The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-10-11

moment Bowman tugged at my elbow.
Now" he whispered. and we made our
way out of the paddock through the door
at the back of the stand TO the main road
outside. where carriage was in waiting,
and at once drove off TO the hotel. Arriv-
ing here we separated, Bowman remind
ing me of my promise TO see him after
dinner. Punctually at the appointed
time went to his room, and, as | ex-
pected, found him alone. He had, he told
me, given orders that we were not to be
disturbed. A few minutes later and we
were comfortably seated before the fire,
with our tobacco furnaces IN full blast
After a few thoughtful puffs at his cigar
Bowman broke the silence.
when we parted this morning" he be-
gan, II promised that would tell you the
story of John Rowland. You shall have
it now. But first / must exact one prom
Use from you, and it is that you will never
reveal this story to others, or in any way
make it public, until after my death-as-
Stunning that you survive me-"
gave him the required promise, and he
proceeded.
/ about to relate date their COM
mencement as far back as twelve years
ago, soon after | had landed the City
and Suburban on GAY Deceiver,
which you will remember was the
first big race was successful in. | was
riding at the Fuihngham Whitsuntide
meeting, and, having had a good season
so far, had managed to get my name
pretty well up among the natives. 1t was
early in the morning of the third day
that a note was brought me from John
Rowland, a bookmaker, in which he asked
me to ride a lilly of his called Fenella,
which was entered in the two-year-old
hve-furlong sweepstakes that day. /
didn't like John Rowland for many rea-
nuQ nf xrh ieh w hot Il a
hatred of bookmakers as a body, and an
other, because he was one of the worst
specimens OF his class, or to put 1t shortly,
a ruffian and a bully. However, in BUSH
ness likes or dislikes have to be put aside.
The man was willing TO pay my terms. l
was disengaged, and in those days couldn't
afford to throw mount away. sent word
of acceptance. When / got to the course
that afternoon heard that Rowland had
been backing his FLY for all he could get
on, having made certainty of winning.
/ knew he had been hard hit two or three
times lately, and was, therefore, not sur
prised to hear this, though naturally 1t al
WAYS makes me bit xious when l know
an owner had heavily backed the horse
am riding for him. Well, when I got the
Jacket on and was going into the paddock
to mount, Howland's trainer, Yates, came
up to me with a troubled look on his face.
".I'm half afraid of this business of How
lands, he said to me. The lilly has never
been out before and is Just as nervous as
kitten. She won her trial easily enough,
and if she runs up to that she'll land; but
don't like the business, and | don't like
Howland's mood today. He's been drink
ing heavily. Never knew him to go such a
raker before. betting more like mailman
than a sane being
"When mounted Feneila noticed that
she was sweating freely and trembling like a
leaf She was one of the sweetest FLIES l
ever saw, bonny bright bay, with white
blaze on the forehead, and when patted her
on the back by way of encouragement, she
turned her head and gave me look out of
her eyes that was just like that of human
being. As we passed the ring on the way
to the post, Rowland stood against the
rail Juggling at his beard, and watching us
as we went up the course. | walked the
FLY slowly along, patting her gently the
while, you wouldn't believe what an effect
that patting had upon a nervous young
ster, and by the time we had reached the
starter she was quite cool and quiet. got
well away when the flag fell, and at once
started to make the pace as hot as could,
for l knew that to keep her in front was
my best chance. If [ had let her be COL
Jared by anything, or waited and tried to
come at the finish, she would run green.
When we got to the furlong pole felt
that l had them all settled-all ex-
cept one, Norseman-whom George
Barnham was riding. Norseman was going
strongly and easily. and do what would,
/ couldn't shake him off. l pricked Fee
nella with the spur, and managed to keep
her head in front until we reached the six
teenth pole. Then / felt that | must use
the whip unless / wanted to be beaten for
Fenella was beginning to give way, while
Norseman was gaining upon her at every
stride. l gave her one cut, and she an
swered like the game bit of stuff she was,
but George was just as quick. Before /
could raise my whip again he had got the
first go, and Norseman was neck in front.
Then piled the whip and spur together,
and the filly answered every call. l got
her up inch by inch. and then, right on
the post she pecked, from sheer distress,
and when the numbers were hoisted George
had done me by nose.
when / went into the weighing-room
Rowland was there. He was white livld
with rage, stamp ng about the room, and
swearing and Disappearing in a way to
make ones blood run cold.
THE = jade = wouldn't try yard.
III have the = shot, by - he shouted,
as soon as he saw me. When l was
weighed, went up to him.
"'You are wrong about Fenella Mr.. How
land, | said. She struggled every yard,
but met one too good for her, that's ALL
'''She cut it, | tell you. She's jade.
You, the tilly, and all the rest of them are
in league against me. She'll never serve
me the same trick again Shot she shall be
II have to hang for it tomorrow
GOD knows, tried all | could to save
the tlly's life. In vain pleaded with
him. In vain l threatened him, in vain
begged him with tears in my eyes to spare
her. | offered him two, four, five hun
bred, thousand even, and that was some
thing to me in those days, TO let me have
her. 1t was of no use. The devil was
raging in him. Nothing would satisfy
him but that she should be shot, and he
would do it with his own hand. Others
came up and tried to reason with HIM, but
they might as well have remained silent
He answered them only with such curses
and oaths and foul abuse that everybody
cried shame on him. Then one of How
lands men brought him gun, which he
took, and with which he left the room
The blood of that defenseless creature
will follow you to the grave | cried /
thought little of the words then, had
good reason to remember them afterwards.
Rowland only grinned in reply and went
out. Presently | saw him going to the
course. on the river side. with the gun
under his arm. Walking into the paddock
/ met Fenella, who was being led away by
a stable lad. AS she passed me she turned
her head my way and gave quite queer
little cry. | went up TO her and stroked
her neck, and she rubbed her head against
my arm. Then felt big lump rising in
my throat and hurried away to my dress
ing room. That was the last | saw of her.
sit was after the next race that How
land was seen coming back to the ring. |
had not ridden in that race, but some of
the boys who did told me that they had
seen the butchery accomplished, and that