The record-union., 1891-09-12

him, are you?''
81 really am" replied Kit, with the
ghost of smile. .Dou yo feel inclined to
bid for him? You couldn't have horse
to carry you better. For looks, temper
and breeding he hasn't his equal, but you
know him-know what L think of him."
Know him? Was there horse or rider
in the whole county whom she had
watched more closely as they dashed
along in the first flight? Was there one
who had been oftener at her side as they
trotted home in the winter evening? Had
she not listened to his praises and heard
his master VOW that, come what might,
Hazard should own no other master?
1T must be something very bad which
has brought you to this decision. Must
you sell him, Captain Stansted ?r
II must, indeed"
He might have resented such question
ing from other lips, but who could resent
word or action of Marjorie's? Not Kit,
at any rate.
The little winsome face fell and the blue
eyes filled. She guessed how sorely Kit
must feel parting with his favorite Per-
haps she pictured 60 herself the farewell
III the dark stable the night before.
81 am so sorry,' she faltered.
"Don't'' cried Kit, ''for PHYS sake,
Lady Marjorie, don't unnerve me now.d
She was frightened at the pallor of his
face.
You are i'll; you are not fit to ride to-
day. Do give it up.'
FIT ITS 5, nothing nothing I've had TOUGH Of
win, too. Wish me luck; it is time to
saddle"
The pleasure of the day had vanished
for Lady Marjorie. That Kit was in very
grave trouble was evident, yet only ten
days ago he was contiding to her hopes
and plans untinged by any fear of com
ing distress. Of course it was money.
''Oh, why can't I give him mine.1
thought the little heiress.
Hullo, Marjorie! In brown study !?
Here's the great race just coming off
WHATS your fancy for it ?''
Marjorie looked up quickly. ''Where
are they, Edmund? Where do they start
from?''
''There; don't you see them by that
postY' answered her brother. '9Stan-
sted is just riding up. Can't think what
induced him TO enter Hazard at the last
moment. Keen on selling him, too. pll
bet that brother of his is at the bottom of
it.''
Edmund, want you to buy Hazard
for me-" interrupted Marjorie.
For your" echoed Lord Silverdale.
My dear child, do you know that Stan
sted wants Hazard to fetch over 900
guineas ?"
"a thousand-2, ,0O0-what do 1 care pr
| cried Marjorie passionately. 1.-The
money there. Come" she added, coax
ingly, you'll do it for me, like a dear
boy"
Silverdale glanced curiously at her, and
vague suspicious took definite form in
| his brotherly mind.
"All right, little girl: 1 don't suppose
you could find a safer or Shower mount.
Come on; if we get to that mound we'll
have a better view of the course, and
| they'll be off in a minute"
Kit knew most of the horses he had to
deal with. Bobby and Sly he dismissed
with scarcely thought. Masterman's
Rocketer was long, lean bay, who
looked like mischief. Tom Lawless him
self was riding Saturn, one of the heroes
of the memorable OttIey Wood run. Tom
ner.
81 must have bid for the little horse.
Hark ye, my friend, dye see that gray
old veteran yonder? Stands quiet. don't
he? That's Kettledrum, and that's Nick
Morris mounting him. Keep your eye
on him, for he'll be in the van, bar acci-
| dents, as sure as my names not Robin
son. There, too, stands the favorite.
| Milford. Wish you luck. Who's this? I?
| One of your fellows, Stansued ?''
| With that Lawless trotted up to the
post, and the new conner reined in beside
| Kit.
FLOWS the lever? You look a bit
to the mark, and lisa stiffish course; best
give in. Hold up, Jiggins! Is it any
| thing / can do for you, Kit?''
mo, thanks, Dolly. Hazard and I are
both fit enough to fight for ourselves. It's
| sink or swim with us to-day, do you
see ?''
Aye, with $4,000 and brothers repu-
| tafiOO the iSSIla h11t no11T- d;1
| know that.
| A dozen of them, all told and as fair a
start as man could wish. Hazard showed
| well to the fore as theysswept gayly over
the grass land and headed for the hollow
| Once into the plow, Kit took a pull on
| the young un', and let Rocketer and Sly
| slip past for the lead.
Heavy going" said Silverdale. 'fLast
weeks rain has done no end of mischief;
the meadows yonder are half flooded
BY Jupiter! Hazard takes the cake for
| looks.n
"He is beautiful whispered Marjorie,
with eyes fastened on the glossy black
| coat, the little ears pricked, the scarlet
nostrils distended.
In and out of the lane was something of
a scramble, and Bobby left behind; the
favorite and Saturn abreast, Hazard at
their quarters, Kettledrum taking it
easy. Up to the hill, then a dash for the
hurdles. Dolly's horse pecked badly,
staggered, fell out of the running, and
Hazard mud-bespattered, strained eagerly
at his bit, rose to the next jump, level
with Saturn. It looked forbidding
enough, but there was no time for choos-
ing. They landed side by side in the
meadow, but Sly came to grief, and made
such gap that Kettledrum and Milford,
taking immediate advantage of it, shot
| forward, and for few seconds the horses
were scarcely Observation-Disclosures
! for the water, with the sunlight flashing
| broadly on the stream.
| Kit drew his breath hard Hazard was
going strong, but his master felt misera-
| bly, conscious that his own strength was
scarcely equal to the effort. What if he
should fail? The thunder of the hoofs,
| the cries of the crowd, the rush through
the cold air to Kits strained nerves
seemed mingling with Philips words.
PhiPs face, haggard and worn, came be-
| tween him and the stretch of water in
the binding sunlight.
| Edmund" }" whispered Marjorie, "what
| has happened to Captain Stansted7 Do
| look is he going to faint2'
a heavy pull brought Hazard almost
| to standstill. Only for a moment; the
mist cleared from Kits sight in time to
| let him see that the field had swept sud
denly to the left, heading up the bank
Kit grasped the position at once: a dam
swollen to undue proportions; even Law
| less would not face it, and had made for
the bridge higher up. The momentary
check had lost Hazard place it was
more than doubtful he could regain.
Now or never! Life or death, Haz-
ardv' muttered Kit.
by the Lord Harry, Marjorie, he's
going for the waterp' Silverdale's voice
shook. 1t looked like certain death.
The crowd surged tumultuously, utter
! ing shouts of warning, but as Kit neared
the glittering stream interest in the peril
| of the horse c,laa mod stranoalx,. ba ro;co,]