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

cried Dell. There are plenty of empty
boxes there. Stay, the gate is locked. |
| have a key, and will show you the way
Oh, you beauty !" she cried, addressing the
horse, who permitted her to pat his pol
ished shoulder with every sign of satisfac-
ton
"There is nothing wrong with him, is
there, George-for you are George, l sup
pose"
"Yes, Miss, Pm George. No, Miss,
there's nothing wrong with the Smith
But there's something awfully wrong at
Snaffle's, Miss
You look after your horse, George, and
Pll find the MASTER" said Dell and, Just
as she was, she hurried into the village
and arrived breathless, with her hair
| blown all over her face, at the door of the
Cross Keys" A knot OF young men
were standing at the door, who stared
their hardest, but made way for her to
enter.
"What, Mademoiselle exclaimed Ana
tole in delight and establishment. ana
femme she descend instantly to receive
Mademoiselle."
"Oh, don't make fuss, Anatole, but
call Mr.. Lilburn at once Make haste, in
| ~ lISli, lltT lt6l Will
Impotence at Anatole's beaming face.
All, but | believe, yes, truly | fear that
Monsieur has already set forth to the
course"
Stop him, then" cried Dell. "Send
after him, do you hear?'
"Why, what is the matter ?" asked
Charles voice from the door; for one OF
the young men, who had listened, of course,
to what was going on, had condoned their
offense by calling back Charlie, who had
! just started from the inn stables.
What has happened? Is anything
wrong with my aunt %
Yes, she has desperate Influenza said
| Dell, and wants to see you. And now
row me back to the Priors as quickly as
you can and will tell you her message
This was said for the benefit of all the
wide-open ears that were listening, and
then as Charlie followed her, amazed and
mystified, she whispered: "'The Smith
is here"
Here p cried Charlie, as he handed
Dell into the boat. "Why, he is half way
to London by this time"
He is here" painted Dell. "George
has ridden him over, and he must see you
at once; and there's something wrong"
Charlie said no more, but sculled on
desperately. The nearest landing place
for the stables was only Il couple of hun
dred yards distant from the inn lawn; and
in few minutes Charlie was dashing up
the path to the stables with Dell close
upon his heels.
George was only too eager to tell his
story. But it's nothing wrong with the
| Sn1Itb = Ia ei,.
cried the lad, leading the way to the box
where the horse was standing; and dexter
ously sweeping off the horses clothing,
George stood by, modestly awaiting the
need of approval
Yes, he looks fit enough" said Charlie,
after critical examination. well, speak
up, George"
Sir, it was this very morning." began
George; "the boys were preparing the
Smith for his gallop, and me sitting in a
corner reading the Sporting Life and Won
dering how they could dare to lay such
odds against him, when 10 and behold, hear
the gate swing and see two gents walk
ing up toward the house. Mr.. Snaffles
was there in minute, Just as if he had
been looking out for them. Servant,
gentlemen says he, what may be your
business? And then one of the gents
pull something out of his pocket. Suit
of Paddock he says. We seize Mr.. Lii
burns horses You're aware, gentlemen,
says Mr.. Snaflles very polite, as I've got a
lion upon them horses Now what could
he mean by that, sirY pausing and ad-
dressing Mr.. Lilburn respectfully.
Il understand George He has lien,
| of courSa for bic hill oo on -
"'Quite right says the other gent, we
shan't interfere with you, Mr. Snaffies.'
And then the governor smiles quite pleas
ant Can't go against the law, gentlemen,
he says, 'of course but step into my little
you begin And so they did And | take
look round and see the boy had Just got
the saddle on the Smith and | take the
bride under my arm and walk him quietly
out at the gate, and tie minute | get on
the turf Pm on to his back and off over the
downs. And bring him along, sir, by the
bridle-paths; he hasn't had two hundred
yards of hard road, sir; and l bring him
straight to you, sir, thinking as how you'd
best know what to do, so as he may run
tomorrow and win the Jubilee Stakes.
you've done well, George" cried his
master, patting him kindly on the Shout
der. 81 shan't forget this, however things
turn out. You see, DELL" he went on,
turning to Miss Richards, "here is the de
mon Paddock at work. They say he
ruined my poor father, and | quite believe
it now for see how he is going for me-"
The question was whether the horse was
safe for the night in his present quarters.
Charlie thought not, for the Sherifi7s men,
| having taken possession at the trainers,
would probably continue their work at the
Priors. But Dell argued that Mr. Pad
dock would have too much consideration
for Lady Richards to put the bailiffs in at
the Priors, and that no one would think
of looking for Z" the Smith in such an OBJ
vious place of concealment. And that
there was a van on the premises which
! had been sometimes used for taking horses
to race courses in the neighboring districts,
and when darkness came "the Smith +"
could take his place in this and be drawn
to some stables near the park, where he
could rest "perdu" till the time came for
appearing at the starting post.
And then the hopes of such a happy de-
movement were shattered by George, who
had been keeping Il lookout by the gate
| Here's one Of them, sir" he cried with
suppressed excitement, one of the gents
| mentioned coming across the lawn"
The Sheriff's officer, however, FORUM
ately took his way toward the house.
Scouts were dispatched in the shape of
willing stable helpers to see if the coast
was clear, as evidently the only remaining
chance was to get the horse off the prem
Uses; but the scouts returned with the dis
heartening intelligence that all the gates
were padlocked and guarded each by two
seedy-looking myrmidons of the law. Ev-
identity the seizure was complete, and
every pains had been taken to make it
effectual. "The Smith" was fairly
trapped.
"Swim him through the river" sug-
gested Dell.
Charlie shook his head. "The river is
I deep and swift and strong We won't risk
the life Of noble brute for the sake of
money"
Dell plucked Charlie by the sleeve and
whispered "the Crypt"
"Ah, the Crypt" murmured Charlie,
his face lighting up, what splendid no
tionr'
There was no time to be lost-at any
moment the officers might make their APP
1 r