by the rails,
| trying to look cheerful and unconcerned;
he had no more money to lose on his horse,
and the mingled voices of the crowd
| sounded in his ears as if afar off, while the
| whole scene had no more reality to him
| than gaily-painted picture.
Lady Richards was on the course in an
elaborate and youthful costume, and Dell
| was by her side, and unable to exchange a
| word with her lover; but she looked con-
tinually his way, aud once their eyes met
and they did their best to express all they
felt in that one glance.
All the rest was like a dream-the ter
rible suspense of the protracted start; the
| approaching thunder of hoofs; the vivid
| dash of color; the tension of wild sus-
pense. Charlie did not even see the race.
| He shut up his glass, bent his eyes on the
green turf. and felt as if his heart-strings
| were cracking. The first thing he was
conscious of was seeing Mr.. Snatiies cheer
fully Jump over the rails into the course,
and then Charlie followed him.
THANK you, Snafiles" he said, "Fl
lead the horse in myself"
Yes, it was true. Wayland Smith had
won by head. And now there was moth
ing but triumph as Charlie led his horse
into the paddock. George was as red as
fire with pride and excitement. The
scales were passed, the signal hoisted, call
right" and crowd thronged about the
horse, chiefly ladies, who patted and ad-
mired him, while the Smith received
their attentions with the utmost calmness
and nonchaance.
whats the matter, Charlie" whis-
pered Dell, who had contrived to lose
her step-mother, and had managed to
squeeze INTO the paddock with the rest.
" You don't look pleased
You know how | feel, Dell" said
Charlie, looking down upon her with
kind, humid eyes. Z" l feel as if this were
legacy from the dear old governor"
Next morning the news was about every
where that Mr.. Paddock had shot himself
in his own bedroom the night before, and
that he had left hundred thousand
pounds worth of debts behind him-his
losses on the Jubilee Stakes having only
been the proverbial last straw. Lady
Richards went abroad next day, taking
her stepdaughter with her.
The old wiseacres about Ladypriors
were quite convinced that the old saying
had been completely fulfilled Mr.. Pad
dock would have had the Priors had it not
been for Wayland Smith coming out of his
tomb. Hence, they had been lost by that
event, and, as young Mr. Charles had
got them back, there was the winning of
them; while, as he was going to marry
the heiress of Halsey Combe, the iustifca-
ton of ancient prophecy was complete.
Charlie himself was not so sure about
this last part of the business He could
now pay out the men in possession and sat-
isfy all Mr.. Snafile's claims Then he was
saddled with nasty lawsuit or two about
Mr.. Paddock's affairs and it seemed very
doubtful whether he would be ever able to
marry and live at the Priors But visiting
the old crypt one day, meaning to have it
thoroughly cleansed and repaired he saw
| that in removing his mothers belongings
from the place he had left behind the little
ivory tatting-shuttle He picked it up, but
the thread attached to it was fast at the
other end, and following the trail he found
that it led to little niche in the wall,
where there was an opening just large
enough to admit hand. Still guiding his
fingers by the thread, they touched
little parchment-bound volume, which
| he drew forth. Between the leaves was
the morsel of tatting that had no doubt
\ haen tho Loot tbtpp 1911.