The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-22

satisfactory termination to the trouble.
He paid Batters his enormous fee W it'll
out pang. Supposlnt Livingstone to
lie ii AMI we'll next July. his owner was
vry salguiDe of his chance in the
Eclipse stakes, out of which he had at
one time been very near striking him.
Sii John now set to work to train him
with an eager and buoyant heart. Every
days work the colt did satisfied him
more than the last.
In six months Billingstons had made
splendid progress. No sign of the old
malady showed itself. Everything
pointed to his being in rare fettle for the
great race at Sandown park. Sir Johns
bitter disappointment, therefore, when
this unfortunate malady REQUIRED at last,
on the very day before the race, may
we'll be imagined.
.tOther people besides Sir John and his
friend the earl we're very much annoyed
leaked out. The colt carried a goodish
bit Of money and stood we'll IN the bet
ting. The knowing ones, who kept their
eye on Sir John Cowsell and knew his
careful, almost parsimonious habit. felt
sure that he would never have left Bill
ingstone Gin" at the heavy cost involved.
unless be bad fancied the colts chances
pretty confidently. Many of them, there
fore. took care to have something "on."
And when these gentlemen learned-for
such thing soon gets about-that Bill
ingstone had suddenly gone lame, they ex.
eerated their luck IN no measured terms.
At Tattersall's that evening as much as
80 or even 40 to | might have been
booked about the colt.
|. Sir Johns face when he rose next
morning wore ABOUT az anxious a look as
any owner of good horse has ever been
seen to do. He had made an appoint.
ment with his friend the earl, with Bat
ters. the vet, and with Jim links, the
jockey, to come and test Billingstone at
4:30-when no one would be about-to
decide definitely whether it would be
possible to start him in the Eclipse
stakes.
The colt, was soon brought out, duly
saddled and bridled. and four men
watching him with, strained and anxious
faces. Jim Jinks took the bride and
mounted. No one was yet about, they had
the ground to themselves.
Billingstone looked fit and keen. Jinks
urged him at first into a quiet trot, then
lhto a gentle gallon at half speed. ],
by God!" exclaimed the earl, who was
rather profane in his expressions, che
Thy God he isn't-going a bit
lame this morning."
Extend him, for heaven s sake, extend
him!" shouted Sir John in a hoarse,
excited voice, waving his hand fran
tically.
links was too far away to hear tho
baronet's words, but inferred his mean
Ing from his gestures, and sent Billing
! stone along for quarter of minute at
full gallop.
mo la IN sness there'' cried Batters, in
jubiaLt tones. as be saw the perfect
ease with which the colt swung over the
tn I. 1.-The attack has passed off, by
tbe Lord. 1t is better than my most
sanguine hopes. He is all right for the
race, Sir Jonn. l have never known ths
| attack to recur to him twice in the same
week. He will go this afternoon as tit
as fiddle"
THANK heaven!' gasped Sir John.
wiping the peispiration which had
upon his forehead.
a"Amen to that added the Earl Of
Bland, fervently
| Billing,tone won the Eclipse stakes that
afternoon by comfortable length. Both
the Earl of Blank and Sir John Cowsel
landed some very heavy bets over his vic.
tory. No ono, however, not even the
earl, his friend ever knew what an enor-
nous fortune Sir John really won, still
less the clever and crafty trickery by
| which he had maze such haul posi- BILE.
From the very first Billingstone's period
ical lameness had been part of deeply
laid and most ingenious scheme. for The
purpose of getting an extravaganza price
| againut the colt without exciting sus
picion. The Earl of Blank, Mr.. Batters
! and Jim Hanks, each OF whose probity