Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-02-18

and had had serious quarrel over some
woman, and Sir Giles had sworn to be
revenged if he waited a lifetime for
the opportunity.
"The day Geranium was installed fa-
vorite Capt Dives came down from
London with face the color of white
washed wall, and l could see by his
manner that he had been drinking u
lot more than was good for him. After
n long confab he told the trainer to ar
range for Radix to be retired again
early the next morning. The captain
was we'll pleased with the spin, and,
when the horses had gone home, came
up to me and Said he wished to have n
talk with me at his lodgings, SO as soon
us l had changed my things hurried
over to hear what was in the wind.
mo sooner had l stepped inside the
door than he carefully closed and locked
IL and drew heavy curtain across it;
then he broke the ice with:
"'Well, Quilter, l suppose you know
by this time I'm a ruined man, or shall
be in a few hours from now, for you
know that though Radix has won an
other trial, he did it no easier than on
the first occasion, and that's hardly
good enough. I've more than confirmed
all Bridoon told you, So bar accidents,
the race is Geranium's. All the same,
have not abandoned all hope of our fall
ing on our fect-that is, if you will do
what | wish.
"'Now, look here he continued, with
the boastful air of a half drunken
swashbuckler, I'm not going to stand
still and be reduced to beggary, so just
pay attention to what l am about to
kay. I've matured plan that, if prop
erly carried out, must succeed in saw
ing your money and mine. Harli, now,
and let me get through without inter
ruption.'
"And for the next hour or more he
was fully employed, laying before me
n truly desperate scheme, whereby
RadiX should win the race and save his
hackers their money"
"The evil day arrived at last. My first
nnXiety was to learn if anything had
happened to Geranium during the last
12 hours; but, no, the betting told me
that; it was fast and furious, the
booliies refusing to lay more than five
to four, and old racing hands shook
their heads and declared it was an ull-
heard-of price with field expected to
reach two dozen starters, and most of
them a bit above ordinary handicap
class.
"We turned out of the paddock sharp
TO time, Radix being voted the gentle
man of the party Notwithstanding the
furore over Geranium. While the cap
tain was whispering me final instruc-
tions l happened to glance across the
paddock, and there, right before me,
saw Sir Giles watching, as dog would
a rat hole, the captain in a way that
seemed to say: GO on, sir; you may
give your orders, but | hold the whip
hand at last, and, by the powers above,
you may expect as much mercy from
me as the falcon gives her quarry
"The mocling look on that mans
face brought me up sharp, and before
we were half way to the post was as
keen on the job as the captain.
81 won't repeat in detail descrip
ton of the race; suffice it to say we
came away at a rare bat, RadiX and
Geranium well placed; but l saw from
the first that the filly's jockey had re-
ceived orders to simply watch me, and
so close did he stick to them that he
aggravated me almost beyond the point
of endurance, keeping as he did with
Geranium's muzzle just on level with
RadiX's flank on my whip-hand. AMI
90 we went, Geranium's hoof-strolie
beating time to Radix's. If increased
the pace the filly likewise improved
hers, and so we progressed in this ding
dong fashion until quarter OF mile
from home, when let RadX out for all
he was worth, as l was not in the least
afraid of his staying home, and de-
honest victory.
THE excitement of the spectators
was terrific, as Radix, pushing his head
we'll into his bride, went to the front
as fast as he could lay foot to the
ground. For some distance l was re-
ioiced to see that RadiX more than held
his own, and that Geranium's pilot was
hard at work with his whip in hot pur-
suit; but the small advantage I had
gained was of only momentary dura-
ton, as the pace began to tell, and the
filly came up hand over hand, my blood
running cold the while as / saw her
nose come up level with my boot, and
then forge on until we were dead level,
head to head, knee to knee, in desperate
career
"Thus we ran on locked together,
Rad;x, game as pebble, answering my
repeated calls on him in the most un-
flinching manner. until some 80 yards
from the man in the box when saw
for certain we should be beaten, as
Geraniun's light weight must tell in
such q hardfought-ou finish. Could
7 have made dead heat of it | should
still have held my hand and remained
an honest man, but fate was against me,
aud | saw Geranium steadily but srTeiy
drawing TO the front, amid the fran
| tically 0FliriOus chperipU of her SIM