The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-03-18

year there was an unusually large mum Der
of owners of racenorses and hackers pres
ent, and there had been already a good
deal of speculation about the Cambridge
shire, though the layers had not shown
much wish to meddle with the fayorite.
Beggarman. Suddenly, however change
came over the spirit of the dream,
and the OminOus voice of Jim
Groves-he was called the undertaken,
because he was always so certain to la v
against a ''dead un"-was heard Offering
Z to on the field for The ambridgeshire
Mr.. Il bstone's commissioner echoed the
cry and offered 100 To II. A few hackers
came 10 the rescue, but in another minute
10 20 was offered. People looked az Mr..
Hardin but he made no sign of coming
To the rescue. He seemed to be very
angry and put out about something. Sud-
denly he rushed up 10 Mr.. Ribstone as if
he could control himself ne longer lyon
internal thief. that fellow is betting for
you, isn't hep" he said, pointing to Rib
stones commissioner.
WHAT DO you mean by talking to me
like that, Mr.. HaTdimaD ?" said RIbst, ne.
locking very nervous aud uncomfortable
"Mea Why, that my training-ground
is infested by your touts; that you FORE
stalled Inc when | wanted to back nv
horse, ana now when / hear that he has
broken down l find that you have the
same information"
uttered another exclamation. "Why, you
have employed some scOundrel to pick nv
pocket and get my telegram. You ought
TO be kicked off the turf, and, by George
l will do it for you" and taking his enemy
by the scruff OF the neck Mr.. Hardiman
began TO propel him by series Of kicks
toward the gate that led from the ring
into the course. The spectacle OF one
prominent turtle kicking ano her out of a
grand stand is likely To excite consider
able attention, Everyone in the ring, and
good many people in the carriages on the
other side of the course noticed the Incl
dent
Among the betting men the news spre ad
like wildfire thai RibstOne had managed
to hear that Beggarman had broken down,
and almost before Hardman had admin
istere1 his final kick, which sent Ribstoue
SPRAYING on all fours on 10 the course
through the gate, almost everybody knew
Uhat 1t was about. By the time Mr.
RibstOne had picked himself up and skunk
off (howeveT much a man may be in the
right ii is difficult to assert ones self after
one has been kicked) the incident had seri-
Ousy AFFECTED Beggarman's market po-
siLion, aud 90 TO was offered.
After the next race b been run and
attention again turned to future events 80
to was offered against Beggarma
Phil CaldicOt had been in the Enclosure
and witnessed the incident in which Mr.
Rbst0ne had played so uncomfortable a
part without feeling much compassion for
him. When be heard about Beggarman
having broken down he rememb ered the
conversation he had heard in tie railway
carriage and as he thought over il he
noticed the smoOth-faced man he had seen
talking to HaTdiman sauDter up to Groves,
the bOokmaker. He was near enough 10
hear him back Beggarman for 9l00 al 80 to
!. Then lie saw him 60 w TO RIDst0ne'S
cOmmI SsiOner and then 10 another book
maker. Phil had changed his check be-
fore he left London and he had won an
other Gl20, for, when he had determined
10 marry tie wdow.i if she would have him,
an0 he believed she would, aud money,
therefore was Of no importance to him,
his luck turned.
AS lie watched the smooth-faced man
the whole meaning OF the scene that was
being played suddenly flashed across him,
and he determined to take tho tip that
chance had given him. and, going up to a
bOOkmaker who he knew would be able
to pay large sum of money, and who had
just offered 30 to l against Beggarman, he
took those ODDS 10 E200.
Then he crossed the course. Should he
go and talk TO The widow, who was in a
magnetic dispensing luncheon TO a small
though not particularly select circle of
friends, or should he 20 back 70 Tom
Westerns drag, where Jenny Western
was? She seemed somehow different that
morning from what she was tie evening
before, and her face did not wear the same
defiant look. The drag was just opposite
the grand stand, and she had witnessed
Mr.. Ribstone's discontinue.
ii MI. RlbstOne had known that she had
seen il al and could have understood VIII at
she would think of it. he would not have
come round to the drag as he did after he
had pulled himself together. Why should a
woman think the worse oil him because he
had been attacked and assaulted by Hardi-
man? He was not fighting man, and if
any fighting had to be done he could well
afford to pay others TO do IL for him. So
he came back and bore himself as if
nothing had happened. Jenny had seen
him kicked out of tie Enclosure by a
smaller and much older man than himself.
Mere physical courage Is, We are told now
adays, a very secOnd-rate quality, but
most women have enough of the instinct
inherited from the savage ages, when men
fought to gain them and keep them, to
have a very genuine contempt for the man
who is without il. And the sort of moral
courage which enabled Mr. Ribstone To
bear his disgrace so easily only disguised
her all the more. Caldicot saw that Mir.
r bstOne WAS no longer formidable rival
to any one WHO wanted 10 win Jenny.
If only Beggerman would win the race
he would never make a bet again, but
would go off to seek his fortune in some
land where success was not so hard to ga n
by one who had a small capital and plenty
OF pluck and energy. And If he went to
Jenny like man and told her that be was
going TO fight hard to make up for los I
time instead Of scowling and snarling as he
had done the evening before. may be she
would be kinder 10 him.
There was another who watched the
kicking episode, and let it to certain ex-
tent influence her life. and that was the
golden widow. She had been good deal
taken by two men she had met at the
ball the evening befOre-Phil and Hardi-
man.
The latter she felt really liked her better
than the former and she liked him almost
as we'll as she did Phil, though it was a
pity he was not little younger.
When she saw him begin to kick Rib
stone she had thought that there was
plenty of spirit left in him. When he
sent his enemy SPRAYING t. the turf she
declared to herself that he was quite young
enough for her, and that she would take
the first opportunity of letting him know
that he could have her and her quarter of
a million OF money for the asking. So
when Hardman came round TO her car
riage she asked him to dinner that evening
and after dinner it was all settled.
Il liked you before, but when L saw You
=. II Il